From Inverarnan to Bridge of Orchy

Departure from Beinglas Farm, in Inverarnan, on the left bank of the River Falloch.
N.B. If you’re staying at the Drovers Inn, on the opposite bank, return to Beinglas Farm via the A82 and then take the small road on the right which crosses the river… and allow an extra 700 metres.

Official WHW signposting: signposts with a thistle symbol + signposts with a yellow arrow for changes in direction + directional signposts.

(S) Opposite the entrance to the bar-restaurant, turn right (east). Shortly afterwards, take a track suitable for vehicles on the left. Follow this track north, then north-north-east for about 1.5 km. Ignore a track coming from the right and continue to a crossroads.

(1) Then turn right (east-north-east) onto a stony path (ignore the two tracks branching off to the left). Follow this path, which is slightly uphill or roughly level, and cross several streams via footbridges. Pass a waterfall (Falls of Falloch).

(2) Go through a gate and cross a meadow, keeping roughly parallel to a power line. You’ll come to a bridge over the River Allt a’ Chuilinn.

N.B. The WHW is supposed to cross this bridge and continue straight on to the point (5). However, in August 2019, this bridge was destroyed following a severe flood. Pending its reconstruction, the route and description follow the diversion that has been put in place.

(3) Turn right at the entrance to the destroyed bridge and head up through the meadow alongside the river and a fence (well-marked path). After about 250 metres, you will come to a second bridge (passable).

(4) Cross the river via this bridge and follow a wide track downhill.

(5) At the three-way junction, rejoin the WHW and turn right (east-north-east) onto a track that leads uphill. At the three-way junction that follows, turn left and head back downhill. Pass some sheepfolds and then an isolated house, before arriving at a bridge over the River Falloch.

N.B. The WHW is supposed to cross this bridge but, in August 2019, it was closed as it was deemed unsafe following the flooding mentioned above. A makeshift ford had been set up downstream of the bridge.

(6) Whilst waiting for the bridge to reopen, therefore, wade across the river, which is quite wide but not too deep. You’ll have to be prepared to get your feet thoroughly wet (and shake them dry on the other side); do take care! Head back to the bridge upstream, turn left onto the tarmac and then immediately right to join a path through the woodland. Follow the river on your right-hand side.

(7) After a left-hand bend, pass under the railway line (be sure to duck your head). The path then turns right and crosses a stream. You’ll come out onto a small road; follow it to the right. Pass under the A82 road, climb a flight of steps and then go over a stile. The path continues to climb.

(8) At the T-junction, at the foot of an electricity pylon, follow a stony path to the right – this is a former military road. Enjoy a pleasant walk along the hillside.

(9) After about 1.5 km, the stones give way to gravel. Walk alongside a low stone wall and note a farmhouse below on the right. Go through a gate and arrive at a junction at the edge of the forest.

(10) Turn left here towards Tyndrum. Walk past a picnic table and head uphill into the forest. You’ll reach more open ground and then come to a small hill offering a lovely view.

(11) After a flat stretch, begin the descent through the woodland.

(12) Cross the bridge over the Herive Burn, continue down a little further, cross another bridge and head back up. Go back down, ignore a faint path on the left and turn right.

(13) At a T-junction, turn left along a stream. Turn right immediately to cross the stream. Further on, turn right and head downhill with a river below on your left.

(14) Pass under a railway bridge and turn left onto the path, which runs parallel to the A82 road on your right. Cross this road (take care) and continue along the path beside the road, which is now on your left. Cross a horse pasture.

(15) Then cross the bridge over the River Fillan. At the junction just beyond the bridge, go straight on along a small road between meadows.

(16) Opposite the farm (house on the left, large shed on the right), turn left onto a gravel track. Go through a gate, walk past a small cemetery on your right and turn left. Cross some meadows. Further on, cross a campsite and then cross a river.

(17) As you come off the bridge, follow a small road to the left and ignore the side tracks

(18) Just before the junction with the A82, leave the tarmac and turn left onto a path that passes under the busy road. Join a track and follow it to the left. Walk alongside a river on your left.

(19) When you reach a bridge closed to traffic, cross a small road and continue along the path opposite. Pass the site believed to be the location of the Battle of Dalrigh in 1306 (information board).

