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Tyndrum (West Highlands) Weekend ~ Friday 26th March 10 from 7pm to Sunday 28th March 10
Tyndrum (West Highlands) Weekend
£
150.00
INCLUDED IN COST:
Two nights Bed & Breakfast at the Tyndrum Lodge Hotel
Full days guiding on two days, offering two walks each day (Sat/Sun).
Packed Lunch on each day.
The price shown on the right will reduce depending on numbers booked for the weekend. (Min of 10 clients)
Guides Booked : Shaun Hibbard & Ken White
Two nights Bed & Breakfast at the Tyndrum Lodge Hotel
Full days guiding on two days, offering two walks each day (Sat/Sun).
Packed Lunch on each day.
The price shown on the right will reduce depending on numbers booked for the weekend. (Min of 10 clients)
Guides Booked : Shaun Hibbard & Ken White
Overview
Tyndrum forms part of one of the major junctions in the Highlands. Here travellers must choose whether to head north to Glen Coe and Fort William or West towards Oban. The name comes from the Gaelic Tigh an Druim, which translates as "the house on the ridge".
Today's village earns much of its living by providing goods, services and accommodation to passing travellers, mostly motorists heading up or down the busy A85 and A82 trunk roads. The village's origins date back to the days when droves of highland cattle from the north and west passed through en route to markets in central Scotland bringing lots of tired, hungry and thirsty drovers with them.
Today's village earns much of its living by providing goods, services and accommodation to passing travellers, mostly motorists heading up or down the busy A85 and A82 trunk roads. The village's origins date back to the days when droves of highland cattle from the north and west passed through en route to markets in central Scotland bringing lots of tired, hungry and thirsty drovers with them.
The village did benefit from local lead mining (and, briefly, a gold rush) but its core role as a way-station was re-established with the arrival of not one but two railways in the 1800s. One goes through Lower Tyndrum Station and links Glasgow with Oban.
Another goes through Upper Tyndrum Station, and heads out to Fort William and Mallaig. Tyndrum's allegedly unique claim to fame, certainly in the 1970s, was as the smallest settlement in Britain to be served not just by two railway stations, but by two railway lines as well...
These days, another type of passing traffic has also arrived. The West Highland Way long distance footpath comes right through the village before heading north on the old military road towards Bridge of Orchy and Rannoch Moor.
Tyndrum is one of the main settlements on the route, and if you're heading north, the last of any significance for a long way. It also offers respite and accommodation to those following the route of the Coast to Coast Walk from Oban to St Andrews.
There is more here for the passing walker as well, there are 25+ Munros and 8 Corbetts in the area such as the massive Ben Lui (Calf Hill) at 1130m (3707ft), Ben Oss (Hill of the Loch) at 1029m (3376ft) and Beinn Dorain (Hill of the Streamlet) at 1076m (3530ft) to name just a few. These big mountains tempt you away from the long distance footpaths, if only for a short time.
Tyndrum also offers the attractively eccentric Green Welly Stop which offers a wide range of items for sale, including green wellies, plus, at the west end of the village, the brightly coloured Mini-Market which was, it says, established in 1930.
This service-centred approach has always left Tyndrum with a functional feel, and its greatest fan would probably stop short of calling it pretty. But it has a certain character, and regular visitors to the Highlands will always see it as a milestone on the long road north, marking the end of the central highland glens and the start of the climb to Rannoch Moor and the sharper north-west highland scenery beyond.
For details of some of the walks please see below :
Another goes through Upper Tyndrum Station, and heads out to Fort William and Mallaig. Tyndrum's allegedly unique claim to fame, certainly in the 1970s, was as the smallest settlement in Britain to be served not just by two railway stations, but by two railway lines as well...
These days, another type of passing traffic has also arrived. The West Highland Way long distance footpath comes right through the village before heading north on the old military road towards Bridge of Orchy and Rannoch Moor.
Tyndrum is one of the main settlements on the route, and if you're heading north, the last of any significance for a long way. It also offers respite and accommodation to those following the route of the Coast to Coast Walk from Oban to St Andrews.
There is more here for the passing walker as well, there are 25+ Munros and 8 Corbetts in the area such as the massive Ben Lui (Calf Hill) at 1130m (3707ft), Ben Oss (Hill of the Loch) at 1029m (3376ft) and Beinn Dorain (Hill of the Streamlet) at 1076m (3530ft) to name just a few. These big mountains tempt you away from the long distance footpaths, if only for a short time.
Tyndrum also offers the attractively eccentric Green Welly Stop which offers a wide range of items for sale, including green wellies, plus, at the west end of the village, the brightly coloured Mini-Market which was, it says, established in 1930.
