'By the Way Hostel and Campsite’ is correctly named as it is actually situated on the 96 mile long West Highland Way. The site itself was very busy with lots of small tents occupied by the hardy back packers, but offers the less hardy, Trekker Huts, Hobbit Houses and or a Dormitory. Of course they also make Motorhomes very welcome. Facilities are fine, but very busy.
Tyndrum is a small village on the busy A82 just south of the junction of roads leading to Oben and Fort William. If you have travelled on this route you would be familiar with the Green Welly Stop which has a restaurant, which serves good food and has a small provision outlet and a gift shop.
We spent only one full day there so our time was limited but we did manage to get in a rather grand walk. Cattle Creep Trail starts behind the camps reception area, you cross the Lower Tyndrum railway line and proceed up the forestry path until you reach open land. Go through the gate and turn right to proceed to the gold mine that featured in the BBC three part documentary called Gold Town.
The Cononish gold mine is owned by Scotgold Resourses and forms part of the companies Grampian Project which aims to identify gold and base metal resources within the Grampian Terrane. Planning permission was granted by the Board of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Parks in 2012.
Turn left to follow the very good made up road way which connects with the west highland way. Once your on the west highland way you pass The Lochan of the Lost Sword. The legend has it that after Robert the Bruce was beaten at Dalrigh, Bruce and his men threw their weapons into the lochan. This included Roberts long-sword (Claymore) and it is said that it lies here to this day. Don't you just love these Scottish legends? Continue along the West Highland Way to complete this circular 6 mile walk back to the site.
The following morning we packed up and headed north to our next camp site.
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