While a stay at Tyndrum Inn was included on the itinerary our trekking company had pre-arranged for us during our West Highland Way hike, our stay there ended up being anything but routine. The way that Tyndrum Inn handled some extraordinary circumstances speaks volumes to how much they care for their guests.
We arrived at Tyndrum Inn on the day that Storm Amy was starting to depart from Scotland. Huge areas of the Scottish Highlands were without power, and this meant that there was no cell service either. We weren't quite sure if the hotel would even be open, and if it weren't it meant that we were going to have to find a way to go to someplace that did have power. There was a good chance that our WHW hike was at an end. When we entered the hotel, we were wet and tired and a little discombobulated. What Tyndrum Inn did during the next 18 hours saved our trip and gave us a true taste of Scottish hospitality.
We were greeted by Austin who apologized for the lack of electricity (almost as if he was personally responsible) and checked us in. He told us that the baggage company hadn't delivered our suitcases yet, but that he was hopeful they'd be there soon. We checked into our room which was comfortable, and we tried as best as we could to find some dry clothes in our otherwise sodden backpacks. He offered to bring us sandwiches which arrived within minutes, and within a few more minutes he brought us the suitcases that the baggage company had just delivered. He also told us that they were going to prepare a dinner for us at 6 pm. Even though we couldn't take a warm shower, having the ability to change into dry clothes bolstered our spirits significantly.
We were fully expecting that our dinner was going to be cold sandwiches, something that we'd now been eating for the past couple of days. However, the owner had a gas stove at her home and made up two big pots of chicken curry and vegetable pasta. We'd gone over a day without cooked food, and having it served to us was just phenomenal. A cold meal was all that we could expect given the circumstances, but they went the additional step which speaks volumes. The following morning they provided us with cold cereals and coffee/tea, and then made up sandwiches for us to carry on our next leg of the journey.
Tyndrum Inn truly stepped up the plate and made sure that we were being cared for under extraordinary circumstances. We heard that there were many inns in the area that had simply closed their doors when the power went out. Tyndrum Inn opened their doors even wider. read more