Day 41 - Inverarnan to Bridge of Orchy

The Pics from the top: Looking back over Glen Falloch from the Old Military Road; A lochan which apparently is associated with 'The Legend of the Lost Sword'; A wagtail.

Day 41 - Fri May 15th, Oh what a sad change in the weather! The horrid rain and wind that has been plaguing the south and the east has arrived, and we set off with lowering clouds and intermittent drizzle. The cloud was high enough at first to see the tops of all but the highest hills, and it wasn't too misty, but normal service has definitely been resumed. And the forecast for tomorrow is worse - more windy and rainy.
The West Highland Way follows the route of 82 road to Fort William for much of this part, often using the Old Military Road which mostly clings to the hillsides. This is unsealed and more of a farm track now, but is still quite usable. Luckily, the track avoids sticking too close to the A road, which is very busy and noisy, and does afford some great views of the enormous mountains and glens of this region. We are in the land of Munros now - mountains over 3,000 feet in height, and some seem to rise like pyramids directly from the glen bottom to their full height, so would be a tough climb. Today they looked massive and brooding, and you could see the squalls and rain showers rushing up towards you, blotting out any view. When such squalls hit, the wind is strong, but they weren't too wet today, and also the wind tended to be behind us which is enormously better than a head wind!
We climbed for most of the morning, at first alongside a small river that had cut some spectacular gorges through the hard rock. Then we were in a big pine forest that was very restful (no wind) and sometimes broke open to afford distant views. Eventually we dropped to the pretty Tyndrum wood that has been replanted with mixed woodland, then arrived at the village of Tyndrum for lunch. It always seems to look this way when I pass through it - damp and windy. The afternoon was all on the Old MIlitary ROad, which made for easy walking but the wind and rain picked up and the views suffered, so we were glad to arrive at the Bridge Of Orchy Hotel after 19 miles and our stop for the night.
The scenery in this weather is still majestic, but you miss so much with the cloud over the mountains, and it is very bleak.