(20) You’ll come out onto a track; follow it to the right for about fifty metres. Then leave this track and take a path on the left. After about a hundred metres, you’ll come out onto another track; follow it to the left.

(21) Cross a bridge closed to vehicles over 2 tonnes. When another track joins from the left, continue straight on, veering slightly to the right.

(22) About 400 metres after the bridge, turn right onto a footpath. Pass the Lochan of the Lost Sword on your right (information sign) and walk through stands of heather.

(23) Pass through a gate, cross an open area where a stone column stands surrounded by a ring of small stone pillars, ignore a bridge on the right and take the path opposite through a pine forest. Further on, follow the river on your right and note a campsite on the opposite bank. Ignore a bridge on the right and continue straight ahead.

(24) You’ll come out onto a small road; follow it to the left. As you approach the railway station (Tyndrum Lower Station), leave the road and take a path on the right. Walk alongside a stream on your right.

(25) Cross the A82 (take care) and continue straight ahead on the track alongside the stream. A little further on, you’ll see the A82 some distance away on your left. Pass two reservoirs on your right.

(26) Cross the bridge over the railway line. Walk northwards parallel to the railway line, which is on your left. Further on, go under the railway line and continue northwards parallel to the track. Then walk alongside the River Allt Coire Chaile on your left. At the end of the track, cross the bridge over the Allt Kinglass.

(27) As you come off the bridge, at the foot of the imposing Beinn Dorain, turn left. First walk alongside the river on your left, then alongside the railway line on your right.

(28) Cross over the railway line again and then follow it on your left.

(29) Walk past Bridge of Orchy station and cross the railway line (take care). You’ll come out onto a small road; follow it to the right, downhill, until you reach the junction with the A82. Cross this road (take care) to reach the Bridge of Orchy Hotel on the other side (E).

Equipment:
Waterproof walking boots. Rain gear: rain poncho, rucksack cover, etc. Cold-weather gear, depending on your sensitivity to the cold. Midge repellent.

Guidance:
The route is relatively straightforward and the route is very well signposted at junctions. A paper map is useful (at the very least the one accompanying this description) or a route track on a smartphone (remember to cache the base map beforehand).

Food and drink:
Make sure you have a supply of water and a packed lunch before setting off.
(25) In Tyndrum, there is a mini-market and several hotels, bars and restaurants.

Accommodation on arrival (E):
Bridge of Orchy Hotel, at the junction of the A82 and the small road leading to the village. Tel: +44 - (0)1 838 400 220. Bar and restaurant.

Shorter alternative route:
This stage is very long. If you wish to shorten it, you can travel the section between Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy by public transport. In that case, the stage will be 20 km. Train and bus timetables allow you to make this journey either at the end of the stage or the following day at the start of the next stage.
- By train – Please note that there are two stations in Tyndrum and only Upper Tyndrum Station provides access to Bridge of Orchy. To reach this ‘upper’ station, at point (24), follow Lower Station Road to the right; this leads onto the A82, which you should follow to the right for about 60 metres; then turn left onto Upper Station Road, which winds its way up to the station in a series of bends. Once you arrive at Bridge of Orchy station (29), walk the final 400 metres of the journey to the hotel. Timetables and fares: see the ScotRail website.
- By bus - At the junction (24), follow Lower Station Road to the right; this leads onto the A82, where you should follow the road to the left, keeping to the left-hand pavement; the bus stop is immediately there, just before the public toilets. In Bridge of Orchy, the bus stop is situated right outside the hotel. Timetables and fares: see the Citylink website.

- From (8) to (10): a pleasant hillside route along a comfortable old military road.
- From (10) to (14): a lovely route through woodland.
- From (15) to (17): a walk through a farm (sheep and cattle), with several information boards provided by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).
- Shortly after (16): ruins of an old abbey and a small historic cemetery.
- Between (19) and (20): an information board about the Battle of Dalrigh (1306).
- Shortly afterwards (22): Lochan of the Lost Sword, where, according to legend, Robert Bruce ’s (1274–1329) sword was thrown following the defeat at Dalrigh and is said to still lie at the bottom of the lochan today (information board).
- Between (26) and (29), a lovely walk at the foot of the high hills.