Hi Cathie, may I just throw in a few comments?
jmarkb's comment on that path is correct according to my distant memory of it. Small point: the road is the A82 not the A87.
ArthursEat is referring to a different path in the same area but I would say he is spot on in his other comments i.e. basically "keep it simple".
MapsIt was not obvious to know which path you were referring to because you were basing your description on what appears on Google Maps. So, what I want to tell you is: don't use Google Maps for anything except very rough planning. For actual route planning, use topographic maps from the national mapping agency, which is known as Ordnance Survey, OS for short.
You can access some of those topo maps on this web site (click on menu bar 'GPS'). If you are logged in, when you zoom in the most, you are looking at the licensed OS 1:25,000 map (gimmicky marketing name for this is 'Explorer'). Like this:
If you zoom out a bit, you will see a smaller scale map which unfortunately is not the OS 1:50,000 map but is a 'free' map that is less detailed, like this:
You can see from that image that it is missing important stuff like some tracks and paths which are very visible on the ground, and important. Also there are some green dashed lines suggesting paths but those are not necessarily reliable. So I would not depend much on this free map.
(I'll tell you more about the high quality OS 1:50,000 map, gimmicky marketing name 'Landranger', in a moment.)
If you zoom out more you see the OS 1:250,000 map, like this:
In fact, the OS 1:50,000 scale maps are ideal for your planning and navigation, so how do you see those, given that they are not on this WH web site? (Sadly, we are getting complicated quickly, but keep reading...)
One site that has them is streetmap.co.uk. E.g.
https://streetmap.co.uk/map?x=226157&y=754645&z=120&sv=kingshouse&st=3&tl=Map+of+Kingshouse+Hotel,+Highland+[Town]&searchp=ids&mapp=map shows you:
but it is not the best.
Bing Maps has an OS layer, but I am not sure if it's available outside the UK (unless you have a VPN, more complexity...):
I suggest you are best to subscribe to the OS Maps service:
https://osmaps.com/ To see the licensed maps, you would need to use their premium service, which costs £5 per month or £29 per year, but they do have a seven day free trial so you could see what it would do for you.
OS Maps is very simple and basic but it lets you download the licensed maps to your device, e.g. to your smartphone for offline use, no phone signal or data plan involved, and it shows your position on the map (assuming your phone has Location services i.e. GPS). You can also use OS Maps on a PC where the bigger screen is handy for planning.
With OS Maps you would always have a proper topographic map available to you and always know where you are on that map (well, if you remember to look at the map, ahem....)
Grid referencesIn the UK, outdoorsy people tend to be familiar with 'National Grid' grid references for quoting a position. An example: NN308498 as given by jmarkb. (This is a 'six-figure' grid reference which defines a 100m x 100m area). It is more practical than latitude/longitude figures or 'just after the Loch Ba viewpoint'.
Here is a simple primer on grid references:
https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guides/beginners-guide-to-grid-references/Also, if you are using the maps on this WalkHighlands web site, you'll see the grid reference for your cursor position, and you can also centre the map on a grid reference by pasting it in the search box in the map window.
Understanding grid references is certainly not essential for your visit but I suggest it would be helpful to you.
Another app, also from OS and free, is called 'OS Locate', and it simply shows your grid reference, based on your phone's location (i.e. GPS generally). You can install it anytime but it will only be able to give you a sensible location while you are in the UK, since the National Grid only covers the UK (actually, only the GB part of the UK).
In the highly unlikely event you needed to call an emergency service, if you had OS Locate, you could get your position via the app, and you could supply that grid reference to the emergency services.
Your route plansSorry to make this post so long, and I am aware you did not ask for comments but....
Taxi from Kingshouse Hotel to Altnafeadh at foot of Devil's Staircase? It is up to you of course, but I imagine that taxi fare would not be cheap because the taxi will have to come from somewhere to where you are, in the middle of nowhere, drive you 4km then drive back to somewhere.
Getting a bus for that distance would be cheaper, maybe £6, but I would say if you cannot way the quite easy walk (one hour walk?) from Kingshouse to Altnafeadh you should be seriously asking how you're going to go over the Devil's Staircase, which is not a tough walk in my opinion, but it is nearly twice the distance that you'd be Rosie Ruizing and it is definitely over a hill. Put another way, if you can walk over the Devil's Staircase you can easily do Kingshouse - Altnafeadh as well.
Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse on the 7th: this is actually longer than your day on the 8th, being some 19km and has some hill ascent too. I can see your idea, getting dropped off at Loch Ba then going on the path you identified west to the WHW then N to Kingshouse. Yes it could be done that way. Again I would not want to think of how much a taxi would cost, but the bus goes that way and the driver would probably drop you off at Loch Ba (again, knowing exactly where you are via OS Maps would help you get off at the right place...)
BTW this is an excellent site for journey planning:
https://www.travelinescotland.com/lts/#/travelInfoHowever, reading between the lines, it seems to me you are looking for day walks, are not too familiar with what's on offer in this part of Scotland, and naturally enough are gravitating towards the WHW but you don't want to walk the whole WHW, just chunks that are manageable for you in a day. Yes those two parts of the WHW you identified are quite nice but they are not exceptional, and there are many other paths to roam on which might offer you more flexibility as to distance.
I would suggest, change your plans a bit, do more like what you're saying you'll do at Corrour / Loch Ossian i.e. pick a base that you can be at for two or three nights, and do walks around that base. You can go as long or short a walk as you feel like.
Along the A82 is actually quite good because there are decent transport options along it, and places you could base yourself. Also, the WHW tracks the A82 which means there tend to be backpacker type accommodation options too. A base also probably gives you the option of having a short day if the weather is really bad.
Accommodation prices: some of the hotel prices are just eye watering. I just checked the Kingshouse Inn (Hotel) and they want an incredible £518 for a Saturday night stay because there is a two night minimum. On the other hand they have bunkhouse beds for £40 - £50, which I would also say is very expensive but I guess it's a lot better. If you were staying at Loch Ossian YH then you must be okay with bunk beds so you could look at bunkhouses or more budget hotels / B&Bs.
Examples of places:
1. Tyndrum: e.g. By the Way Hostel, a dorm bed is £25 per night. You have your cooking facilities and lots of young people to talk to, to make you feel young again
You can go by train or bus in three or four directions and back again. Lots of super walks. See
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/argyll/tyndrum.shtml for starters.
2. Bridge of Orchy: looks like they no longer have a bunkhouse. I would not personally pay their hotel rates. Could be nice to stop in for a drink or food before or after a walk but otherwise, Tyndrum is just a few miles down the road and easily reached. Beinn Dorain is one of the easier hills and is a simple (I didn't say easy) walk directly from the train station.
3. Inveroran Hotel, near Loch Tulla. From memory, a charming small hotel (just about 9 bedrooms) with limited facilities but more moderate price. Walk from Bridge of Orchy, about 1hr walk. There are many nice walks in this very scenic area, e.g west from Victoria Bridge to Loch Dochard and back. Also hills, Stob Gabhar is a superb experience.
4. Kingshouse Inn / Hotel: as mentioned, the bunkhouse is sort of affordable. Easy enough to reach by bus on A82 with a 500m walk from road end. Walks around here could include: east along north edge of Rannoch Moor, on a good track, then back again (this is very scenic and quite easy); up Devil's Staircase and back or maybe continue to Kinlochleven like you planned You could also get the bus back to Loch Ba then walk WHW to Kingshouse like you planned. The nearby Glencoe Mountain Resort has a chairlift but I'm not sure if it is open in October. Of course there are also hills nearby.
5. Glencoe e.g. hostels: not sure how good this would be. It is a great climbing / strenuous hillwalking base but maybe does not have so much variety of easier ambles.
6. Loch Ossian / Corrour: this is a good idea, especially if you can spend two or three nights there. Lots of good walks in the area, and navigation is quite easy (e.g. walk around Loch Ossian, you cannot possibly get lost...). Other walks: west down to Loch Treig then on if you like to Staoineag bothy, and back; SW up a hill, Leum Ulleim; SE along a good path / track down to Rannoch Station, then train back; E along Loch Ossian then continue up glen for a while, and back; E and N along Loch Ossian then along Strath Ossian, and back.
This WalkHighlands site has a fantastic set of suggested walks, and wherever you stay, they will be very happy to give you suggestions for day walks.
Okay, enough, sorry to have droned on. I hope this will help you.