WHW Day 3 - Beinglas to Bridge of Orchy 5 June 2012

WHW with Bourne Coffee Company - Day 3
Beinglas to Bridge of Orchy
Distance 28km
Tuesday 5th June 2012

We had a good breakfast, packed the car and left Beinglas Farm campsite in much the same situation as when we arrived, plagued by midges.  It was only as we started walking they became less bothersome.

Again we saw lots of people walking The Way, there were some familiar faces but many we had not previously seen.  It just goes to show how popular The Way is.

Anne on the rise above the crossing of the A82

David a little further on

As we approached the junction of Crianlarich and Tyndrum we were joined by a group of walkers.  At the junction they were looking to turn right and go into Crianlarich and were not sure of the way although it was shown on a big sign post.  Anyway they were going to meet friends in Crianlarich and have a drink.  We would be turning left, our friends said I could go with them as Anne and David had left me.  They did not waiting to have their photo taken at the sign post.

From the Crianlarich and Tyndrum junction Anne and David did not wait for a photo

 There is a little climb up and down a couple of times through the forest before The Way drops down to the A82 again.  It was on this stretch we saw a group that had been really flying and it looked like they were being lead by professionals. We crossed the A82 towards St Fillan's Priory passing the areas being looked at for farming techniques.  The Way passes the Wigwam campsite where I had previously stayed, then loops back round to the A82. This crossing had also changed from my previous walk, previously I had to cross the road. Now The Way is safer and passes under the road.

The sun was shinning and it was starting to get very warm as we moved across the area from the Wig wam campsite to the wood as you reach Tyndrum.  We had arranged with Susan to meet at the Green Welly Stop to have a break as we passed through.  We had a good rest with something to eat and a drink in the cafe. 

David, Anne, Me and Susan at the Green Welly Stop

When we set off again there was a little confusion, David for some reason started walking back the way we had come.  Not to worry we soon put him right.  Sitting by the road, resting, with his boots off and a couple of beers was another walker who was taking his time getting to Fort William, who we would see over the next couple of days.  Susan had already met him earlier at the Beinglas Campsite.

Turning right from The Green Welly Stop, The Way travels along the A82 for a few hundred meters. Crosses the railway line before turning right. The Way is very well signposted. 

Anne and David on the track from Tyndrum

Susan at a car park on the A82 watching us and taking our photos.

Again we saw loads of walkers some turned out to be a group of charity walkers with a professional leader. As we moved up the track the weather started to get a little overcast and the wind was picking up.  By the time we reached The Bridge of Orchy it looked like as though it would soon start raining.  I should add even with the threat of rain the midges were starting to gather. The plan was to reach Inveroran Hotel and camp at the wild campsite just along the road.  However with the time and the threat of rain we decided that David and I would go along to the wild campsite, pitch the tent then come back to the Bridge of Orchy Hotel where we would leave Anne and Susan, for a meal. We would start walking again in the morning from The Bridge of Orchy and pack the car as we passed the wild campsite.  The same as we did a couple of days earlier at Milarrochy Bay.

The wind was really gusty as we struggled with the tent, we could not get it to stay up.  So we had to do some quick thinking.  We rang Anne and Susan who were still at the hotel to ask about the bunk house.  It turned out to be full, so we thought we would try putting up the tent in the area of the river bank nearer the Bridge of Orchy where we had seen other campers and it was a little sheltered.  We found a spot with a little more shelter near a bush, where there were plenty of rocks to put at the bottom and this time it stayed up.  We were also close enough to the Bridge of Orchy Hotel so that we could leave the car and walk to the bar.

On the way to the bar we saw our friend, boots off beer bottle man.  He was having a great time, with plenty of empties.  After our struggle with the tent we arrived at the bar with a little time to spare before they stopped serving food.  The food was worth the effort.  Fortunately as it happened the rain did not materialised, so our luck with the weather was still holding.

More to follow

Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The West Highland Way or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to previous - Day 2 Balmaha to Beinglas Farm
Follow link to next - Day 4 Bridge of Orchy to Kinlochleven
Follow links to previous time I walked this route - WHW Day 2 Cashell Farm to Inversnaid, WHW Day 3 Inversnaid to Auchtertyre and WHW Day 4 Auchtertyre to Inveroran

The Bourne Coffee Company previously Caer Urfa Coffee.