This service-centred approach has always left Tyndrum with a functional feel, and its greatest fan would probably stop short of calling it pretty. But it has a certain character, and regular visitors to the Highlands will always see it as a milestone on the long road north, marking the end of the central highland glens and the start of the climb to Rannoch Moor and the sharper north-west highland scenery beyond.
For details of some of the walks please see below :
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Lower Walks
There will be two lower / less strenous walks, one on the Saturday and one on the Sunday.
These walks are usually between 7 to 12 miles long with little more than 2000ft ascent.
One of the less strenous walks is detailed below :
~ 12miles with 2041ft total ascent ~ West Highland Way, Taster
The West Highland Way (WHW) was the first official long distance footpath, running for 95miles from the northern outskirts of Glasgow, Milngavie to Fort William in the Highlands. It is walked by 1000’s of walkers each year and its popularity is down to every step you make, every mile past, the scenery is ever changing, ranging from lowland moors, dense woodland and rolling hills, to high mountainous regions. For this walk we take a section of this route from Inverarnan to Tyndrum, walking mostly on easy going old military roads passing a succession of gorges, rocky rapids, short cascades and waterfalls.
We drive to our starting point at Inverarnan, then walk over the bridge crossing the River Falloch where shortly we head northwards behind Beinglas Farm. The way follows this spectacular section of the River Falloch where ample photo opportunities are to be had; a few kilometres on we pass the white-washed farm of Derrydaroch. From here we cross the bridge over the river and onto a gravel path. After a short rise and fall, the Way passes under the railway and road by a “sheep creep” (low tunnel), from where we then pick up another military road going uphill towards a conifer plantation. Here we pass above Crianlarich through trees, grassy slopes and heather. After crossing a footbridge, we climb to reach a track where the Way zigzags northwards through the trees and descend into the burn valley. After dropping down to the railway passing an attractive waterfall and under a viaduct, we follow the A82 on its south side for a short distance before crossing it. Continuing following the farm road to Kirkton, among the trees by Kirkton Farm are the ruins of St Fillan’s Chapel and its graveyard. Here we contour the hillside until we reach Auchtertyre Farm with its wigwams and campsite; we must look up to the right to see the falls on the burn, with the railway viaduct above. We once again cross the A82 to follow the path along the River Cononish where we turn and head into Tyndrum.
Other Walk Planned, in Brief :
~ 11miles with 1685ft total ascent ~ West Highland Way, The Black Mount
This walk takes in the spectacular section of the Way from Bridge of Orchy to the Kings House Hotel, where we cross the wild land of the Black Mount and past the ski centre of Glencoe, you really appreciate how the Way begins to get high and wild. (Top of Page)
These walks are usually between 7 to 12 miles long with little more than 2000ft ascent.
One of the less strenous walks is detailed below :
~ 12miles with 2041ft total ascent ~ West Highland Way, Taster
The West Highland Way (WHW) was the first official long distance footpath, running for 95miles from the northern outskirts of Glasgow, Milngavie to Fort William in the Highlands. It is walked by 1000’s of walkers each year and its popularity is down to every step you make, every mile past, the scenery is ever changing, ranging from lowland moors, dense woodland and rolling hills, to high mountainous regions. For this walk we take a section of this route from Inverarnan to Tyndrum, walking mostly on easy going old military roads passing a succession of gorges, rocky rapids, short cascades and waterfalls.
We drive to our starting point at Inverarnan, then walk over the bridge crossing the River Falloch where shortly we head northwards behind Beinglas Farm. The way follows this spectacular section of the River Falloch where ample photo opportunities are to be had; a few kilometres on we pass the white-washed farm of Derrydaroch. From here we cross the bridge over the river and onto a gravel path. After a short rise and fall, the Way passes under the railway and road by a “sheep creep” (low tunnel), from where we then pick up another military road going uphill towards a conifer plantation. Here we pass above Crianlarich through trees, grassy slopes and heather. After crossing a footbridge, we climb to reach a track where the Way zigzags northwards through the trees and descend into the burn valley. After dropping down to the railway passing an attractive waterfall and under a viaduct, we follow the A82 on its south side for a short distance before crossing it. Continuing following the farm road to Kirkton, among the trees by Kirkton Farm are the ruins of St Fillan’s Chapel and its graveyard. Here we contour the hillside until we reach Auchtertyre Farm with its wigwams and campsite; we must look up to the right to see the falls on the burn, with the railway viaduct above. We once again cross the A82 to follow the path along the River Cononish where we turn and head into Tyndrum.
Other Walk Planned, in Brief :
~ 11miles with 1685ft total ascent ~ West Highland Way, The Black Mount
This walk takes in the spectacular section of the Way from Bridge of Orchy to the Kings House Hotel, where we cross the wild land of the Black Mount and past the ski centre of Glencoe, you really appreciate how the Way begins to get high and wild. (Top of Page)
Hard Walks
There will be two hard walks, one on the Saturday and one on the Sunday.
