More of the West Highland Way

We started out from the King's House Hotel, which sits more or less between Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor. Whilst we sip our tea or coffee we admire the marvellous view of the pyramid-shaped Stob Dearg (1022 m), and also try to gauge the weather - will it be rain or shine? We eventually make a determined start and climb the Devil's Stair Case. We tarry at the top, waiting for Jim, Nigel and Yvonna, who then return to the hotel in order to bring the cars around to Kinlochleven.

We have climbed up the Devil's Staircase.

We then progress along the West Highland Way (hereabouts essentially the Old Military Road) reaching Kinlochleven via the interesting hydro-electric power station, built to provide power (low voltage, a lot of amps) for aluminium smelting.

After a refreshment at the Tailrace Inn (boots allowed, but leave your rucksacks by the entrance please), the scenic car journey back to Fort William awaits us.

Car to Glencoe

The car journey from Fort William was memorable. The scenery near Ballachulsh could best be described as dramatic. We then entered Glen Coe, the breathtaking location of the famous altercation in 1692 - the London government (William and Mary) versus the local Clan Macdonald and supporters.

The scenery from the car near Ballachulsh is dramatic ...




... but wait until you enter Glen Coe - breathtaking location of an erstwhile strong altercation between two warring clans.

King's House Hotel

We waited patiently in the King's House Hotel while we consulted the local Weather Oracle, the picturesque Stob Dearg. It was a question of sunshine or a Highland downpour. Eventually the weather cleared up sufficiently for us to make a get-away.

As we patiently sip our refreshments in the King's House Hotel we consult the Weather Oracle, the picturesque Stob Dearg.




Is it going to be sunshine ...




... or a Highland downpour?

Devil's Staircase

Enough of this weather watching! We set off and climb the Devil's Staircase. How the troops of old must of sweated up this path! They had much heavier kit than we did, and may well have had the possibility of hostile locals to contend with. We stopped to enjoy the view, but once the car drivers had scaled the Devil's Staircase and started their return descent to the cars, we embarked on the onward path to Kinlochleven.

Enough of this weather watching! We set off and climb the Devil's Staircase. How the troops of old must of sweated up this path! They had much heavier kit than we did, and may well have had the possibility of hostile locals to contend with.




We like it up here, but once the car drivers have scaled the Devil's Staircase and started their return descent to the cars, we shall embark on the onward path to Kinlochleven.




Our way ahead is in the distance, just to the left of the cairn.

Kinlochleven

Before we reached Kinlochleven, our destination, we made a slight deviation to admire the tranquil and picturesque surroundings of one of the reservoirs for the hydro-electric scheme. From Kinlochleven, the car journey back to Fort William from Kinlochleven, was as dramatic as the outward journey.

We are nearing our destination, but make a slight deviation to admire the tranquil and picturesque surroundings of one of the reservoirs for the hydro-electric scheme. It would have involved a lot of risky acrobatics to include the interesting waterfall to the right of this picture, so the viewer must imagine it - but it was there, honest!




The car journey back to Fort William from Kinlochleven, was as dramatic as the outward journey. It is not a tornado that you see, but the windscreen wiper which somehow got in the way.

Our Evening

For our evening, some of us visited eateries in Fort William High Street. Others decided to dine at the hostel in DIY fashion, having visited the large local Morrison's store beforehand.