8 Reasons to Walk North on the West Highland Way

The End at Fort William

The West Highland Way was originally envisaged as a walk from Milngavie to Fort William, going North through the Western Highlands of Scotland. I have walked (and loved) the West Highland Way six times and we specialise in organising walking holidays on the West Highland Way.

We often get asked whether it is possible to walk the West Highland Way from Fort William to Milngavie (in reverse). There is nothing to stop you actually walking the West Highland Way from Fort William to Milngavie, but the vast majority of people walk from Milngavie to Fort William.

8 Reasons to Walk North on the West Highland Way:-

1. The scenery gets more spectacular as you walk north.
2. The walking gets gradually tougher as you walk north so you can slowly get into the swing of things.
3. The predominant wind in Scotland is from the South West so you will have the wind at your back.
4. The sun will generally be at your back as well, giving better light and photographs.
5. The guidebooks and maps are all laid out with the walk starting in Milngavie and ending in Fort William.
6. The walk was originally envisaged as a south to north walk and laid out as such.
7. Because the majority of people walk north if you choose to walk south you will pass many more people on the trail each day and miss out on the camaraderie that forms between those walking in the same direction.
8. It’s very tiring walking backwards.

For these reasons we only offer our walking holidays from Milngavie to Fort William. We want everyone to have the best possible experience on the West Highland Way, so I hope you also choose to walk the West Highland Way in the “right direction”.

Our website has lots more information on walking the West Highland Way here: http://www.macsadventure.com/west-highland-way/overview.php as well as a West Highland Way FAQ’s Page. 

If anyone has walked the West Highland Way in reverse, let me know your reasons to walk South!

Tagged as: walking, west highland way