Scotland long distance walks: West Highland Way – part 5
Today was day 5 and I was going to trek from Bridge of Orchy to Kinlochleven, a distance of 34 kms (21 miles). A busy day of trekking to make up lost ground from the last three days of heavy rain.
It was still raining when I woke up and look outside the window, but at least I was dry.
After paying my hotel bills, I left to continue my walk. After crossing the bridge, the Way breaks onto a path which climbs steadily up through pine forest and moorland.
Looking back onto the hamlet of Bridge of Orchy.
It was still raining as I made my ascent.
The path ascends upwards.
This section is a short, straightforward stage of 3 kms to the hamlet of Inveroran.
It was a straight forward path.
It was still raining and low clouds blocked the views from the summit of this climb.
I almost made the top.
This section of the trail is moorland.
The heather were colourful.
Last night in the hotel, I was able to dry my feet up and patch my blisters.
I was glad that I had dry feet.
As I made my descent to the hamlet of Inveroran, I could see the flooding of the moorland before me.
I made my descent to the hamlet of Inveroran.
The forecast in the weather was that the rain was moving south. Ahead of me I could see clear skies.
I could see signs of clear skies ahead of me.
The hamlet of Inveroran has a hotel and a few homes.
Severe flooding before me.
As I approach the hamlet I could see the extent of the flooding.
Three days of heavy rain caused flooding.
After passing the hamlet the next stage starts at Victoria Bridge which passes Loch Tulla with its crannogs. The way then follows an old drove road.
The path passes a plantation.
As I walked through the plantation, the rain stopped.
The autumn colours were out.
Coming out of the plantation I came into sunshine. This was to be the Rannoch Moor. One of Britain’s largest and wildest moors.
Coming out of the plantation and into the moor.
Many guidebooks warns that conditions here can be harsh in bad weather as the path is extremely exposed with no shelter.
The sun was coming out and I was enjoying it.
I was lucky that the rain had stopped and the skies was clearing.
I stopped here for a break and to dry off.
There are signs warning not to stray from the path as there are places you can sink into a peat bog.
This is one of the biggest moors in Britain.
With the skies clearing the scenery is spectacular.
The scenery is spectacular.
After three days of heavy rain, it was good that the sun was out.
The sunshine was out.
I looked back on myself facing southwards and I could see the rain clouds that I had previously passed through.
Looking back on myself.
I was enjoying this stage of the walk now that the weather had improved.
The mountains of Scotland.
There was no signs of civilisation in all directions.
This was very remote terrain.
The path turned westwards into Glencoe valley.
I could now see Glencoe Valley.
The weather turned bad again but at least I wasn’t far from my stop at Kings House Hotel for pub lunch.
Glencoe Valley is attractive for its scenery.
Glencoe is famous for the massacre of 1692.
The weather turned bad!
Glencoe has a ski slope resort.
The entrance to the ski slope.
I could not see the mountains anymore because of low clouds.
Looking into the valley.
I was almost at the hotel where I was going to fill myself with hot food. It was only 1pm and I covered a lot of distance so far due to the good weather.
I was almost at my pub lunch stop.
This hotel was built in the 17th century and is believed to be one of Scotland’s oldest licensed inns.
This hotel is famous for it history.
The grounds of the hotel has many wandering deers scavaging on scraps of food.
These deers did not mind our presence.
They did not run away with the hordes of tourists taking photographs.
They were used to being photograph.
I thought the deers were going to eat me! As I am only 30cms tall myself.
They got right close to us.
These two deers were have a right good snog and licking session!
These two deers were getting very passionate.
I went inside and ordered my pub lunch meal of scampi and chips.
My well earnt lunch.
After my lunch I carried on with my walk. This stage was to take me to my campsite at Kinlochleven.
I walk through the valley.
This track leads uphill up the Devil’s Staircase. At 550 metres (1850 ft) this is the highest point along the entire West Highland Way. It is a steap climb.
The view of Glencoe from the top of the Devil’s Staircase.
The descent down to Kinlochleven is straight forward and I stayed at the campsite here for the hot showers and drying room facilities. I managed to do 21 miles today. I only had one day to go on my walk having made up distance today.
To be continued….
For more information on the West Highlands Way please visit:
Scotland long distance walks: West Highland Way – part 4
Today was day 4 and I was going to trek from Crianlarich to Bridge of Orchy, a distance of 21 kms (13 miles).
It was raining very heavy as I lay inside my tent. I was worried that I was going to have to get up and depack my tent in the pouring rain! But with my special forces training, I am used to hardship.
So, I depack my tent in the pouring rain whilst getting soaked.
The path continues through the forest.
The forest streams were overflowing.
Many parts of the path was completely flooded and I had to wade through overflowing streams. My boots got very wet!
The path was completed flooded.
Leaving the forest I cross over the River Fillan and follow the farm road to Kirkton. Among the trees by Kirkton Farm are the ruins of St. Fillans Chapel and its graveyard.
The ruins of St Fillans Chapel.
Soon I reach the town of Tyndrum. This town is a popular tourists stopoff for package coach tours. Many tourists with expensive cameras were here but none of the them were soggy after experiencing wild camping in the highlands.
From Tyndrum the path follow the line of the old military road.
From Tyndrum the Way pick up the old military road.
The rain continues and I decided to head off northwards.
Looking back on Tyndrum.
This section of the West Highland Way has outstanding mountain scenery – but I never got to see any because of the awful weather.
It was pouring!
The path follows the West Highland Line railway. To the right of the Way are two viaducts contructed to carry the West Highline Line north towards Fort William. But in the bad weather I could not see the viaducts.
The road goes around the hillside.
My feet was getting mushy and I felt my foam stuffing becoming mouldy.
The path passes a farm.
The path passes stunning mountain scenery.
I was getting soaked.
The rain shown no signs of stopping.
The path follows the railway line.
I could see the hamlet of the Bridge of Orchy in this distance.
This caravan was in the middle of nowhere!
The old military road reaches the Bridge of Orchy.
The Bridge of Orchy.
The bridge is said to be the best example of the old military road bridges.
This bridge is a fine example of the engineering of the old military road.
After over two days of persistant rainfall I was soaked and needed drying off. I decided to cheat and to book into a hotel. At my age of 18 years old, I am not as young and fit as I used to be so felt justified into booking into a hotel (18 years for a monkey is the equivalent to 75 years for a human). My foam stuffing was going mouldy!
The hotel that I booked into.
I was treating myself to luxury.
My “DRY” room for the night!
I had a hot bath after many days of living wild. The hotel staff then hung me up to dry on the washing line.
I was eager for a hot bath.
That night, I was to sleep in a warm and dry bed!
I was enjoying being dry once again!
The next morning I was completely dry and ready to carry on with my walk…. but it was still pouring!
To be continued….
For more information on the West Highlands Way please visit:
britisharmysgtmonkey 