River Coe

We left Tyndrum at 7:45 so we’d have lots of time to do our leg of 31 km today. It started out coolish and cloudy with mist. As the day went on it got hot and humid. We have been really battling the heat this trip. It has been a very unusual spell of hot dry weather for Scotland. The hike to Bridge of Orchy was fairly flat and on a good road, so we made good time. We had coffee at the Bridge of Orchy. An Australian fellow whom we met several times on the trail ran the distance from Tyndrum, and his wife, who is driving, was there to give him his pack for the rest of the walk. The trail then climbed for nice views of Loch Tula and we dropped down to the Inveroran Hotel. From there the Way climbs steadily on an old military and then commercial road that was roughly cobbled and hard on the feet. It was pretty hot and tiring. We walked through the Rannoch Moor, across some streams with the mountains getting higher and a little snow on them. The highest we got was about 460 meters and then dropped down towards Kings House. It started raining at that point. We took a short diversion to the Glencoe Mountain Resort, which is pretty small. We met the Australian woman there who was waiting for her husband. Because Kings House is under construction, a van picked us up at the Resort and took us into Glencoe village for tonight. It’s very nice here. It’s situated on Loch Leven, which is actually the ocean and joins to Fort William where we will be in two days. First thing we did was head for a beer and cider. We are staying at the Heatherlea B&B. The room is nice but very hot. We have the window open, but if the infamous midges emerge, we’ll have to close it. Nobody here has window screens, but that might be because the midges go through. We think the whole midges issue is overrated, so will I’m sure have our window open tonight. Our feet are sore tonight from the long distance and cobbles and heat.Read more