Walking the West Highland Way Day 6: Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe
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Blue skies. Brilliant sunshine. Sparkling lakes and rivers. The West Highland Way from Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe was one of the best hikes of my entire life.
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 beautiful morning at Bridge of Orchy
I left the West Highland Way Sleeper and walked into town, past the Bridge of Orchy Hotel to cross the actual bridge in Bridge of Orchy. It was early in the morning and steam was rising from the River Orchy. The shallow water rushed and poured over rocks as the rising sun got the peaks of mountains in the distance. It was a beautiful morning!
Camping at Bridge of Orchy on the West Highland Way
A lot of people wild camp along bridge of Orchy, right by the bridge. It’s a stunning location with the flow of water for background noise. Campers are close to the Bridge of Orchy Hotel, which is nice to pop in for a pint. There were portable toilets set up in the area, too, making for a nicer wild camping experience and keeping the area clean.
Leaving Bridge of Orchy
The West Highland Way started with a climb out of Bridge of Orchy. Nothing terribly steep, just long and steady, but definitely good for an early morning warm-up! There was a lot of tree harvesting happening right along the trail as I walked by. It leaves such an ugly scar on the land, but wood has to come from somewhere I supposed. And they will re-plant and let it grow again.
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
Highland views
Just over a mile in, the views opened up across the highlands. This was such a perfect day – the sun was shining brightly and the sky was an intense blue. There were mountains all around and placid lakes in the valleys. The views were breathtaking as the West Highland Way trail wound around the sides of the hills. The dark water of the lochs created clear, perfect reflections of the sky and the surrounding trees.
The path was a gravelly cut through the grass on both sides. There were some small streams of water crossing the trail here and there, easily crossed walking across small rocks. Here and there along the trail were patches of brightly colored heather.
Walking through Inveroran on the West Highland Way
The trail reached the small town of Inveroran where there was a short road walk through town. It was still early and there wasn’t anyone about. The only sounds were the stream that ran by where I entered town and the birds merrily chirping.
The road through Inveroran was very narrow – it looked like it would only fit one car – but it was very smooth and easy walking. I had gone about 3 miles at that point. I crossed Victoria Bridge over the gently flowing River Linne Nam Beatach. Soon after I reached the sign pointing out the “Drove Road to Glencoe.”
West Highland Way Drove Road to Glencoe
The drover’s road was wide and stony – easy to follow, but rough on the feet after a while. At just over 4 miles in, I walked by what the guidebook called the “conifer plantation” – row after row of pine trees. It was a long, gentle uphill stretch along the trees. The guidebook said it would level off up ahead and be “wild, desolate, and waterlogged.”
Wild, desolate, and waterlogged – the beauty of the Scottish Highlands
After the trees, the views opened up and, sure enough, I got the ‘true Highland scenery’ mentioned in the guidebook and yes, was wild, desolate, and waterlogged. There were 360º Highland views – mountains, open moors, clusters of trees here and there, still under stunning blue skies and brilliant sunshine.
Ba Bridge on the West Highland Way
There were boggy sections off the trail, and the occasional stream. Around the 8 mile mark I reached Ba Bridge, a small bridge over the River Ba. There were trees along the water offering a shady spot to rest, so I stopped here for a snack before continuing on across Rannoch Moor to Glencoe.
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Rannoch Moor
There was a steady climb after Ba Bridge. Nothing too difficult, just a long, steady climb. The day was still bright and sunny, with a few puffy clouds over the mountains in the distance. This section of the West Highland Way crosses by Rannoch Moor which, at 50 square miles, is the largest uninhabited wilderness in Britain.
I realized this would be a completely different hike in bad weather. This section of the West Highland Way is very exposed and would be pretty miserable in cold and rain. I was still walking in brilliant sunshine under blue skies. Such a perfect day for hiking!
The trail was still covered with stones and my feet were quite sore at this point, but it was easy to forget with so much beauty all around!
After the long, steady climb, there was an equally gradual descent. I could see the highway down below.
Reaching the Glencoe Mountain Resort
I was staying in a microlodge at the Glencoe Mountain Resort. I knew I was getting close, but there was no sign of it. The Kingshouse Hotel was visible in the distance and I knew I wasn’t going that far, but there was no sign of Glencoe Resort. It turns out it was tucked in between a couple of the mountains. There were very clear signs to the resort, so finding it wasn’t a problem – it was only difficult to see it!
I followed the signs, turning off the main trail to the side, and it led me straight to the Glencoe Mountain Resort.
A perfect hike
This was such a perfect hike in all the ways hikes can be great – it was the kind of hike that fills up your soul. Perfect weather. Perfect views. Few people around. The climbs were gradual. My feet were sore from the rocks and dealing with some particularly nasty blisters, but overall I was feeling great and loving the views and the hike and, really, everything.
At the Glencoe Mountain Resort
It was too early to check in when I arrived, so I grabbed a beer and enjoyed the view, and then went back in to the café for a sandwich.
The resort had a drying room, and nice toilets and showers. The showers were coin operated – £1. I brought an extra pound coin in case one wasn’t enough time, but I didn’t need it.
Hobbit house microlodge at the Glencoe Mountain Resort
After lunch I went over to my Hobbit house microlodge – a round cabin with a door on the front and a window on the back.
The space was really large for just me, and gave me plenty of space to spread out my things and re-organize. There was a good sized bed, plus two narrow, cushioned benches that could also serve as beds. There was electricity inside, and it came with a heater and a kettle. The walls were natural-looking wood boards.
My microlodge was at the top of parking lot and the toilets were at the bottom, but that was fine. I was very accustomed to walking distances at this point and it wasn’t that far!
I finished the evening with a lovely sunset out the window. What a great day! I was a little nervous to tackle Devil’s Staircase the next day, but I knew I could do it – one step at a time.
Missed the beginning of my walk on the West Highland Way?
Start from the beginning with West Highland Way day 1: Milngavie to Drymen or see all West Highland Way posts.
so how far did you walk this day? I was thinking it was about 10 miles from Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe. Thank you for the beautiful pictures of the hie.
My calculations said it would be about 12 miles and my tracker put me at 11.2 – so that will give you an idea, anyway. Glad you like the photos!