Is Day 9 at West Highland WayAnd although technically I did not walk on any path of path today, I took a small secondary search for Sin Trail to explore Glencoe, and I am very happy to have done it!
This place is full of history, bad weather and majestic mountains. It was supposed to be a rest day, but it is difficult to justify sitting still when there is much to explore here!
Quick summary of day 9
Feeling currently: Human again after 10 hours of sleep. Still a little off, but much better than yesterday’s headache fog. Mint tea> coffee today.
3 good things that happened today:
- He walked in the hidden valley and left the chaos of the crowd of the tour behind
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I looked at the water that flows under frozen currents, showing small spring moments on their way
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He enjoyed tasty hamburgers and beers at the Cacchaig Inn Boots bar.
By the way, if you missed my blogs from day 1 or day 8, I would recommend reviewing them so you can follow this trip from the beginning!
West Highland Way Day 9: Explore Glencoe and the hidden valley (lost?)
We had originally planned to take a zero today. Sleep, rest your legs, maybe just roam a little. But Glencoe is not the type of place where you only look out the window.
So we did what hikers do better: we took a parallel adventure.
I, following curiosity in the hidden valley. It was supposed to be a day of rest … but Glencoe had other plans.
A tourist turn and a fast escape
We left West Highland Way Trail for the day to see the hidden valley, or the Lost Valley? I’m not sure. Everyone seems to call it something different. Anyway, it is the place where Macdonald clan He hid his cattle (and themselves) after Glencoe’s massacre. The valley is hidden among the three sisters of Glencoe, and is as dramatic as it sounds.
The beginning of the path was just a short walk from Cachaig Inn, and when we arrived, the parking lot was busy! This was the first time on the way that things felt tourist and busy. There were tons of tourism forests in parking and guides giving history talks. There was even a man with a complete dress of highland that was standing in the parking lot all day Playing the bagpipes. Honestly, respect: resistance!
But as soon as we reached a mile, the crowds disappeared. Everything became quieter. The more we entered the valley, the more it seemed that we had slipped into another world. Finally, without traffic, without noise. Only rock, snow and stillness.
Fortunately, after walking just one more or less mile in the valley, the crowds left and had the place mainly for ourselves. The air got quieter, the most steep terrain and the feeling of being deep in the highlands returned.
The deeper we entered the hidden valley, the quieter it put on. No more buses, no more bagpipes, only us, the wind and these dramatic peaks.
Back to the mountains
The path rises abruptly just from the road, with sections that were slippery, loose and a bit short under the feet. But as always, the effort was worth it. The massive spikes rose around us, still holding snow patches in the shadows. We spent streams that had frozen during the night and were now defrosting silently: water bubbling under a thin layer of ice. It seemed that the landscape was waking up slowly. That moment really caught me.
We walk until we reach a waterfall, which marked our response point. Some hikers ahead of us tried to push more, but the path further was covered with snow and did not look safe. We decided not to risk.
Although this lateral path is not officially part of West Highland Way, it is the first time I really felt I was walking in the mountains. No road noise. There are no nearby cities. Right in the valley, surrounded by all sides by peaks. This is my happy place.
Spring signs, even in stillness. Seeing the water bubble in silence under the ice was one of those little moments of paths that stays with you.
Somewhere between snow, silence and sound of hasty water, I found my happy place.
Lunch and a relaxed night
We find a place near lunch cataracts: homemade sandwiches with Cheddar, Salami and Chorizo. He had left all the snacks in the room (classic), but the sandwiches gave on the spot. Simple and perfect.
We returned to the inn around 6 pm, and I was starving. He jumped the shower and went directly to the boots bar. I obtained half a Pinta from IPA, and Orion ordered a Lochlea whiskey (he has been on a mission to test all the premises).
We both obtained the hamburgers with cheese and fries. It does not change life, but solid comforting food. I tried a second beer, a Lupulada golden beer, and we hung a little around the bar before climbing the stairs to read and collide.
Tradition after the walk in West Highland Way: hamburgers, beer (or whiskey), and that type of perfect fatigue that only comes after one day in the mountains.
Final thoughts
Although this was supposed to be a rest day, I am very happy that we had turned. The hidden valley felt as one of those places that is easy to lose but in an unforgettable silence.
Tomorrow we will meet with West Highland Way and say to the north. But today he reminded me how good it feels sometimes out of the way: reduce speed, follow his curiosity and let the day develop on his own.
Looking back in the hidden valley, a detour that gave me exactly what I didn’t know. Don’t worry. Space. Mountains. One of the best parts of the entire trip.
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