Inverarnan to Tyndrum
12 miles
2313 feet
Today was one of those days that could convert even the most confirmed city girl into a lover of hiking.
The sun came out and stayed out.
The paths were smooth.
The views of the surrounding hills were gorgeous.
It was an absolutely perfect day!
Of course I started the morning by setting the fire alarm off in the aforementioned not-my-favorite inn.
(I know those tiny little motel hair dryers aren’t really meant for my wet boots.)
I have never packed up and gotten out of a place faster.
We walked away laughing, and we kept smiling all day.
The weather report of no rain in the forecast made it even sweeter that we were starting out under a sunny sky. We all still carried our rain gear, but it went in the bottom of our packs, underneath our lunch instead of on top. That’s the kind of confidence we had that it wasn’t going to rain.
Then we ran into another hiker we’d met the day before at an Honesty Box and he told us it was going to be an easy day.
Yes please.
He didn’t lie.
Even with twice the elevation of yesterday, today’s walk was easy going. Almost all our paths were smooth trails. We walked some forest service roads We ambled along miles of paths that had been recently laid with gravel. And we travelled down many just generally pleasant straight trails that were not covered in mud.
We saw the occasional stone or tree root that reminded us of all we’d walked on Day 3, which made me wonder if we would be appreciating the texture of the trails so much if we hadn’t had to work so hard the day before.
If yesterday hadn’t chewed us up and spit us out, would today have been just another hiking day?
Would we have taken the time to notice how smooth the trail was around every bend?
Look at this nice trail!
Can you believe how well-cared for this path is?
I can just walk straight without having to climb over anything!
When we ate our picnic lunches outside on a hill in the sunshine, we had already walked the better part of our 12 miles to Tyndrum.
And we had crossed the halfway point of the West Highland Way!
We were still tired at the end when we wandered into town at 3pm, but we didn’t feel like we’d been beat up.
I think that 12 miles is exactly the right length of a walk for me. Doing more than that can make a day stop feeling fun. I’d like to squish all the stages into 12-mile days.
The next official stage is 19 miles. But I’m just too old for 19 miles in one day, so we’ve broken it up into two days.
Tomorrow is basically going to be a rest day. Only 7 miles and more sun in the forecast.
With all the extra time, I’m hoping for a nap in the sun!
Reading & viewing the 1st half of your WHW Adventure has been lovely! Thanks so much for sharing…
P.S. I am hiking the route next May (2nd time; this time w/my wife & a dear friend), & I am happy that the Drovers Inn was (& is) not on our accommodation list! Did it at least have a decent breakfast this morning?
The breakfast was great. Honestly can’t fault them for the food. Others said the little hits at the campground across the road were great but the food in the campground restaurant not as much, so maybe the move is to stay in Beinglas Campground and eat dinner at The Drover’s Inn.
Love hearing you back on Scottish soil – pity the WHW doesn’t hit aberdeen – sending love xxx