Day 83 - Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy - 7.3 miles

A short walk today so a relaxed breakfast before rejoining the trail mid morning. 

Tyndrum is a bit of a drive- through town. It was apparently a stopping off point for drovers on their way North or South and the place hasn't changed much since.

For the first couple of miles, the route meanders between the Glasgow to Oban railway line and the A82.

but the mountains very soon come into view.

The walking conditions were ideal with a gentle breeze. 

My nose has starting peeling so I've decided that I need to use this rather fetching chapeau a little more often - though I suspect the brim isn't wide enough to protect my Thomas nose!

On a boat, photographs never seem to do justice to the size of waves. The same applies to these mountains - they seem immense, all of them over 3000 feet.

The trail follows the route of an old 'Military Road' built in the 1720s by General Wade to 

"suppress and exert control over the local population" following the Jacobite Rebellion in 1715. 

Across the river, we watched two noisy oyster catchers in what seemed like a face-off with some sheep.

Perhaps the sheep had wandered a little too close to their nest but they were certainly voicing their opinion.

We met Steve and Leeann.

They were part of a relay team from Chirnside Chasers near Berwick upon Tweed that hold the record for running up the three peaks of BenNevis, Sca Fell and Snowdon and RUNNING between all three - over 400 miles in 77 hours.

Today, they were out for a 'relaxing' run from Glencoe to Crianlarich - about 25 miles. 

The rain did eventually arrive but because today was only a short day, we arrived at our hotel just in time, in the early afternoon

and had a fun chat with some of the staff - Austrian, Slovakia, Hungarian. A nice atmosphere.

In the late afternoon we were joined by Sally's sister Emma and nephew Hamish in time for some g&ts and supper.

Total distance walked so far = 1028.8 miles

Total ascent so far = 119 767 feet