West Highland Line: Rail & Hike
- Walk sections of Scotland's iconic West Highland Way
- Puff across Glenfinnan viaduct to the west coast on the Jacobite steam train
- Walk the ‘bonnie banks’ of Loch Lomond in the Trossachs National Park
- Follow the Way across remote Rannoch Moor, home to regal red deer stags
- Discover forest trails and waterfalls in Glen Nevis with an optional hike up Ben Nevis
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Ride the West Highland Line from Glasgow to ArdluiYour holiday begins at Queen Street Station in the heart of Glasgow. Once aboard the train enjoy the journey north on the West Highland Line train towards Ardlui on the shores of Loch Lomond. From Ardlui why not toast your first evening in the Highlands with a 'wee dram' before a day on the trail tomorrow?
The hotel was built as a private hunting lodge for the Colquhoun family around 1851. It was first opened as a hotel in 1886 and two years later the east wing was added, while the west wing was added by 1905. The hotel today is painted white due to the three different types of stone used to build the main building & each of the two wings.
This hotel is one of the friendliest and most intimate hotels in Loch Lomond. With 10 en-suite rooms they offer a relaxed accommodation with great views across the northern shores.
Beinglas Campsite is situated directly on the West Highland Way at the stage of Inverarnan and is within easy walking distance of the village centre. They have abar and restaurant – The Stagger Inn – which offers a cosy setting to eat, drink, socialise or recharge. Throughout summer there will be live music on site to enhance your stay and celebrate our Scottish culture.
The Drovers Inn dates back to the 1800s. Packed full of history, it has been a welcomed, cosy stop for the weary hunters and travellers passing through the highlands for hundreds of years.
There are 15 rooms in the original Inn, these are filled with antique furniture, oil paintings and rich colours, but equipped with today’s modern comforts. When there is no availability in the original building, there are an additional 16 rooms in the lodge across the road, these are more modern chalet style rooms. Regardless of where you are staying, you are free to relax in the bar & lounge areas, and indulge in hearty Scottish cuisine and perhaps a dram of local whisky.
Hop across to Loch Lomond's eastern shores from the Arduli jetty. Now you can begin your first day of walking on Scotland's most famous long-distance trail. As you walk through Glen Falloch keep a look out for red deer roaming the mountain slopes. Pass through conifer forests you enter the Glen of Strath Fillan to arrive in the village of Crianlarich.
The Crianlarich Hotel is a comfortable and well-appointed 3-star hotel built in Victorian times. Each room has en-suite facilities and luxurious feather-and-down duvets with cotton bed linen and generous fluffy white towels.
Glenardran House is a 3 star Visit Scotland approved guesthouse offering B&B accommodation. Resident owners Rod and Andrea Salt bought the house in 2016 and will ensure you receive a warm welcome and both a comfortable and pleasurable stay.
Craigbank is a friendly family-run guesthouse, nestling near the foot of mighty Ben More, and ideally situated in the centre of Crianlarich village. The house, which dates from the late 1800s, has been recently refurbished by the new owners and has been sympathetically modernised throughout.
Begin with a gentle start through verdant Strath Fillan, where you'll walk the footsteps of St Fillan, a 8th-century Irish evangelist whose subsequent cult attracted Robert the Bruce as one of his followers. Pass through the ruins of his chapel you move through Dalrigh, the King’s Field’, where legend has it Robert the Bruce suffered defeat in 1306.
Follow the ‘Way’ as you trace the lower slopes of the Munroes Beinn Odhar and Beinn Dorain before descending to Bridge of Orchy.
The Bridge of Orchy hotel welcomes guests with personalised service, imaginative Scottish cuisine and an intimate atmosphere. The hotel’s personalised service and ‘can do’ approach is seen in their bedrooms and throughout the hotel and a real home-from-home feel is their priority.
Your hosts at Stance Cottage understand that you love the outdoors! It is situated just off the West Highland Way and is kitted out with a drying cabinet for wet outdoor clothes and boots, along with tea/coffee making facilities, and fluffy white towels. Historically drovers would stop in Bridge of Orchy and pay to ‘stance’ their cattle/sheep in the stance below the cottage. Over the last 150 years a shed or barn has continuously stood beside the cottage. These have been demolished and re-constructed several times since the cottage was built, and each have been used for many different functions, including the storage of hay and livestock. Stance Cottage is once again a welcome haven for people on a journey.
Inveroran believe that coming to visit the hotel should be a very special experience for everyone and they have done their best to retain the atmosphere of the 19th century inn throughout the modern hotel and offer great food, great hospitality and comfortable rooms.
After breakfast you have the option of a 5 mile loop walk to the shores of beautiful Loch Tulla on the edge of the Rannoch Moor and at the base of the remote Black Mount Munroes.
A relaxing afternoon follows as you board the West Highland Line and cross the Rannoch, a remote expanse of moorland peppered with lochs at 300m above sea level, and home to herds of red deer. The line passes Loch Treig as it descends into the lush Glen Spean and the Great Glen.
Distant Hills has a peaceful setting amidst some of the most spectacular scenery in the Highlands. They have seven individually designed comfortable rooms with en-suite shower rooms. Rooms are furnished in contemporary quality furniture with 24 hour individually controlled heating. There is also a drying room and a hot tub available, along with an honesty bar. Don’t forget to pack your swimwear if you wish to use the hot tub.
Riverside Lodge Gardens is situated in a lovely location and offers quality and spacious 4 Star accommodation. All rooms are located on the ground floor, with new spacious en-suite facilities, together with comfortable seating areas.
Morven and Simon look forward to offering you a warm welcome. Coire Glas is situated in one acre of grounds facing south looking over the spectacular Grey Corries, home to the Nevis Range Ski Resort.
Check in time is strictly between 3.30pm and 6pm.
