West Highland Way

The West Highland Way is a great fit for hikers of all experience levels. Depending on your fitness and personal preference, the route can be graded easy to moderate, moderate, or moderate to strenuous.

To get trail-ready, we recommend heading out on regular hikes before your trip and working some hills into your routine. Be sure to check the daily distances and elevation gain in your itinerary, so you know exactly what each day has in store.

Most of the trail follows well-maintained paths, though the terrain is varied and can be rough in places. The most challenging stretch underfoot runs along the shore of Loch Lomond. Here you’ll need to be sure-footed, with frequent short sections of rocky ground. Trekking poles are a big help.

Choosing the right itinerary for you

To help you find the best fit, here’s how our West Highland Way hiking trips compare, from easiest to toughest:

• Easy to moderate (10 and 11 days): Shorter daily distances for a more relaxed pace, with extra time to explore the villages and glens along the way.
• Moderate (8 and 9 days): Our best-selling itineraries, with a good balance of challenge and time to soak up the scenery.
• Moderate to strenuous (6 and 7 days): Longer days on the trail, best suited to seasoned hikers who are comfortable covering bigger distances.

Other ways to hike the West Highland Way

Short on time, or looking for a little extra comfort? These trips offer a different way to experience the trail:

• Best of the West Highland Way: The trail’s highlights, on and off the path, with extra comfortable accommodations each night.
• West Highland Escape: A taste of the trail. Hike the northern section from Bridge of Orchy to Fort William, past the dramatic peaks of Glen Coe.

On this trip, you’ll stay in a mix of small hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs. We’ve worked with many of our local partners for over 20 years, and those long-standing relationships mean you’ll be well looked after from the moment you check in.

Every property offers a warm welcome to hikers, traditional Scottish hospitality and a delicious breakfast to set you up for the day ahead.

Most properties don’t have air-conditioning. Scotland’s climate is mild and nights are usually cool, but rooms can still get warm during the summer months.

Accommodations along the trail are limited in remote areas, and in some places there’s just one option. This means the style and standard of your accommodations will vary throughout your trip, so we recommend booking early to secure your preferred dates.

We always aim to book you into the locations listed in your itinerary. During the busiest months, though, limited availability may mean we need to arrange alternative accommodations to confirm your trip. If these involve extra transfers or are considered an upgrade, a supplement may be added to your booking. Rest assured, we’ll always check any changes with you before finalizing.

At certain times of year, supplements may also apply for stays at the Kingshouse Hotel and the Bridge of Orchy Hotel.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

Breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner aren't included, so you're free to choose where you eat along the way. Your accommodation can often provide a packed lunch to take with you if you ask in advance (payable on arrival), and our app highlights recommended lunch stops along the route. In the evening, you can eat at your accommodation or at a nearby pub or restaurant.

You can hike the West Highland Way from late March to mid-October. May and September are the busiest months, thanks to their more settled weather, so expect to share the trail with plenty of fellow hikers – it’s a sociable route rather than a solitary one.

Because it’s such a popular trail, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for spring and summer. A little flexibility on dates also gives us a better chance of confirming your preferred accommodations.

Scotland’s weather is famously changeable. The warmest, driest months are generally May to September, with May usually the driest. June to August is the main vacation season, with average temperatures in the high 50s°F and highs occasionally reaching the mid-to-high 70s°F.

The start (March and April) and end (October) of the season tend to be quieter. Early in the year, though, snow can linger – or even fall – on the higher sections of the trail.

Two annual motorsport events can make accommodations harder to come by around late April and early May: the Pre-65 Scottish Motorcycle Trial in Kinlochleven and the Scottish Six Days Trial in Fort William. Keep these in mind if you’re planning to travel then.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

It's vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.

If you're not overnighting in Glasgow or Milngavie before you start walking, you'll meet our luggage transfer partners at Milngavie Rail Station on the morning of Day 1 to check your bag in for the first time.

The West Highland Way is well waymarked throughout and easy to follow.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Recommended Reading

Although not essential, if you'd like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:

West Highland Way: Milngavie to Fort William (British Walking Guide). Trailblazers

Getting to the Start

Glasgow and Edinburgh are the key gateways for this tour.

Glasgow Airport (GLA) is around 8 miles west of the city, with flights from across the UK and beyond, including seasonal nonstop flights from Newark (EWR) and Toronto (YYZ). Regular shuttle buses run into the city center or you can jump in a taxi outside the arrivals hall. Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is around 45 miles east of Glasgow and has the widest choice of nonstop flights from North America, with United, Delta and American Airlines all flying direct. From Edinburgh Airport, take the bus to Glasgow’s Buchanan Street Bus Station (around 1 hr), or the tram to Edinburgh Haymarket (around 30 mins), then the train to Glasgow Queen Street (around 1 hr).

Your route to the start depends on which tour you choose.

Full Route, starting in Milngavie

Milngavie is around 8 miles from Glasgow city center. The easiest way there is by ScotRail train from Glasgow Queen Street station (around 25 mins). Milngavie station is close to the start of the trail, and it’s also where you’ll leave your luggage with our local team. A taxi or Uber takes around 15 mins.

Best of the West Highland Way (Comfort), starting in Glasgow

Your tour begins in Glasgow itself, with a night in the city before a transfer out to Balmaha to start walking.

Short Break Escape (5 Day), starting in Bridge of Orchy

Bridge of Orchy is around 2 hours from Glasgow, with four ScotRail trains and four Citylink buses a day. Whichever you choose, the journey to the start of your trip takes you through some fantastic Highland scenery.

Northern Section, starting in Inverarnan

Inverarnan sits roughly halfway along the West Highland Way. The easiest way there is to take the Fort William train from Glasgow Queen Street and get off at Ardlui, then take a 5-minute taxi to Inverarnan.

Planning Your Trip

Need a hand planning your journey by bus or train? The Traveline Scotland website is the best place to check routes and timetables.

Getting from the End

Your route home depends on where your trip finishes.

Tours finishing in Fort William

The West Highland Line back to Glasgow is one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys (around 4 hrs, with 2 to 4 departures a day). We recommend reserving seats in advance for the best fare. Scottish Citylink buses run up to 8 times a day directly to Glasgow (around 3 hrs 15 mins), Edinburgh city center (around 5 hrs 20 mins) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI) (around 5 hrs). Scenic Scottish Transfers offer a premium onward transfer service to Glasgow (GLA) and Edinburgh (EDI) airports.

Want to keep exploring? From Fort William, ScotRail trains and Citylink buses continue to Inverness and Mallaig, for the ferry to the Isle of Skye.

Southern Section, finishing in Inverarnan

We recommend the Citylink bus back to Glasgow, which runs up to 8 times a day and takes around 1 hr 30 mins. Citylink also runs north from Inverarnan to Fort William, Inverness and Skye.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation