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Bridge of Orchy to Glen Coe via Loch Etive

Bridge of Orchy to Glen Coe via Loch Etive


Postby AspiringHiker » Fri May 06, 2022 7:38 pm

We are planning a three-four day trip doing 20-25km per day and camping throughout. We've done multiday trips before and are fine with distance and rough paths, but not exposed sections. I'm aware of WHW, but wanted to take a less busy route. The current thought is to start at Bridge of Orchy and follow Glen Kinglass to Loch Etive. From there to follow the loch's edge to Glen Etive. There is a path at the end of Glen Etive (at Datness) into two Lairigs: Eilde and Gartain. We are thinking of using them to get to Pass of Glencoe and then follow the single-track that runs along the A82 towards Glen Coe village.

Is there actually a track along A82 that keeps us away from traffic? There is one on the satellite photos, but would appreciate personal experience.

Which of the two Lairigs is more interesting?

Any suggestions and warning will be appreciated.
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Re: Bridge of Orchy to Glen Coe via Loch Etive

Postby jmarkb » Fri May 06, 2022 8:31 pm

There are bits of the old road you can walk which mostly avoids the A82, though it is rough and boggy in places. There is a section around Allt-na-ruidh where you are forced onto the main road for a few hundred metres (take care here!) before you can pick it up again on the south side below the Lost Valley car park. The old road runs out at Achtriochtan farm, but there is a path beside the road as far as the Clachaig turning, from where you can walk along the back road to the village.

There is not much to choose between the Lairigs, so I would go the Lairig Eilde way to minimise the roadside mileage.
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Re: Bridge of Orchy to Glen Coe via Loch Etive

Postby jmarkb » Fri May 06, 2022 9:01 pm

On balance, doing the Devil’s Staircase section of the WHW to Kinlochleven is probably preferable.
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Re: Bridge of Orchy to Glen Coe via Loch Etive

Postby Chris Henshall » Sun May 08, 2022 7:23 am

Your route is certainly more interesting than the West Highland Way but, sadly, much of Glen Kinglass has been trashed by unsympathetic hydro works, especially around the lower reaches of the Allt Hallater. The massive bulldozed tracks mean that it's not the glen that it was and your chances of seeing one of the golden eagles which used to inhabit the southern side of Beinn nan Aighenan are much reduced. Still, the eastern shore of Loch Etive is still relatively beautiful and preferable to the old military road across Rannoch Moor.
As to where you go further north, taking the Larig Gartain and following the Devil's Staircase over to Kinlochleven would be more interesting than heading down to Glencoe Village alongside the A82 - although you would miss the chance of a beer in the Clachaig...
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