3: One of the best sections of the West Highland Way in One Day
Stunning train journey from Bridge of Orchy to Crianlarich (24 minutes)
Join the West Highland Way in Crianlarich
13 miles (21km) walk
Hilly in places but flat for the highlands (495m ascent total)
Lunch in Tyndrum (half way)
Hiking boots required
We had an 8 and 9 year old at the time. It took us the whole day - 8 hours!
Getting to the Start
The starting point is the Bridge of Orchy train station, where you’ll catch the train to Crainlarich.
If you’re driving there in the morning, you’re going to want to leave early. Ideally catching the train from Bridge of Orchy to Crainlarich at 9am. This means leaving Edinburgh at 6:30am….!
There’s a good car park in the train station and you can park there all day. The postcode is PA36 4AD.
Another alternative is to stay the night before in the Bridge of Orchy hotel the evening before. It’s a great hotel with a variety of rooms at different price points.
If using public transport, you’ll have to stay in the hotel the evening before. The hotel is directly across the road from the train station.
Highlights
The train journey is a joy in itself. The scenery is stunning. If you catch a clear, crisp day - you cannot beat the feeling of standing on the remote train station surrounded by insanely beautiful hills.
The walk encapsulates woodland, farmland, rivers, waterfalls, highland scenery, old graveyards, campsites and tourist village (Tyndrum). It’s so varied. There are so many distractions to keep the whole family walking.
There are a few cafes in Tyndrum for lunch. There’s also an on-site shop at the Strathfillan Wigwam village that you walk through on the route.
It feels like a real achievement. We got the train at 9am and finished the walk at 4pm. We did this on New Years Eve 2019 and felt like we were the only people in the world. The kids still talk about it.
Walk Description
This day out makes for an early start if you are starting in Edinburgh. The drive is just over 2 hours. We left at 6.30am and had enough time to grab a morning roll and coffee at the Real Food Cafe in Tyndrum.
Park the car in Bridge of Orchy and jump on the train to Crianlarich. There is only one train each morning leaving from Bridge of Orchy to Crianlarich. It leaves at 9.07am (2022 timetable) and takes 25 minutes. About £5 single per adult and £2.50 single for kids under 15.
The West Highland Way is nicely signposted out of Crianlarich train station. Cross the main road out of the station and you see a big sign for West Highland Way / Drovers Loop. Follow the path into the woods and after 5 minutes you join the main West Highland Way route.
One of the great things about the West Highland Way is that the path is super easy to follow and there are very regular signposts - photos below show a few examples. Very difficult to get lost.
The path out of Crianlarich takes you up hill into the woods high above the village. This is really the only major piece of uphill walking for the day. It’s not steep, just pleasant winding path up into the woods until you are high above the valley and it opens up to incredible hill views in all directions.
After about 45 mins / 1 hour the route drops back down to the main road (A82) and you cross over. There is a safe crossing place so even when the road is busy it’s not dangerous for walkers.
The route passes through a gate to pass St Fillan's Priory which dates from the 13th century and is associated with Robert the Bruce. There is an even older graveyard on your left and you shortly reach the Strathfillan Wigwams. We bought a few snacks from their nicely stocked campsite shop and enjoyed their outdoor picnic tables.
From there the path follows the river into Tyndrum. Half way point and time for lunch before heading into the afternoon. There are lots of lunch options in Tyndrum if you haven’t got a packed lunch, with a well stocked mini market and the well known Green Welly Stop for takeway options.
The West Highland Way leaves Tyndrum at the end of the village, taking the road leading gently uphill next to the mini market on the north side of the A82. As always it’s well signposted and from then onwards the route is undulating but never steep.
Into the afternoon the route runs fairly parallel to the train track back to Bridge of Orchy. The trains are so infrequent thought that it’s fun when you spot one rather than impinging on the peacefulness of the walk. Your eyes are mainly drawn to the steep and stunning slopes of the munro Beinn Dòrain that you have in view above you for the route back to Bridge of Orchy.
We made it back to the car park at Bridge of Orchy for around 4pm.
TOP TIPS
Keep your eye on your weather app to choose the best day possible for this. This is a longish day out and worth avoiding the rain for.
This is a great introduction to walking the highlands but it never gets too remote so you can easily pick up more food and drinks along the way.
Drinks and a pack of crisps in the bar at Bridge of Orchy Hotel when you finish taste fantastic.
If you do this walk and enjoy it as much as we did, the route Bridge of Orchy to Glen Coe is just as amazing across Rannoch Moor. We’ll be adding this walk to the site too soon.
