by Scougs » Tue May 04, 2021 10:42 pm
Opinions differ on this subject.
I did this stretch in three days.
Milngavie to Drymen: mostly flat and fairly dull. Long stretch on old railway. I set off from Milngavie between 9 and 10, and was in Drymen by about 3pm.
Drymen to Rowardennan: climb up and over Conic Hill to Balmaha, then a longer than expected slog up good paths on the shores of Loch Lomond, with a surprising amount of up and down hill. Left Drymen at about 9.30 and didn’t get to Rowardennan until just after 6pm.
Rowardennan to the Drovers: utter, utter hell. Scrambling over boulders, up and down rock faces, tree roots, multiple tricky fords at rocky burns. Loads of steep up and downs. If I hadn’t had the help of strangers around me I don’t know how I would have done it. It took me over ten hours.
If you’re not confident of your abilities, I would say that trying to do this in two days will not be enjoyable. The second half of day two will be the toughest bit of the West Highland Way.
Far, far better to do the stretches North of there. You could get the bus to the Drovers, and do Drovers to Bridge of Orchy and Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse. This gives you a glimpse of Glencoe scenery, and puts you on the A82 with a good bus service. You can, of course, do it in reverse.