After a taxi ride through Glencoe to Kingshouse with some other hikers, we walked 10 miles back over the mountains to Kinlochleven to spend a second night in a different accommodation, the Bank House B&B. But first we had to pass the pyramidal Buachaille Etive Mor (The Great Herdsman of Etive).
And then we had to climb a thousand feet up the Devil's Staircase along another of General Wade's military roads to an overlook of the Blackwater Dam built in the first decade of the 1900s to power the smelter in Kinlochleven.
At 1800 feet, this is the highest point along the West Highland Way.
We look down from the top into the valley and eventually to the top of the penstocks above Kinlochleven.
Despite the effort of climbing the Devil's Staircase, we finished the walk early and had time to explore Kinlochleven some more. A short steep trail brought us up to the Grey Mare's Tail Waterfall and a scenic memorial bench with views over the town and down towards the loch.
Despite the effort of climbing the Devil's Staircase, we finished the walk early and had time to explore Kinlochleven some more. A short steep trail brought us up to the Grey Mare's Tail Waterfall and a scenic memorial bench with views over the town and down towards the loch.
