Walking the West Highland Way Day 5: Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy
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It’s my shortest hiking day on Scotland’s West Highland Way – only 7 miles (11 km)! There are mountains all around, a rocky stream, and I spend the night at a bunkhouse in an active train station.
Start from the beginning with West Highland Way day 1: Milngavie to Drymen or see all West Highland Way posts.
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A perfect breakfast on the West Highland Way
My big bag has to be in the luggage storage area by 9 a.m. but I have plenty of time for a leisurely morning. I walk into Tyndrum where I have time for a big breakfast in the Real Food Café. I have my very first full Scottish breakfast – and it was amazing! Real Food Café has great food and they are very accommodating to walkers.
After I left the café I was walking along the road and completely missed the turn on to the trail. I didn’t get far and was very lucky that one of the trail friends I’d made along the way saw me pass it and shouted out to me (thanks Arjan!)
Into the highlands – stunning highland scenery
For a while the trail was parallel to the road and the railroad tracks. The scenery was lovely – the mountains all around with their tops hidden in the clouds and mist.
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
It was damp and cloudy, but comfortable hiking. I walked with a while with Arjan and when he stopped to eat (I had eaten so much at the Café I wasn’t hungry), I filled my water bottle from a lovely stream. I hadn’t tried any of the highland water yet, so this was a good opportunity. Yes I filtered it – that can ruin a trip quickly:) It tasted as fresh and clean as you would expect from a highland stream.
The trail is on the old military road. It’s a bit rocky but wide and pretty easy to walk. This was an enjoyable day, probably in part because it was short and my legs were happy for the break! The temperature was comfortable for hiking and the scenery was stunning.
West Highland Way Sleeper – A bunkhouse in an active train station
My lodgings for the night were at the West Highland Way Sleeper – a bunkhouse hostel on the Bridge of Orchy train platform. The Bridge of Orchy village dates to 1751, and the Bridge of Orchy railway station opened in 1894. Of course the building there now is much newer, but a great piece of history and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sleep in an active train station.
The West Highland Way sleeper has 10 beds with a couple of toilets and showers. There weren’t any overnight trains but apparently one came in early the next morning – I never heard it though!
The bunkhouse had an honesty shop with lots of food choices, a dining area, and a microwave and kettle. The shop had fresh fruit, too, which was a great snack.
Bridge of Orchy Hotel
After a backpacker meal dinner at the bunkhouse I walked down to the stunning Bridge of Orchy Hotel for drinks with trail friends. There’s an outdoor seating area where we had our pints which was a great finish to a beautiful (and easier!) day.
