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The West Highland Way – Detailed Route Breakdown

The West Highland Way is a fantastic walk from Glasgow to Fort William through some of the best scenery that Scotland has to offer.

The following route breakdown provides a brief outline of what to expect over the course of your walking adventure. Your guidebook provides far more detailed information on every section of the walk. All our itineraries are made up of a combination of the following sections. Contact Us if you have any queries.

Summary: Total Distance 95 miles 152 Kilometres

Notes:
• All the individual itineraries we offer are made up of the above sections. You will find details of your overnight stops on your accommodation details sheet.
• Grades – the grades above refer to each individual section and will vary according to your fitness and experience. If you combine two moderate sections this would make a moderate to challenging section. The same principles apply to all the grades. Your guidebook also has guidance on this.

Getting to Glasgow/Milngavie |
Getting to Glasgow – Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and has excellent transport links. You will find full details and links here.

Getting to Milngavie - Milngavie is one of the outlying of suburbs of Glasgow and there are several ways of making the short journey.
• Trains run from Queen Street Station (Central Station on Sundays) every half hour and take approximately 20 minutes (£2.20). Please check times closer to departure.
• The Number 109 bus runs regularly from Renfrew Street, but takes slightly longer.
• A taxi from Glasgow is often the most convenient option and shouldn’t cost more than £15 for the twenty minute journey.
• Car parking is available at the station in Milngavie or alternatively the Premier Travel Inns offer parking if you stay with them.
• For more details on getting to Glasgow or public transport click here.

Section 1 | Milngavie to Drymen | 12 miles| 19 Km | 6 - 7 hours
After setting of from Milngavie today’s route runs through the ancient earldom of Lennox between the Campsie fells and Blane water. You follow a series of good paths through beautiful rural scenery to Drymen, a small market town. A definite stop is the Glengoyne Distillery, Scotland’s most beautiful. A distillery tour (£3.95) is a must with a complimentary dram to send you on your way. The Beechtree Inn has a lovely garden and does great food.

Drymen is slightly off the route so refer to your map to ensure that you don’t overshoot the mark.

Drymen facilities: Post office, small supermarket, small outdoor shop, cashpoint, several pubs and hotels, Indian Restaurant, Drymen Taxis Tel (01360) 660077
Lunch: Either buy a packed lunch in Milngavie before you start or stop at the Beechtree Inn at Dumgoyne which does good pub lunches.
Dinner: There are several excellent pubs and restaurants in Drymen/Croftamie generally the Clachan Inn is excellent (but can be busy) and the Pottery Teahouse does great afternoon teas if you arrive early.

Section 2 | Drymen to Balmaha | 8 miles | 13 Km | 4 - 5 hours
As you leave Drymen you start to climb towards Conic Hill, which sits astride the Great Divide and separates the highlands and lowlands of Scotland. The climb is fairly steep but on reaching the summit you can enjoy a fantastic view over Loch Lomond, Britain’s largest body of fresh water covering 27sq. miles. You descend a steep path towards Balmaha, which is a small village nestling in a protected bay on the shores of Loch Lomond.
Possible diversion: In late April/early May the section over Conic Hill is closed and the path diverted through Milton of Buchanan. This is due to the lambing season and agreements with local landowners. Notices are posted on the path if this is the case.

Balmaha Facilities: Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park visitor centre, two pubs, a very small shop selling essential supplies.
Lunch/Dinner: There is a small shop in Balmaha where you can pick up a picnic lunch to enjoy in the sunshine or alternatively The Oaktree Inn is a wonderful pub and does great food.

Section 3 | Balmaha to Rowardennan | 7 miles | 11 Km | 4 – 5 Hours
This is a beautiful but deceptively tough section. The path alternates between the loch shore and natural forest and headlands on the banks of Loch Lomond. There are numerous short steep climbs and if you have walked all the way from Drymen you will be very pleased to see Rowardennan. That said the scenery, forest and birdlife is outstanding.

Rowardennan Facilities: Hotel & Youth Hostel, Ferry across Loch
Dinner: Rowardennan Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond is the only option for dinner and has a traditional menu and a great specials board. If you are staying out of Rowardennan the hotel runs a courtesy bus which does collections and drop-offs, ask your hosts for details.

Section 4 | Rowardennan to Inversnaid | 7 miles | 11 Km | 4 - 5 hours
Leaving Rowardennan the way follows forestry roads and gently climbs high up above Loch Lomond giving fantastic views over Loch Lomond and towards the Arrochar Alps. As you close in on Inversnaid the path narrows and becomes more undulating, passing over a spectacular bridge and waterfall as you arrive at Inversnaid Hotel.

Inversnaid Facilities: Hotel, Bunkhouse & Teashop, Postbus, ferry across loch.
Lunch: The Hotel serves lunch and does sandwiches at the bar but is often mobbed by coach parties.

Section 5 | Inversnaid to Inverarnan | 7 Miles | 11 Km | 4 – 6 hours
Leaving Inversnaid you pass through the RSPB Inversnaid nature reserve and then Rob Roy’s Cave (which is not really worth the detour). The path from Inversnaid to the head of the loch is hard going with numerous ups and downs and a generally rough surface. After passing leaving the loch side and passing Doune Bothy the path does improve but it is a very long two miles from Ardleish to Inverarnan.

If you are staying at Ardlui look out for the sign pointing to the ferry 2 miles before the end of this section. Walk down to the loch shore and call the ferry by raising the ball.

