tgo magazine live letters archive

I've just realised the other reason why the Devil's Staircase didn't leave much of an impression on me. The first time the weather was just bad (fair enough, it's Scotland so what did I expect?). But the second time the weather was perfect, so I did the Buachaille in the morning and then on to Kinlochleven in the afternoon. So what sticks in my memory from that day is the Buachaille - it's not that there's anything wrong with the Devil's Staircase of course, it's just that it's always going to come second to a hill like BEM.

And I suppose that's part of the essence of the WHW for me. It's not a hillwalk - in hillwalking terms, stopping to climb the hills either side of it will always offer more than anything on the Way itself. Better to appreciate it for what it is - a splendid low level walk and a chance to admire the hills from below, which as well as being enjoyable in its own right, provides a taster of what's on offer in the highlands and inspires some of us to come back for more. And so I think a section through Glencoe would be prefectly in keeping with the character of the Way.

I realise that any path through Glencoe would have to parallel the A82, but that's not necessarily the same as running right alongside it. The Way already parallels the road between Inverarnan and Bridge of Orchy, and except for the odd bit near Tyndrum I don't remember it as intruding too much. I don't know exactly where they're proposing to put the path, and from my exile in Cambridge :( I can't visualise the geography of Glencoe well enough to be sure if something similar would be feasible, but perhaps a path somewhere on the southern side of the Glen...?

Cameron's right about Glencoe to Kinlochleven though - while walking along the shore of the loch still appeals in principle, in practise building a path anywhere other than right next to the road would probably be a formidable task, and tramping along a pavement for six miles wouldn't be a lot of fun however good the scenery. So I reckon an optional extension through Glencoe is a good idea, but a complete diversion probably not.

I followed the WHW over the Devil's Staircase a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed a day of splendid weather sandwiched between some really awful days. I don't think the ascent is a 'slog' at all. It's a neatly-engineered zigzag trail that takes nearly all the 'umph' out of a slope that isn't really steep anyway. I've climbed from Kinlochleven over the Devil's Staircase in truly lousy winter weather and not been at all impressed, or inclined to linger, but on a good day it's definitely a highlight of the WHW.

I think there's no harm in having a spur route to Glencoe, so long as it was well removed from that awful main road. Let the walkers decide on the day which one they want to do. Even if there was a world-class link with Glencoe, the Devil's Staircase will still be open to all who want it. I can't think of any decent route from Glencoe to Kinlochleven if the plan is to have a loop instead of a spur, but that's not my problem!

Just spent some time with the National Trust for Scotland folk in Glen Coe and they tell me there was never any intention of re-routing the West Highland Way. What is being proposed is simply a link route into Glen Coe and back to Altnafeadh at the foot of the Devil's Staircase. There is absolutely no intention of creating a walking route alongside the south shore of Loch Leven to Kinlochleven either.

Anything that keeps walkers OFF that road is a bonus!

The prospect of my own imminent death by squishing keeps me off it!

The NTS seem to have the right idea.

They're also very good value, cheaper the than the English branch with all the same benefits!