The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #68867   Message #1163262
Posted By: Grab
16-Apr-04 - 12:09 PM
Thread Name: BS: West Highland Way
Subject: RE: BS: West Highland Way
My memory is 10 years back now, so this may be out of date! :-) And I don't know about the singing either bcos I wasn't into folk music then.

Rowardennan hostel is a good choice, especially if you're camping - it's a good stop to dry out and wash clothes. I'd previously stayed at the campsite at Balmaha with my folks, and it's *very* midgy - beware. In fact, Scotland is generally midgy, so don't forget to bring mosquito coil to burn in your tent. If you shut the doors and burn an inch or so of coil, it'll kill all the little beasties that came in the tent with you, and you can stay midge-free (at least until you get up next morning).

At the top of the loch there's a shortage of camping. There's a place further back down the W side of the loch past Ardlui, but that's a bit of a pain (although I was lucky and managed to get a lift). IIRC there's a bothy a bit further on up that end of the loch which would be an option, and I think there's a B&B there as well. The lochside isn't easy walking so don't plan for a long day there.

There's a shortage of stops across Rannoch Moor, but if you've got the cash then the Kingshouse Hotel is your best bet. I just stuck my tent outside the (locked) university climbing hut just up the hill from the hotel (there's a stream behind the hut for washing and stuff). Rannoch Moor is a wide cart-track and easy going, so if the weather's good then you can make good time and do a long day there. Or you could cut it short at Bridge of Orchy, but then you've got a very long day to Kinlochleven.

Not an end-of-day stop, but there was a good transport caff at the station at Crianlarich.

And there was one campsite, I think at Kinlochleven, which had a sauna and pool. Very nice after a long day, or to wake up the next day.

I really do envy you - I've got to go back there sometime. As far as I'm concerned, the best place in the world is the top of the ridge over into the Kingshouse bit of Rannoch Moor - the view down the valley is heartbreakingly beautiful.

Graham.