Bridge of Orchy

Woken by a woodpecker and L eft early after an ok night in the coffin tent. It was a beautiful spot, high above the Loch in an oak wood.
Progress along the loch was slow - up and down rock steps and I was a bit jelly-legged. I had 10km to a cafe where I was all set for breakfast. The sign on the door said ‘ Closed until after lunch’!
Nice walking alongside a river with numerous bridges, just mentally moving my breakfast to brunch at Crianlarich. Except that the route doesn’t go there but stays high above in the forest.
Another six miles to dream of lunch at Tyndrum (Japan’s best album? I think so).
At the first cafe, I ordered a large haddock and chips with extra chips. As I ate (elegantly, not stuffing it in like a starving man), the rain started. It hammered down.
I put my waterproofs on and set off on the six miles to Bridge of Orchy. The landscape opened up and the gravel track hugged the valley bottom with high grey mountains on either side.
The rain hadn’t eased by the time I trudged into BoO. There was a railway station and a hotel and a few houses. The word on the internet was that there were good camping spots just over bridge. I disagree.
Still, I found the flattest spot, in a slight hollow and put up my tent as fast as possible - to minimise how wet my rucksack was getting. As I was scooping rainwater out of the tent, a couple walking two spaniels said ‘if you fancy a cup of tea when you’re done, we’re the white camper van’.
Of course I did. They welcomed me in and apologised for the wet dog smell. I duly apologised for the wet, unwashed smell that I’d brought to the party.
Rich and Jen are from Devon on an annual tour of Scotland. They made me tea and we chatted for an hour while my sodden jacket dried in their bathroom. They were great fun and I’d have happily stayed the night. They didn’t offer.
My tiny tent survived an incredible amount of rain and really battering wind that set in after 2am (I didn’t get masses of sleep - it was too noisy. At 6.30am after 12 hours of heavy rain, everything inside the tent was dry. No matter how small it is - it’s great.Læs mere