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Sunday, 23 May 2021

Day 8 Kings House to Killin

Having already book a place to stay in Killin, I was keen to get there before the torrential rain forecast around 2pm. This early start was made easy by another freezing cold night, even with the new sleeping bag liner. I suppose camping about 1200' might have something to do with it.

I was on the roll by 6.30, before any other tent showed signs of life, I guess they HAD been to the pub! I realised that the normally busy A82 was silent, it being a Sunday morning. So not trusting the West Highland Way to be rideable from the ski centre, I whizzed down to Bridge of Orchy over the desolation of Rannoch Moor.

From the odd little village of Bridge of Orchy, the WHW followed good tracks parallel to the railway all the way to Tyndrum, except for a short section where the new road had deleted the old and the track became a rocky horror show.

Tyndrum is a major crossroads and there are plenty of places to eat, so it was time for a full Scottish at the Green Welly.

Continuing on the WHW, and foolishly trusting it, I enjoyed a lovely Riverside trail followed by a nice route through a community forest. It even detoured to take in the ruins of this once grand monestry.

Then it bit back - zooming off on a steep and rocky forest trail that climbed relentlessly until I finally abandoned it, without regret, to negotiate a steep and nasty descent into Crianlarich. 

From Crianlarich the map shows a disused railway with vague trails, but on the ground there is nothing useable so I am forced back on the main road for a while. At Innishewan B&B a farm track provides relief from the traffic and leads to a delightful and utterly empty minor road all the way to Killin.

Arriving at 2.30 tired, wet and with a sore ankle, there is happily time to relax in the local hostelry and enjoy a few afternoon beers followed by a lie-in.

The foul weather is due to pass over tonight, leaving the promise of some fine, warm high-pressure conditions to follow FINALLY.

Tomorrow I am back on the Great North Trail route, and it looks like a lovely day full of disused railway trails, lochs and forests leading eventually to the Union Canal, which should provide an easy run to Edinburgh the following day.

Miles today: 40. Total so far: 360.
Feet climbed today: 3200. Total so far: 29570.

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