Today was a relatively short day so we started a bit later and took our time.
The midges were awful where we were staying – not great when the bathrooms and cafe are in different buildings to our cute, but easy to gather up stray midges, hobbit house.
Mike was done with them by this morning.
Luckily when we started hiking there was enough of a breeze that they were not much of a problem.
Today started with low cloud. It was supposed to pour with rain on us but luckily did not – we just had some light drizzle.
We passed Kingshouse – where the trail got a lot busier – but didn’t stop.
While the elevation ascent overall was less than previous days, today included our steepest climb – as most of the ascent was over about a mile going up Devil’s staircase.
Overall, we hiked 10.75 miles with an ascent of 1472 ft. Going up there were dramatic views of bleak cloud topped mountains behind us.
At the highest point we were at the highest point of the West Highland Way. See selfie 🙂
Once we started the descent the scenery changed – more lush and more reddish browns from brown bracken.
You could see the trail winding down the mountain for a long way ahead.
Finally we could see Kinlochleven – but it was still a couple of hours away.
The scenery continued to be similar, with greens and browns.
As we got closer to town we saw dams and pipes of the large hydroelectric station. About the only business left in town.
The town is in a beautiful setting but seems pretty depressed. A CoOp, several guest houses and b&bs, a pub, a guest house with a bar, a take away cafe and a fish and chip shop. The post office is now only open a couple of part days a week. The sports centre with indoor ice wall is “ closed until further notice”. There used to be a big aluminium manufacturing plant here but it closed several years ago, so the hydroelectric plant and tourism are the only gigs left in town.
The guesthouse we are staying at tonight is our favourite place so far. Beautiful views from the room and a bath (as well as shower) – so our only hot bath of the trip.
But to be in the safe side we’ll probably set out before breakfast tomorrow :(. Don’t want to run any risk of missing out sleeper train….
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