West Highland Way Map and Itinerary

A walking holiday on the West Highland Way offers something for everyone and as a West Highland Way specialist we offer a wide range of itineraries on the Way.  Everything from a very leisurely 10 walking days to a short four day break covering the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Our most popular itineraries are WSSWHW2 & WSSWHW3 which cover the whole walk in 7 and 8 walking days respectively.  You will find a detailed daily itinerary of each holiday we offer on the right. Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be more than happy to tailor make an itinerary for you.

Recommendations:

Night in Milngavie: Our itineraries which start in Milngavie do not include the night before you start walking in Milngavie. So if you are travelling to Glasgow we can book the night before you start walking no problem at all. Just add it as an option in the online booking form or let us know that you wish to add it.

Additional Nights: The western highlands are so spectacular that many of our clients decide to take an extra night along the way to spend some time enjoying the area. You might like to consider adding extra nights at Rowardennan to climb Ben Lomond, Crianlarich/Tyndrum/Bridge of Orchy to walk or catch the train to Oban or Kingshouse for the solitude and scenery. Also adding an extra night in Fort William at the end of your trip is extremely popular as many people like to tackle Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis at the end of their trip.

Fewer Nights: If you plan to travel home on the day you finish the walk and don't need accommodation for the final night we can easily take off the last night and let you know where we will meet you to drop off your luggage when you arrive at the end of the walk.

You will find a full detailed breakdown of each section of the walk below and options available on the right hand panels. Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be more than happy to tailor make an itinerary for you. Please call us for tour options.

Detailed Route Description

Section 1, Milngavie to Drymen, 12 miles, 19 Km, 6 - 7 hours

If you are not staying in accommodation in Milngavie, you will meet the baggage carriers at the train station at 0830 - 0900. They will collect your bags and whisk them away to your first night's accommodation.

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, where a distillery tour  is a must along with a complimentary dram to send you on your way. Also en-route is the Beechtree Inn which 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.

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. 

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 in to the outskirts of Fort William where the route used to end, however now the official end of the Way has been moved along the main street of Fort William where your adventure comes to a close.

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