These walks are usually between 10 to 15 miles long with upto 5000ft ascent.
One of these walks is detailed below :
~ 8miles with 4093ft total ascent ~ Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh
Beinn Dorain (Hill of the otter) at 1076m (3530ft) stands proudly a few miles North of Tyndrum, it’s one of those mountains that stands out above the rest as you head north along the A82. As you look at it, it looks a very daunting climb but it does have a softer nature and this can be found on its Western side where we will gain access onto its ridge.
Starting from close to the Bridge of Orchy railway station we follow a climbers path up the south side of the Allt Coire an Dothaidh burn, we gain height quickly and the path steepens as we head up closer into the Coire. Once we reach the col at nearly 2500ft, which separates the Munros of Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh (Hill of the scorching) at 1004m (3294ft), we turn south up an obvious rocky ridge towards the summit of Beinn Dorain. From here the views open up all around us and some real big mountains standout on the skyline, looking north out over the remote and boggy Rannoch Moor towards the big Ben itself ‘Ben Nevis’ (Venomous mountain) at 1344m (4409ft), northwest are the mountains around Glencoe such as Bidean nam Bian (Peak of the mountains) at 1150m (3773ft), west towards Ben Cruachan (Stacky hill) at 1126m (3694ft), southwest to the obvious and outstanding Ben Lui (Hill of the calf) at 1130m (3707ft), southeast to Ben More (Big hill) at 1174m (3852ft) and east to the mighty Ben Lawers (Hill of the loud stream) at 1214m (3983ft).
After a wee break and photo session we retrace our steps back to the col and continue north up easy slopes to the summit of our second Munro of Beinn an Dothaidh. From this vantage point we can look back at the 2km ridge we had walked up earlier and appreciate Beinn Dorain from a different angle. Unfortunately from here we retrace our steps to the col and back down the Coire to our awaiting cars.
Other Walk Planned, in Brief :
~ 6.5miles with 3561ft total ascent ~ Ben Lui and Beinn a' Chleibh
This walk takes in the two munros of Ben Lui and Beinn a' Chleibh from Glen Lochy.
Below is an alternative to doing the Ben Lui walk above, this decision will be made the night prior to the walk :
~ 6.5miles with 4438ft total ascent ~ Ben More and Stob Binnein
(Top of Page)
These walks are usually between 10 to 15 miles long with upto 5000ft ascent.
One of these walks is detailed below :
~ 8miles with 4093ft total ascent ~ Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh
Beinn Dorain (Hill of the otter) at 1076m (3530ft) stands proudly a few miles North of Tyndrum, it’s one of those mountains that stands out above the rest as you head north along the A82. As you look at it, it looks a very daunting climb but it does have a softer nature and this can be found on its Western side where we will gain access onto its ridge.
Starting from close to the Bridge of Orchy railway station we follow a climbers path up the south side of the Allt Coire an Dothaidh burn, we gain height quickly and the path steepens as we head up closer into the Coire. Once we reach the col at nearly 2500ft, which separates the Munros of Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh (Hill of the scorching) at 1004m (3294ft), we turn south up an obvious rocky ridge towards the summit of Beinn Dorain. From here the views open up all around us and some real big mountains standout on the skyline, looking north out over the remote and boggy Rannoch Moor towards the big Ben itself ‘Ben Nevis’ (Venomous mountain) at 1344m (4409ft), northwest are the mountains around Glencoe such as Bidean nam Bian (Peak of the mountains) at 1150m (3773ft), west towards Ben Cruachan (Stacky hill) at 1126m (3694ft), southwest to the obvious and outstanding Ben Lui (Hill of the calf) at 1130m (3707ft), southeast to Ben More (Big hill) at 1174m (3852ft) and east to the mighty Ben Lawers (Hill of the loud stream) at 1214m (3983ft).
After a wee break and photo session we retrace our steps back to the col and continue north up easy slopes to the summit of our second Munro of Beinn an Dothaidh. From this vantage point we can look back at the 2km ridge we had walked up earlier and appreciate Beinn Dorain from a different angle. Unfortunately from here we retrace our steps to the col and back down the Coire to our awaiting cars.
Other Walk Planned, in Brief :
~ 6.5miles with 3561ft total ascent ~ Ben Lui and Beinn a' Chleibh
This walk takes in the two munros of Ben Lui and Beinn a' Chleibh from Glen Lochy.
Below is an alternative to doing the Ben Lui walk above, this decision will be made the night prior to the walk :
~ 6.5miles with 4438ft total ascent ~ Ben More and Stob Binnein
(Top of Page)