Day 6 and we headed to Orchy Bridge. Today promises an easy to moderate trail of about 7 miles and should get us to our inn by early afternoon. What we need is an easier day because the last 3 days will be challenging.
sugar sand
But first, the origin story behind the Sugar Sands trail name. In Florida, where we hike, we mostly have brush trails or mesic forest trails. The terrain is beautiful but very different from the northeast where I grew up. The trails are a mix of compacted gravel, dirt trails, mud, sandy trails and the best kind called sugar sand. Imagine a beach and that’s what sugar sand is just your walk. Suffice it to say that every time we are on a trail with sugar sand there is an exclamation of «Good grief» from Sugar Sand! Hence the name because he hates it so much!
florida trails
Scrub flat wood
sugar sand
Now sugar sand is part of our trails in Florida and visitors don’t seem to understand its value. We were recently on a 20 mile walk doing a Mammoth Walk (a 20 mile walk that we voluntarily paid to be a part of and challenge ourselves). Don’t worry, our psychiatrists are on speed dial. There were a lot of New Englanders in Florida for the event and they didn’t seem to appreciate our sugar sand. I found a hiker cursing as he emptied his shoes and spilled sugar sand onto the ground. I stopped to tell him that the sugar sand is for him to have as a reminder of our great state and he should take it home! He chuckled and asked how we handled it. I explained to him that we train on it so we are used to it!
Back to Scotland
But I digress because we are in the WHW and there is no granulated sugar. The trail begins with a slight elevation into the pastures leading to the «Beinn». The mountains of Scotland are called Beinn’s, a throwback to Gaelic origin. Additionally, they are also classified as Munro, which is another phrase for mountain. Remember Conic Hill a few days ago, well it didn’t meet the elevation definition of a Beinn, it just seemed that way.
Mount Dorian
In front of us is Beinn Dorian, which is 3,530 feet high and we will walk in its shadow most of the day. The name means «brook hill» or «otter hill» in Gaelic. It has a stunning conical shape and offers a wonderful view all day long. The trail we are on is mostly gravel and dirt, which makes for an easy day of hiking. Instead of looking at our feet, we can contemplate the landscape of the mountains.
Mount Dorian
Beinn Dorian in the distance and Beinn Odhar Leaving Tyndrum behind we passed a display of wood carvings made for WHW hikers. The Scots do everything they can to keep hikers interested along the way.
The greenery of this trail is unbeatable and although we prefer to walk without rain, it is the rain that feeds this area. Rain runoff feeds the slopes and flows into its many lakes.
Sugar sand running along the path
Small stone bridge, one of many on our route over the water.
tunnel under railway
The WHW bubble
Today’s walk goes easily and we welcome the respite. We have lunch again with new friends who follow our cadence. There is a WHW bubble as with other trails. This hike can be done in a variety of time periods and there are a variety of methods as well. Some people wild camp, others combine wild camping and groups and then there is us doing the Inn to Inn method. There is now a clearly defined group that is on our timeline and we like to meet them all and get tips for other hiking trips.
End of the day
The day ends when we reach Orchy Bridge. We had dinner and enjoyed Irish coffees early in the evening. Then, three red deer wander into the yard below. Red deer are native to Scotland. They are the largest land mammal in the United Kingdom and a strong symbol of the Scottish Highlands. They are majestic and care little about our presence.
Irish coffee with whiskey
Deer
Scottish red deer
Tomorrow we will head to the wastelands and use a military road to travel. An elevation is to be expected, so the group heads to bed early.
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