Walking the West Highland Way Day 4: Inverarnan to Tyndrum
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West Highland Way in Scotland day 4 was a nice reprieve after the difficult two days from Drymen to Inverarnan. A stunning river, beautiful trees, and some highland vistas – mostly on a level, easy-to-walk path.
Start from the beginning with West Highland Way day 1: Milngavie to Drymen or see all West Highland Way posts.
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Leaving the Drover’s Inn in Inverarnan
I had a lovely breakfast in the Drover’s Inn, then picked up the bag lunch they had made for me and hit the trail. The West Highland Way started out as a smooth, wide, gravel trail. There was a light rain coming down, though not enough right away to put any rain gear on.
There were a couple of short, steep climbs early on. As the light rain continued, I stopped at the top of a climb to put on my rain gear (yes, it was a great opportunity to catch my breath!)
Get the West Highland Way guidebook
I love this guidebook! The maps are great – hand drawn with just the right amount of detail. It’s how I planned my route and I scanned the map pages to take with me. See the guidebook
River Falloch along the West Highland Way
As I walked on, I could hear rushing water nearby. I was surprised to see incredible rapids and waterfalls. I call it a waterfall, but there is actually a “Falls of Falloch” which I didn’t see but it’s an even bigger waterfall.
The rushing water was a surprise to me – I had no idea the river would look so incredible. I’m not sure if it always looks like that or if it was especially amazing because of the recent rains.
Sheep Creep
I saw my very first sheep creep! I had actually never heard of a sheep creep before this trip. It’s a low tunnel for sheep to pass through to another field. Generally it’s low enough that larger livestock can’t pass through. I liked it because it’s a such a great name!
Lunch on the West Highland Way
The hotel where I stayed, The Drover’s Inn, had packed me a lunch for a small fee. It was a convenient way to get a meal along the trail. I sat on the side of the trail and ate it in a light rain. The rain didn’t bother me because the view was amazing!
Crianlarich – the halfway point of the West Highland Way
Today I crossed the halfway point – I had finished half of the trek. It was crazy to think about because it felt like I had just started, but half the trip was already behind me. It’s a good moment to reflect on how far you’ve come.
Lochan of the Legend of the Lost Sword
This was a beautiful stretch of the trail – there was gorgeous heather EVERYWHERE! A lochan is a small loch, and this one is famous for being a weapons cache. The story is that Robert the Bruce and his men were retreating and their weapons were slowing them down. To escape with their lives, they threw their weapons into the lochan. In 2015, this lochan and other ones in the area were searched for weapons, but not were found. A legend it remains – and a beautiful location, even without legendary weapons!
By the Way Camping in Tyndrum
The last bit of the walk was flat and easy. I arrived at By the Way Camping in Tyndrum, my destination for the night, and set up my tent. There were nice showers, a drying room, a kitchen area, picnic tables with a roof overhead, and even a washer and dryer.
It was still raining on and off, and I ate a backpacker meal in my tent and spent the evening organizing my things. Tomorrow will be a short day – only 7 miles!
