the west highland way
Day 4 – Tyndrum to Inveroran Hotel
Couldn’t post last night due to lack of internet. It did come back later in the evening, but I was having too much fun chatting to people in the bar to start writing.
It was a great afternoon / evening of beer fueled banter. I’ve donated one of my knee supports to an injured American girl. Hopefully, it helps her to complete the walk. She’s going to leave it behind the bar for me in fort William.
Here’s what I wrote before the fun began:
Excellent day on the West Highland Way. My legs seem to be recovering from the long stage along the Loch. The scenery has opened up, and I’m definitely in the Highlands proper now.
While walking out of Tyndrum, I had high hopes for the weather. The low hanging clouds over the peaks was clearing and patches of blue parted the clouds. I’d be passing the iconic peak of Beinn Odhar along the way. I’d photographed it lots of times from the roadside, and I was looking forward to getting a new perspective. That never happened though. The heavens opened for the next 3 hours, and I had to settle for a shot of the base of the mountain, with the peak shrouded in cloud.
The scenery was still spectacular. The low hanging clouds over the peaks just added to the moody atmosphere. The place would be far less mystical with clear blue skies.
I got talking to a few people along the way. The most memorable were 2 ladies from the US. Their accents were right out of a western and I had to ask where they were from – Oklahoma and Alabama. “We drive big cars, and shoot guns!”, she wined with a grin on her face. “Not carrying now though. We’re just enjoying the Way”. They were 2 giddy girls whose conversations I couldn’t quite keep up with. It darted from topic to topic faster than I could digest the previous one. “I play soccer, you know. It’s the same as basketball. You godda score a goal, but using your feet instead of your hands. I grew up on farm and lived there all my life. We’re all Yankies down there. Don’t know what you Brits know about Yankies…”
The route has been following the A82 for the last day and a bit. The road noise was a distraction from the wilderness. At the Bridge of Orchy that all changed. The route went south-west while the road continued north to Glencoe. The peace was welcomed. I climbed out of the valley and over the tops. The views were absolutely stunning. A guy I’d been speaking to earlier in the day had said that this was the beginning of the West Highland Way proper. I could see what he meant…
My hotel was just at the bottom of the next valley. As usual, I welcomed myself home with a pint.
It’s another short day tomorrow. Another chance for my legs to recover from the lochside some more!
