Scotland's Great Trails

THE WEST HIGHLAND WAY


The West Highland Way was Scotland's first long distance route and remains by far the most popular. Stretching for 151km from Milngavie on the edge of Glasgow to Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis, the route offers a fabulous introduction to the Scottish Highlands. Those wanting to add an extra days walking could even begin in the heart of Glasgow, reaching Milngavie by following the Kelvin Walkway.

It offers tremendous variety, beginning in the pastoral landscapes beneath the Campsies, past the serene beauty of Loch Lomond, and on into increasingly rugged and majestic Highlands. It then crosses the vast, awe-inspiring expanse of Rannoch Moor, with a glimpse down Glencoe, before crossing the hills to lovely Loch Leven. The route finally reaches Fort William via beautiful Glen Nevis. The very keenest could continue from the town by walking the Great Glen Way.

THE CHALLENGE

Well-waymarked throughout and avoiding the high tops, the route is within the capabilities of most walkers. It still has enough challenge and ascents to inspire the imagination; one of the toughest parts unexpectedly is the walk up the east side of Loch Lomond, whilst other sections are very exposed.

Stage descriptions Length Time
Stage 1: Milngavie to Drymen 19km 5 - 6 hours
Stage 2: Drymen to Rowardennan 23km 6 - 7 hours
Stage 3: Rowardennan to Inverarnan 22km 6 - 7 hours
Stage 4: Inverarnan to Tyndrum 19km 5 - 6 hours
Stage 5: Tyndrum to Inveroran 14km 4 - 5 hours
Stage 6: Inveroran to Kings House 15.5km 4 - 5 hours
Stage 7: Kings House to Kinlochleven 14km 4 - 5 hours
Stage 8: Kinlochleven to Fort William 24.5km 6 - 7 hours

ACCOMMODATION AND SERVICES ALONG THE WAY

Click here for Walking Holidays and Baggage Transfer on the West Highland Way

Being so popular, the West Highland Way offers an excellent range of accommodation for walkers throughout its length.

Milngavie does offer a hostel and plenty of other facilities if needed.

Drymen offers a choice of both bed and breakfast and hotels, plus a campsite at Easter Drumquhassle Farm. Further on is a wild-camping area in Garadhban Forest.

Balmaha is an alternative break of stage and also offers hotel, guest house and bunkhouse accommodation. Please note that there is a wild camping ban on this section of the walk, taking in all of the east side of Loch Lomond until beyond Rowardennan, apart from a small informal site which has been provided at Sallochy.

There is a bed and breakfast at Sallochy on the route, the owners of which will pick up and drop off walkers who wish to break the journey at Rowardennan.

Rowardennan is quite an isolated location and offers only a hotel and SYHA hostel. The wild camping ban extends until shortly beyond Rowardennan.

Inversnaid is an alternative break of stage, with the only facility being the hotel there. Again, there is an area set aside for wild campers.

Inverarnan is again a tiny place, but it does offer a campsite with wigwams as well as an inn.

Crianlarich is off route but can be visited by a detour as an alternative stage break. It has a hotel, B&B and a SYHA hostel.

Tyndrum is the next village. This offers hotel, B&B and a chance to buy supplies, as well as a hostel and campsite.

Bridge of Orchy is a tiny hamlet. Again there is a hotel here as well as two hostel/bunkhouse options, and a wild camping area on the opposite side of the bridge.

Inveroran is simply a old coaching inn that still offers accommodation. Likewise the Kingshouse is another old inn, in a spectacular location. There is a wild camping area set aside near both these places.

Kinlochleven is a small town and has an excellent range of accommodation including hotels - of which the Macdonald also has camping cabins, bed and breakfast, hostels and campsite.

Finally, Fort William is a town with all facilities - a wide choice of hotels, bed and breakfast and guest houses and hostels The nearest campsite is in Glen Nevis (near the end of the Way).

Books and maps for the West Highland Way

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Milngavie and Fort William and both accessible by both rail and bus from Glasgow.

Citylink run a bus service between Glasgow and Fort William (and on to Inverness / Skye) that can be used to reachthe stages along the way, including Inverarnan, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Bridge of Orchy and Kingshouse.

