West Highland Way: Our story
Part 2: Tyndrum - Fort William
Saturday May 23rd: Tyndrum - Kings House Hotel
Statistics:distance: 26 km
up: 350 m
weather: Start dry, rain in the second half of the morning and whole afternoon.
The sun of the afternoon before has disappeared behind the clouds even the tops of the mountains are covered with clouds. Eventhough, the tent is dry when we pack it. First we descend cross the railway and walk into the Auch Gleann. The walk towards the Bridge of Orchy is very relaxed so we make good progress. Despite the good track Edwin knee starts to hurt. The track from Bridge of Orchy towards the Inveronan Hotel is again very relaxing. When we approach the hotel we have a nice view over Loch Tulla. In the meanwhile it starts to rain softly. In the hotel bar we have a break with a cup of hot chocolate milk. In the meanwhile the rain intensifies. Since it does not stop raining we put on our rain clothes and put the rain cover over our backpacks. This way we leave the hotel bar in the direction of the Kings House Hotel. The route is very well paved, a small blessing in disguise. From the landscape we cross we do not see much. We can not enjoy of the views. We get more and more wet and finally we are sopping wet. Finally we reach the Kings House Hotel. Here we pitch our tent on the free camp site near the river. The area is quite swampy, but we succeed in finding a nice spot to pitch the tent. At this moment we are very glad that it was dry when we packed it, because it is already difficult enough to get our clothings dry.
Sunday May 24th: Kings House Hotel - Kinlochleven
Statistics:distance: 14.5 km
up: 175 m
weather: Start sunny, in the afternoon light rain.
When we awake it is dry!! After lunch and a sanitary break in between the trees at the other side of the river, we start our walk in the direction of the Devil's Staircase. After a little climb, the route stays at the same level in the direction of the A82. The route goes parallel to the A82 for a while before it goes into the moors. The climb up the Devel's Staircase is not too hard - with many hairpins the path goes up. The descent is as we like it, therefore Edwin's knee does not cause too many troubles today. Before noon we reach Kinlochleven. The shop in the centre is still open, so we immidiately do some shopping and With the shoppings in our backpacks we walk to MacDonalds hotel were we pitch the tent on their small campsite. After a nice shower we spent the afternoon in the pub of the hotel. While we are enjoying our tea and the atmosphere in the pub we notice that is started raining again. The pub has a free internet connection, so we check our mail, the weather forcast and the timetable of the bus/train from Fort William to Milngavie. Several noisy Englishmen, who are staying in the <
Monday May 25th: Kinlochleven - Glen Nevis
Statistics:distance: 20 km
up: 400 m
weather: Rain.
When we awake it is raining. Because of the bad weather we take our time for breakfast. Today we have bread for breakfast, unlike the other days. When the intensity of the rain reduces, we break down the tent and leave after packing our backpacks. After leaving the campsite at the hotel we cross the road and enter the woods. The route immidiately starts climbing towards a military road, that gently goes up and down. Because of the rain we are not able to enjoy the landscape. Again we are glad that the path is of good quality. When we pass an aminal shelter next to a ruined house, we decide to go inside and have we small break. Inside the shelter the floor is fully covered with sheep shit, but here we are safe for the rain. After the small break, we continue walking in the rain. The streamlets that are crossing the path, are becoming larger when the day progresses, resulting in the path changing into a stream bed. When the WHW leaves the military road, we have another break under a small roof of an information panel. After leaving the military road the route climbs up and down along a smaller, but mostly good path. Finally the path enters the woods at a deer fence with a hugh step over. After a while the route joins a forest track that brings us down into the valley Glen Nevis. When we see the sign to the youth hostel we decide to follow them because we want to stay at the campsite near the youth hostel. It is when we reach the campsite, and it is still raining. We wait in the wash room till it stops raining so we can pitch the tent. The is again quiet wet, but after some walking around, we find a spot the seems dry enough for our tent. In the wash room we see a map of the Great Glenn Way. Since the weather forecast for tuesday are not good, so we decide to continue with the Great Glenn Way and than return to Fort William again to climb the Ben Nevis hoping that the weather will be better by that time.
Tuesday May 26th: Glen Nevis - Fort William
Statistics:distance: 2.5 km
up: 0 m
weather: Most sunny with several small showers.
We wake early since Edwin has to be at the bus station in time. Together we walk to the end of the West Highland Way. Here we take some pictures. When Edwin has left, I pay a visit to the centre of Fort William, buy another map of the Great GLenn Way at the tourist information, before walking back to the campsite. On my way back to the campsite I look for opportunities for parking the car when we walk the Great Glen Way. When it starts to rain I shelter at the information centre of Ben Nevis and collect some information on the climb to the top of the Ben Nevis. When the rain stopped, I continue to the campsite. Here I spend the afternoon in the tent. Around 4 p.m. Edwin arrives at the campsite with our car. We unpack and repack our backpacks. Edwin decides to take his new backpack. In the evening it really starts to rain again.
Last modified April 2010