WEST HIGHLAND WAY
DAY FIVE DAY FOUR
Crianlarich to Bridge of Orchy, 13 miles Terrain: Good paths and tracks with some ups and downs but not a difficult day. Highlight: Halfway up the Way! Accommodation: Bridge of Orchy Bunkhouse. A funny start to the day. As we were walking up the hill
from the Youth Hostel, my husband turned to me and asked if I’d seen the latest addition to our fleet, pointing to the Youth Hostel’s car park. When I asked him which one, he said both! Te Youth Hostel was such a friendly place he’d got chatting to someone the night before and ended up doing a deal - for two cars! Te walk was good, it was nice to walk through the valley.
I’ve driven through it so many times. It looks so different when you slow things down and actually notice the views. It started to rain a little as we approached Tyndrum so we decided to have a pub lunch and dry our waterproofs.
“RANNOCH MOOR IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO BE, PRETTY MUCH UNSPOILT BY HUMANS”
64 SCOTTISH HOSTELLER 2012
Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse, 12 miles Terrain: Good path. Rannoch Moor is very exposed (for more than seven miles) so be careful when you go. Highlight: Two highlights today – firstly the unspoilt views of Rannoch Moor and, secondly, Iain simply lying down in the middle of the track just short of the Kingshouse saying: “I don’t care if it’s only 500m, bring the pub to me!” Accommodation: King’s House Hotel. Although we were all feeling tired and having struggled with a lack of motivation, this ended up being our favourite day today. Rannoch Moor is an amazing place to be, pretty much unspoilt by humans. We started by crossing the bridge of Orchy, something we’ve all driven past and never really noticed. Sad – we live our lives too fast. By lunchtime, we enjoyed a well-deserved rest and a picnic lunch at the side of the path. Te afternoon’s walk was started as an easy downhill
towards Inveroran, beside Loch Tulla. Tis section of the route was fairly exposed and, although windy, it remained dry. We were fortunate enough to spot some red deer and some eagles which was exciting. You drive past Rannoch Moor on your
way up the A82 where there are loads of little patches of water in among the peat and marsh. It was a lovely walk, one we’d happily do again as a day out with the family, once they’re old enough – a three-year- old would struggle with it.
Left: Stopping to take in the stunning scenery. Bottom: a pit-stop to refuel on the way north
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