Kinlochleven and Drymen are served by local buses. There is no bus service currently to Rowardennan.

Timetables for all the routes can be found on Traveline Scotland.

The following users have walked the West Highland Way:

Paul Webster  helenw  Les Sutherland  beth grant  Spider  whitey333  daveyb  Dougiew  JimGibson  Graeme Dewar  Peter Long  Walkscot  druidsam  StuPark  Warren  walk aboot  jondale  walker1  cgal7  kev_russ  Onemorestep  robpool  Clamberer  rasteele  cloudbusting  wildrover  rucsacs  munrowalker  Welshy  dougs65  GlobalGraham  fw002  Lackadaisy  Predator4466  Orienteer  heckmackay  CurlyWurly  G.Scott  hannyjohn  nugget106  tayman  Johnoneill1916  JAYMAC  w33mur  James_McG  mattmunro  Jon Cossar  The Morgans  weemistermac  skillinabottle  bigfoot  albagubrath  charlie249  allansmitchell  Bobafete  Paderlan  gillybaby81  mountainstar  tomcowley  prophetofdom  LizBrown  snodland  colindsharp  tomyboy73  chris_howat  Scrofula  mortal  celt12345  Macgerbil  BertvdBeu  frickletonh  PhilTurner  kiltedbiggles  Guilbert  andyp  steven65  offroad junky  stewartinnes3  hags n crags  colmccormack  murwilson  coopar  pigeon  kaiserstein  Daedel  Ben Hill  Slogger  GillC  Derek T.  loates  boabmil  katiebryso  ndcknsn  ericjohn7  JackTaylor  icemandan  clivew  Teddie1303  gdmhogg  calumwood  tookiebunten  donaldanderson  franfigures  GYarnell  fagans  xpfloyd  Lowlight  grimley  buggerlugs  Styles  peterandjenny  davechristie1972  mamacgregor 1444  FiferStu  nealej81  yellowbelly  Billymaca  samohtw  asgerd  Spade  eck1873  peadaregan  jeffers171156  Bonzo  shaunthefish  briansolar1  Catherine1002  Tam6906  raskguld  Jason  tara1  GEOFFCARSON  derekbelljack  cestmoi  cobblergreen  lacacz  jfairclough1  vale46  DougieFerguson  Scotsman2012  brucie  davidcrowe  KGBMC  lizzynightstar  chicagrande  Muchtyboy  LDPWalker  takoronga  DonaldMackay  Graham-Kili11  pollyh33  lochfyne  iainkennedyUK  Scott Mackay  Frazerrobbo  dpklgrieve  PeterLewis  embo636  The Dude.  DavieQ  tonybailey  Derekgs  Stainless  hardshoecobbler  julieblyth  slinkysly  AndyMarr63  JBSS71  johng4911  Baz99  Fiona_74  Paula Hubens  alithornton  lindawilson  nzt2011  cfwinter  stu1mcf  Extreme Walker  gazzmatron  David Irwin  ashwooi  lanzelot72  clavira  rsweeney85  allywilson  Kerrycash  Paul85  almitche  MarilynMunro  georg  Cwood1  reward_pint  Caledonia  DavidRMcKenzie  Gibson  Grum  ian@originalart.net  Phil Thomas  ah&umr.millar  Freshayr  sharkey83  Fraoch  Pebbles  kmsharp  sootiecraig  silverwalker  Collaciotach  nuala  ally1978  Andy Geo  Weeboab  Kenny Monaghan  Entropy  Manonvb  garryno1  Louise  gibby1701  mhuze  datbagger  Bothyman  raykilhams  KatieC  StevieM  nicodemus31  bernadette  aebruce40  kokkie  dmat  LGreenaway  Podpure  ESCAPED  messner  nickzip  Tukker04  tim83chev  Bjørn  Caro_Line  lusian  Janettemair 

To record whether you have walked the route, you must register and be logged in.

  • User reports from the West Highland Way
    Views

Share your walk for the chance to win gear every month



Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is the walkers responsibility to check it and navigate using a map and compass.
See our Terms of use, Disclaimer, Privacy and Copyright Policies for more details. ©2006-2011 walkhighlands.co.uk