Kinlochleven

After three nights wild camping and a wet forecast, I acted my age and booked a ‘mini pod’ in Kinlochleven for Tuesday night.
This meant a 21 mile day, but in light of a wintry forecast for Wednesday, it would leave just 15 miles to Fort William.
So, with the rain stopping just in time for me to pack away my tent and the lure of a shower beckoning, I set off with a spring in my step. The rain started again after 20 minutes and it set the tone for a rough day. Rannoch Moor was amazing. It was so remote and exposed. There was water everywhere. It was flooding the track and there were streams appearing on all sides. Even up here there was a lot of frogspawn in the path side ditches. The mountains were massive with snow on the northern slopes. The only facilities on this section were at Kingshouse Hotel. Except that there was a note on the door ‘Closed for private function’.
The track then headed down Glencoe beside the busy road. The rain had not eased and I was wet. Next up was the infamous Devil’s Staircase climb to the highest point (same as North Barrule) on the route. It wasn’t as bad as I feared. Just lots of rocky hairpins. Over the top and it was a long, rocky descent towards Kinlochleven. My accommodation was great. Tiny but it had a heater and a kettle. The showers were so hot and there was a drying room. All I needed. I fell asleep for an hour then had a Chinese. There is snow on the cards for the final stretch into Fort William. Oh heck. NB Not too many photos today - it was hard keeping hands warm enough to get the phone out!Læs mere