WHW with Bourne Coffee Company - Day 4
Bridge of Orchy to Blackwater Campsite Kinlochleven
Distance 33.5km
Wednesday 6th June 2012
We were making good progress and were still a day ahead of my original plan. So we had the time if we had wanted to have an easy day. We would move on and see what would happen and make the decision later in the day.
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| David, Me and Anne at the start of Day 4 |
It was agreed that we would see Susan at Kingshouse, as she drove over the bridge and we started walking up the track through the wood behind the Bridge of Orchy Hotel.
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| David at the tree that over looks the Inveroran Hotel |
We stopped at the Inveroran Hotel for a quick cup of coffee. As we passed the wild campsite it was now empty as the campers we had seen there the previous night had moved on. The wind had died down so if we had wanted we could now have pitched the tent there with no problem.
When we started on Sunday we were all three of us walking and talking together. As the days had moved on we were more and more walking alone, each with our own thoughts. I was still walking slow as I felt I should keep a watchful eye on Anne and David, but I was finding it hard walking at their slow dragging, energy sapping pace. They were walking at their own pace, sometimes Anne was finding it easy and would be ahead, other times it was David forging ahead.
It was as we were moving across the open moor land that we saw our friend, boots off and beer bottle man. He was sitting on the side of the track in a little sheltered space and enjoying the view across to Rannoch Moor, it was stunning. I spent a few minutes having an interesting talk with him.
As we moved across the open moor land the weather became a little unpredictable and it started to rain off and on.
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| View from the point next to The Way. |
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| Anne at the Black Cottage |
David and Susan were already at the Kingshouse when we arrived there. Going inside we decided to have a quick meal, we also saw some of the other walkers we had seen over the last few days. The charity group were there and the other group who had been travelling fast and a number of other walkers. We decided to push on to Kinlochleven making use of the extra time we had made earlier in the week.
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| David and Anne leaving Kinghouse behind. |
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| The views down the glens were fantastic |
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| Anne with the Devils staircase |
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| Anne and David approaching the Devils staircase |
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| David and Anne near the top of the Devil's staircase |
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| Anne and David at the top of the staircase |
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| David, Anne and Me at the top |
At the top we saw the guide of the charity walkers and David asked the question had he lost any. Of course he had not but it looked like they could choose what stages they walked.
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| Me and Anne on the route down |
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| David and Anne on the Way down towards Kinlochleven |
Once we passed the water plant the track became very steep. We were passed by a couple from one of the groups running down. It was strange as one of the runners was the one lagging at the back the day before. Anyway they stopped, problems with socks or something like that, and we passed them.
Eventually we arrived at the bottom and saw Susan's car at the
Blackwater Hostel and Campsite. I had stayed here before when I did the WHW alone and knew they had great facilities. Just as the midges arrived, when we asked inside if Susan had booked in they did not know. So we had a walk around and went to the information centre where we agreed to meet, but it was closed. Anyway in a few minutes we found Susan and set up the tent. After a quick snack we went to the nearest pub to get out the way of the monsters.
Not far now, another 33.5km covered, one day walking left.
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.
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