Tyndrum to Glencoe Mountain, 19 Miles

It wasn’t our longest day distance-wise, but it was still a very long day! Fortunately it was an unbelievably gorgeous walk through the green, craggy mountains of the Highlands. Ultimately the beautiful walk didn’t make our tired feet feel any better!

Bob bopping down the trail

After climbing up from Tyndrum, our footpath was an 18th century military road the the British created to suppress control over the locals following the Jacobite Rebellion. The road we were on had been improved in the 19th century to move cattle from the Highlands to the markets in the Lowlands.

Old military road turned walkers delight

The weather really couldn’t make up its mind… blowing rain or bright sunshine.

A storm brewing ahead on the trail. This one got us a bit wet.

Our climb today was fairly gradual, but it seemed to go on and on. At one point, we crossed over a pass and the view of the mountains ahead was stunning. We later learned that we were looking at the most highly photographed mountains in Scotland. Although it was shadowed by clouds as we approached, you really couldn’t draw your eyes away from one prominent mountain. I definitely wasn’t expecting to see vistas like this in the Highlands.

The mountain ahead is called Buachaille Etive Mor (quite obviously pronounced boo - ach - keel -yi etch-iv vore)

Our stop today is the Glencoe Mountain Resort, just down the road from Kinghouse. We’re staying in a very comfy hobbit hut, and the view out our front door just can’t be beat…

Couldn’t have planned this any better if we’d tried!

We had dinner at the resort. I had a haggis and venison burger and Bob had chicken and mushroom lasagna. Both were delicious. As usual, the beer, cider and scotch were great (and abundant).

So happy to be off our feet for the day!!!

We shared the dinner table with a young woman from Belgium. She’s 33 and has very literally circled the globe. We exchanged travel stories and she gave us inspiration for many future adventures, including Patagonia.

Just one more shot of this incredible mountain whose name I can't pronounce.

A quick aside…Today we were reminded how easily a misplaced boot can quickly end a trip. One of our trail friends twisted an ankle on the walk yesterday and thought he could power through the rest of the walk, but had to turn around this morning and catch a train home. We were sad to see him go…There was a more severe case on the Coast to Coast, where an American (whom we did not meet, but was traveling on the same itinerary) fell in the Lake District, breaking ribs and puncturing a lung. We all try our best to be careful, but it could honestly happen to anyone. We’re grateful for every step we‘re able to make on the trail.

One careful step at a time on this rocky trail

Tomorrow, we have a 12 mile hike and will reach the highest point on the West Highland Way. After tonight, we only have two more nights on the trail and then we’re catching a train to Edinburgh to decompress for a few days before returning to Ohio.

Check out the latest album in the gallery for today‘s notable pics.

Good night!