Beinglas Farm marks the end of your day. Leave the way and follow the signs for Inverarnan. The Drovers Inn is world famous and provides the ideal location for your end of day refreshment.

Inverarnan Facilities: Drovers Inn, Beinglas Farm has a small shop and pub, Citylink bus services to Fort William/Glasgow also pass through.
Lunch/Dinner: The Drovers Inn does good pub food and the atmosphere is totally unique. The pub at Beinglas Farm also does good food and has a lively atmosphere.

Section 6 | Inverarnan to Crianlarich | 6 Miles | 10 Km | 5 – 6 Hours
Today provides fantastic relaxing walking after the ups and downs of the previous day. The way climbs slowly out of Inverarnan through Glen Falloch towards Crianlarich. Ben More and Stob Binnean provide a fantastic backdrop and the views back down Loch Lomond are first class. The way bypasses Crianlarich but if you need any supplies or are staying in Crianlarich follow the signs down to town.

Crianlarich Facilities: Post office, shop, pubs, youth hostel, train station, bus services, taxi (24/7 Cars – 01838 300307)
Lunch/dinner: The Ben More Lodge does great food and is highly recommended. There is also a small shop if you need things for a packed lunch.

Section 7 | Crianlarich to Tyndrum | 6 Miles | 10 Km | 3 – 4 Hours
After Crianlarich you enjoy a period of secluded woodland walking before making your way back to the valley floor and through farmland surrounded by towering highland scenery. There is a small shop at Strathfillan Farm two miles before Tyndrum if you need some supplies to get you through to the finish of the day.

Tyndrum Facilities: Hotels, bus and train stations, shops, outdoor shop, visitor centre, pub, cash point.
Lunch/Dinner: The Invervey Hotel and the attached Whyte's Restaurant both do a fairly large pub style menu. The Green Welly Stop shop and the Mini-Market are well stocked for hikers and it is a good idea to stock up as the next shop is in Kinlochleven, 29 miles further on.

Section 8 | Tyndrum to Inveroran | 10 Miles | 16 Km | 4 - 5 Hours
Get ready for a great days walking. The scenery is great and now that you are getting into your stride you will love the fast going on military roads. Initially you follow the valley to Bridge of Orchy, a small hamlet and sometimes used as an overnight. The Hotel does delicious meals if you fancy and early lunch. There is a steep climb as you leave Bridge of Orchy but you are rewarded with the best views in Scotland (my opinion). A short descent brings you to the isolated Inveroran Hotel.

Inveroran Facilities: Hotel with walker’s pub. Bridge of Orchy has a hotel and train and bus stations.
Lunch/Dinner: Bridge of Orchy Hotel and Inveroran Hotel both offer excellent home cooked meals.

Section 9| Inveroran to Kingshouse | 10 Miles | 16 Km | 5 – 6 Hours
My favourite section of the West Highland Way, Leaving Inveroran you skirt Loch Tulla and then join the military road across Rannoch Moor, a wonderful, lonely and exposed place that was once covered by a giant icecap and is today covered in bog. There is no shelter and in bad weather it can be exposed. In good weather it is simply inspiring. Kingshouse provides great views of Buachaille Etive Mor, Scotland’s most photographed mountain.

Kingshouse Facilities: Hotel, with attached walkers bar. City Link Buses stop at the Kingshouse turnoff. Lunch/Dinner: Kingshouse Hotel does traditional pub meals.

Section 10 | Kingshouse to Kinlochleven | 9 Miles | 14 Km | 4.5 - 6 Hours
From Kingshouse you follow an old military road to Altnafeadh, which gives great views of the famous ‘weeping glen’ and site of the Glencoe Massacre in 1692. Then you zigzag up the Devil’s Staircase to the highpoint of the Way at 548m, which gives stunning views towards Ben Nevis, given clear weather. From here you wind our way down into the pretty little town of Kinlochleven, the end to a very pleasant day.
Kinlochleven Facilities: Hotels, pubs, Co-op supermarket, cash machine, post office, internet, Ice Factor Climbing Centre.
Lunch/Dinner: Both the Tailrace Inn and The Macdonald Hotel do good evening meals and packed lunches are available from the Co-Op or your accommodation. The Tailrace Inn also has live music on weekends during the summer.

Section 11 | Kinlochleven to Fort William | 14 Miles | 23 Km | 6 - 8 Hours
The initial sharp climb out of Kinlochleven is worth it for the fantastic views it brings and once over the top you follow a wonderfully remote valley past deserted sheilings towards Fort William. Approximately half way through the day you enter a beautiful area of cultivated forest and follow a narrow winding track until you reach the saddle which brings you into Glen Nevis.

Ben Nevis towers ahead and you can clearly see the mountain track which snakes up the southern side of Britain’s highest mountain. At this point you bear left and follow a wide forestry road down to the Ben Nevis visitor centre and then the final two miles are along the Glen Nevis road. This brings you to the end of your Scottish odyssey on the outskirts of Fort William and time for a few well earned beers.

Lunch: You need to stock up in Kinlochleven, either from the local shop or get a packed lunch, as there is nowhere to stop until Fort William.
Dinner: Numerous pubs or restaurants in town. Both The Grand Hotel and The Grog and Gruel on the high street do excellent food or for something different try McTavish's tavern with Traditional Scottish Music and Highland Dancing. The seafood at The Crannog (01397) 705589 is highly recommended, although relatively expensive and you do need to book ahead.
Fort William Facilities: Fort William has is a major hub and has all the facilities you may need including shops, visitor centre and transport links.

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