WHW Day 5 - May 6, 2019 - Tyndrum to Glencoe

WHW Day 5 – May 6, 2019 - Tyndrum to Glencoe 

Distance – 31.24; Total Time on the Trail –  8:42:11;  Avg Overall Speed – 4.1; kph; Elevation Gain -  690 m; Temperature: -0.6 C (feels like -5.6C due to 22 kph ENE wind – felt much warmer in the sun. Trail: generally very good paths

Our walk today filled my heart so that it spilled over the moors, down into the lochs and lochans, and up to the mountains where it was captured and held spell bound. The path was relatively easy with some comfortable elevation. The first half of the day was spent on stoney trail through the Black Mountains and around Loch Tulla. On the way we came to the sweet little town of Bridge of Orchy, and stopped for a coffee from the hotel restaurant and to eat the croissant our host from Clifton Lodge had so kindly given us for the Way!We were held up on the trail by a herd of cows that was being moved from one spot to another. They were very curious when they saw us, and as the cowman didn’t give us any instructions, we thought it best to wait till they were gone especially considering the only black cow and the only cow with horns was eyeing rather suspiciously!!! There were lots of cute calves which quite stole our hearts.

We had lunch in the Inveroran Hotel: delicious tomato soup!!

 Then off to tackle the second half of the journey across the famous Rannoch Moor - 50 square miles of peat bog, and lochans surrounded by magnificent mountains. We walked on a parliamentarian road.  The parliamentarian roads were built after the 17 50s when the military roads were no longer adequate for the existing level of commerce. They were build lower down the mountainside making it more difficult to build bridges across the numerous burns.  Towards the latter part of the hike we descended slowly into Glencoe. We passed the road to the ski hills, and finished the day at the Kingshouse where our taxi picked us up. 

We had an amazing car drive through Glencoe. Absolutely beautiful! Mountains on both sides and just spectacular scenery.

Our B & B – Callart View in Glencoe village, looks out over Loch Leven at the foot of Glencoe Mountain. Once settled in we walked the kilometre into town for dinner (so add that to the 31+ k we have already walked today and we are at 33+ for the day….. I am now ready to float into a well deserved sleep for the night.