Today we left Bridge of Orchy and headed to Kinlochleven
Today we had Mike Z walking with us today and Mike P part walking and providing transport logistics.
As we left Bridge of Orchy it was raining and pretty windy. Overnight the wind was strong enough to wake us up and the forecast was for winds in the morning of up to 50 mph. So we were looking forward to another “weather” day. We crossed the River Orchy, one of the finest white water rivers in the UK, and headed towards the Inveronan Hotel (last accommodation on the west highland way until Kingshouse. Moody weather made for great scenery and then we saw a family of red deer wandering across in front of us.
The drove road mentioned in the photo was actually built by Thomas Telford in the early 19th century. Cattle were shod (like horses) for their journey down this road.
As we walked across Rannoch Moor (along Telford’s Road!) we were lucky that the wind mainly dropped and the rain only made sporadic appearances. The path itself was particularly hard to walk on for large stretches, no wonder the cattle were shod!
We made it to the car park of the Kingshouse Hotel in good time where Mike P was waiting with our lunch – which was then safely stored in our backpacks for the top of the Devil’s Staircase.
After Kingshouse the path wound upwards (when does it ever not) and then back down to the start of the Devil’s Staircase. A bit of a slog to get to the top at c557m but we made it in good spirits and found somewhere out of the wind to sit down and have lunch. Having just climbed up, Mike P then went all the way back down to get the car and meet us in Kinlochleven.
The walk down towards Kinlochleven was quite long but a constant descent, getting quite steep in places. We passed our 1,100 kilometre milestone on the way down and walked into town via the operating hydro plant.
A tough day (not as tough as yesterday) but enjoyable and with some spectacular scenery.
Tomorrow we head for Fort William.
