Day 19: Glen Coe Campsite to Tyndrum
Distance: 19.35 miles / 31.14 km
Weather: Overcast, cold, and a stiff easterly wind
Start: 08:27
Finish: 16:07
It was an "interesting" overnight at the Glen Coe campsite! The sloped site meant we finally made use of those levelling wedges. They worked a treat, with the motorhome (almost) horizontal.
The morning's route took me over the wild, exposed expanse of Rannoch Moor, a six-mile stretch steeped in history and atmosphere. Much of the path followed one of General Wade’s military roads, built in the 18th century to help the British Government control the Highlands after the Jacobite uprisings. Wade oversaw the construction of around 240 miles of roads and 30 bridges, which must have been a monumental effort considering the landscape.
After the moor I left the official West Highland Way route for a scenic detour towards Bridge of Orchy, skirting the edge of Loch Tulla. This peaceful loch side walk was a welcome change of pace, and I was rewarded with the sighting of two deer.
I had lunch at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel Bar—highly recommended for weary walkers.
The afternoon took me along a pleasant and straightforward path that ran beside the single-track railway line to Tyndrum. The walk itself wasn’t too challenging, but the easterly headwind made me work a bit harder than I would have liked.
Finding a place to stay tonight proved a bit tricky. Campsites were full, but thanks to the kindness of Susan, the receptionist at Tyndrum Lodges, we were allowed to overnight in their car park. It’s a new development of holiday accommodation, and Susan was wonderfully generous and understanding of our fundraising journey.
Tomorrow is a shorter leg—just over 12½ miles.
