West Highland Way / 10 days

Programme

Day 1: Arrival in Glasgow

From Glasgow you will take the train to Milngavie, the starting point for the famous West Highland Way. Stock up on essentials and enjoy a good night’s sleep before starting your walk tomorrow. Accommodation: Milngavie

Day 2: Milngavie to Drymen

The first section of the West Highland Way leads you through the landscape of the Lowlands. You will quickly leave the urban area behind, as the route passes lochs and woodlands. You continue in the shadow of the Campsie Fells and finally reach the small market town of Drymen on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. Enjoy a cold beer at the Clachan Inn whilst recovering from your walk. Walk: 12 miles, 5-6 hrs. Accommodation: Drymen

Day 3: Drymen to Rowardennan

A long and exciting part of the West Highland Way lies ahead. You will pass through a section of forest before climbing Conic Hill. The beautiful views from here of Loch Lomond and its islands are one of the highlights of your trip. You will pass the picturesque village of Balmaha and follow the undulating path along the scenic shores of Loch Lomond to Rowardennan. Walk: 14 miles, 6-7 hrs, Accommodation: Rowardannan

Day 4: Rowardennan to Inverarnan

Carry on along the shores into the Highlands on perhaps the toughest section of the West Highland Way. The route is very scenic with some beautiful native woodland and good views over Loch Lomond for much of the way. The path can be very rocky and rough at times with some steep ascents/descents. At the end of your walk the old Drovers Inn awaits, which has been welcoming people for over 300 years. Soak in the authentic atmosphere with regular live music and a great selection of local ales. Walk: 14 miles, 6-7 hrs, Accommodation: Inverarnan

Day 5: Inverarnan to Crianlarich/Tyndrum

After the rigours of the Loch Lomond path the walking now becomes easier and allows for faster going. The views of the mountains like Ben More and Stob Binnean are excellent, and this is a varied section with farmland, forestry and riverside paths. You will come across some of the rare Scottish pines, which stem from the last ice age. Walk: 9 miles/12 miles, 4-5 hrs/5-6 hrs, Accommodation: Crianlarich or Tyndrum

Day 6: Crianlarich/Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy/Inveroran

Another fairly easy section of the West Highland Way awaits you today. Staying in the valley, alongside the road and rail tracks, you will reach Bridge of Orchy with fine view of the steep grassy mountains along the way. If you carry on to Inveroran you will follow the route climbing through the woods and across a low ridge before descending to the hotel. Walk: 12 miles/9 miles, 5-6 hrs/4-5 hrs, Accommodation: Bridge of Orchy or Inveroran

Day 7: Bridge of Orchy/Inveroran to Kingshouse

The crossing of Rannoch Moor is one of the best known stages of the West Highland Way. Follow the path across a vast wilderness of heather and bog encircled by grand mountains. This place shows an otherworldly beauty but can also be wild, forbidding and exposed in rough weather. The path is easy to follow and in good condition and finally leads you out of the moor to the Kingshouse Hotel. After an extensive renovation the historic hotel shines in new splendour. Walk: 13 miles/10 miles, 6-7 hrs/4-5 hrs, Accommodation: Kingshouse

Day 8: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven

This is perhaps the most dramatic section of the West Highland Way. Over the ‘Devils staircase’ the path climbs to its highest point with fabulous views of the Glencoe mountain range. The long descent to Kinlochleven is easy to follow but can be exposed in bad weather. The whole stage offers excellent views over the surrounding mountains. Walk: 9 miles, 4-5 hrs, Accommodation: Kinlochleven

Day 9: Kinlochleven to Fort William

For the final stage you will climb up through the woods in Kinlochleven and then follow the Old Military Road through an empty valley surrounded by mountains. Soon Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, will come into view and you slowly descent into the stunningly beautiful Glen Nevis. Welcome to Fort William for a well-deserved celebration. Walk: 15 miles, 6-7 hrs, Accommodation: Fort William

Day 10: Departure

You will leave Fort William by train, along the famous West Highland Line. You can once again admire the landscape you have walked through over the last few days, this time from the comfort of a train carriage. Along the route you will pass many film locations, most famously from the Harry Potter movies and Braveheart. Your journey ends in the centre of Glasgow in the afternoon.

Services

Tour includes

• 9 overnight stays in hostels/B&Bs/hotels along the WHW
• Scottish breakfast
• luggage transfer along the WHW
• bus/train Glasgow-Milngavie and Fort William-Glasgow
• Comprehensive info pack including leisure and restaurant recommendations
• WHW hiking map
• 24/7 emergency hotline

Not included

• Flights
• Lunch and dinner

Optional add-ons

• £69 pp additional night in Edinburgh/Glasgow B&B, based on 2 people sharing (£41 single supplement)
• £89 pp additional night in Edinburgh/Glasgow hotel, based on 2 people sharing (£61 single supplement)
• £69 pp additional night along the WHW (day of rest)

Please note, booking economy means a mixture of private (B&B) and shared (hostel) accommodation with shared facilities. Hostels also don’t include breakfast.

For more comfort choose the premium economy variant, which entails private en-suite accommodation only (B&Bs and hotels). 

Additional Information

Duration: 10 days
Participants: from 2 pax

Difficulty: Moderate

Start: Edinburgh/Glasgow train station
Finish: Edinburgh/Glasgow train station

If you prefer to take a more leisurely approach, you can spread the longer, more strenuous stages over more than one day. Or you add in an extra night to give yourself a day of rest. 

There is also a shorter version of the standard West Highland Way, which takes 7 days instead of 10. Please refer to our West Highland Way short.

When deciding on your travel dates, please bear in mind that we require at least 6 weeks to prepare. Every trip is meticulously planned and organised, and the information pack is compiled with great care and attention. We also have to allow time for the information pack to be delivered (postal delivery can take on average 4 weeks in Europe). If you do want to travel at short notice, please contact us by email. Thank you for your cooperation!

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