Wednesday, May 15, 2024
West Highland Way-Stage #5-Inverarnan to Tyndrum
Today’s Miles: 12.9
Total Miles: 57.4
Remaining Miles: 38.6

We had a wonderful rest day yesterday in Inverarnan. It rained HARD all day long and we took naps and did laundry. It was great!

A follow up comment on our hard day on Monday. Just after we completed Monday’s hike it started pouring and lots of people were stuck out on the trail. We heard about a sprained ankle, a broken arm, and we saw people being delivered to their overnight accommodation via ambulance. We feel very fortunate to have completed that stage in good weather, and upright and healthy.

Today we passed the halfway point of our walk as we traveled through Scottish Highland valleys. The trail wasn’t too hard, but there was a lot of elevation gain and 12.9 miles is a lot for us. The weather was great. We walked through river valleys where the rivers were swollen with the last couple days rain. It made for some nice waterfalls.

There was some beautiful highland scenery along the way. Even the clouds were impressive.

Along the way, the trail went through a very low tunnel, called a “sheep crawl.” It was very difficult to traverse this tunnel in any flattering way. “Nuf said!”

“How am I going to do this?”

”How DID I do that?”

Janet, making it look easy.

Then we came across some of the cutest sheep we have seen. The trail went right through their pasture.

”Hey guys, let’s all play on the manure pile! Sounds like fun!”

My favorite little guy checking out the hikers.

“Baaa, you all smell like the manure pile, baaaadddd!”

“Why did the lamb cross the trail? Cause those hikers were scary!”

“All this excitement means it’s time for a nap!”

We passed some historical spots today. One was a small lake (lachan) where the legend is that after Robert the Bruce was defeated at a nearby battle, as his army was fleeing for their lives, in order to lighten their load and speed their escape, they threw all their swords, spears, and armor into this lake. This included Robert the Bruce’s broadsword which was named Claymore, meaning “great sword.” Excavations and metal detecting have found no evidence, but that’s the legend.

There is gold in the Tyndrum area and this man was panning for gold in the trail side stream.

One of the famous landmarks along the trail in the Green Welly Stop in Tyndrum. We went in and they had pretty much everything, from tourist trinkets to hiking wear and boots, and lots of trail and take-out food. You could even buy yourself a pair of green wellies. 

And now…it’s bed time.

God bless,
Coe