Hike forest trails from Spean Bridge to Fort William and keep an eye out for the elusive red squirrel rushing across the path or scampering up a pine tree. The UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis (1345m) dominates the horizon today as you near Fort William. Trace its base as you enter the town, the outdoor capital of the west, to complete the walk.
Dora welcomes you with open arms to her lovely guest house, Myrtle Bank. Overlooking Loch Linnhe and just a short stroll from the town centre and its selection of shops, pubs and restaurants, this is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploration.
A warm welcome awaits you at Guisachan House, a family run private guest house. They are situated in an elevated position off the main road with views over Loch Linnhe and surrounding hills only 5 minutes walking distance from Fort William town centre. They have 17 bedrooms and a guest lounge and bar offering wine, beer, spirits and malt whiskey. Wireless Internet is available for the guests. There is some photography dotted around the guest house taken by Phil, one of the owners.
Located in a prime residential area overlooking Loch Linnhe, the guest house is only 5 minutes walk from the shops and restaurants in Fort William town centre. You are assured a warm welcome at this splendid property and all rooms are en-suite with central heating, flat screen televisions and tea/coffee making facilities. There is free WiFi.
With two nights in Fort William, you may wish to tackle a self-guided hike to the summit of Ben Nevis (1345m), the UK's highest mountain, on the well-trod 'Mountain Track' route. Suitably equipped for the ever-changing and conditions you may be rewarded with far ranging views from the summit plateau.
Alternatively, there are plenty of lower level walks on the forest trails of Glen Nevis. We recommend one of the best short walks in Scotland, the rocky path through the Nevis gorge, leading to the cascading white waters of Steall Falls.
Optional Ben Nevis ascent: 10 miles/16 km, 1320m ascent/descent, 7-9 hours
Optional Glen Nevis walk: 2.5 miles/4 km, 105m ascent/descent, 2 hours
Dora welcomes you with open arms to her lovely guest house, Myrtle Bank. Overlooking Loch Linnhe and just a short stroll from the town centre and its selection of shops, pubs and restaurants, this is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploration.
A warm welcome awaits you at Guisachan House, a family run private guest house. They are situated in an elevated position off the main road with views over Loch Linnhe and surrounding hills only 5 minutes walking distance from Fort William town centre. They have 17 bedrooms and a guest lounge and bar offering wine, beer, spirits and malt whiskey. Wireless Internet is available for the guests. There is some photography dotted around the guest house taken by Phil, one of the owners.
Located in a prime residential area overlooking Loch Linnhe, the guest house is only 5 minutes walk from the shops and restaurants in Fort William town centre. You are assured a warm welcome at this splendid property and all rooms are en-suite with central heating, flat screen televisions and tea/coffee making facilities. There is free WiFi.
A real treat is in store today with a trip on the ‘Jacobite’ steam train from Fort William to the west coast port of Mallaig. A highlight of the journey is crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct's 21 arches. Having gained fame through the ‘Harry Potter’ films, the location is historically important as the landing point of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 for his Jacobite uprising.
The dramatic scenery continues with summits towering over 700m above the tracks as you puff and whistle through remote glens. Reaching the rugged west coast with views over to the small isles of Rum and Eigg the train brings you into the port of Mallaig. Mallaig is also the perfect starting point for a trip to the Isle of Skye, only a 30 minute ferry ride away if you are able to extend your trip.
***Please note, the Jacobite steam train is in extremely high demand for the whole season. Tickets sell out way before the summer months. If tickets are not available for your requested date, you will be given a discount and booked on a regular Scotrail service - this train will travel on the same line as the Jacobite over the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct.***
Heather looks forward to meeting you at the Moorings which has super views over the working fishing port of Mallaig. Moorings is located approximately a 5 minute walk from Mallaig Train station, with ferries for Skye, the Outer Isles and other local amenities nearby. All bedrooms are comfortably furnished with TV, radio, en suite shower, tea and coffee making facilities and room hairdryer.
Seaview Guesthouse is a comfortable guesthouse in the centre of Mallaig. Overlooking the harbour of this pretty fishing village, the guesthouse provides all you need for a relaxing stay.
Overlooking the village, this 4-star hotel retains the traditional charm of a bygone age combined with modern touches in the comfortable surroundings. Dining is a delight with views out to the Cuillin mountains in Skye. All rooms are en-suite with Freeview TVs and some boasting views of the harbour and isles beyond.
After breakfast your holiday comes to an end. You may wish to travel south via the West Highland Line (approx. 5hrs 30mins by train to Glasgow) or continue your adventure north onto the Isle of Skye and beyond.
This trip has a carbon score of 5kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our greenest trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 5kg is equivalent to 1 Neapolitan margherita pizza. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?If you love the idea of watching the Scottish Highland landscape unfold from the comfort of the West Highland train line, coupled with walking the most famous of Scotland’s national trails then this trip is for you.
Discovery | Think of it as a ‘local’s guide’ to the best of the region. It includes a combination of activity and transportation to give you the freedom to explore and cover more ground at your own pace. We do all the research and organisation for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy!
Rail and Hike | Perfectly planned itineraries discovering the best of a destination both by train and on foot.
Solo Travellers
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This trip is graded easy to moderate and includes daily walks up to 13 miles. The terrain may be rugged underfoot over undulaing terrain but doesn't include anything too strenuous. Perfect for those with a relatively good level of fitness.
This route is suitable for most regular walkers. You should train by walking some daily walks of similar daily distances to your planned itinerary.
Our West Highland Line - Rail & Hike holidays include overnight accommodation in a mix of 3-4* B&B's, guesthouses and small hotels. The accommodation we use most often is listed. We carefully select your accommodation to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay and all offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food. We book en suite rooms as standard. If there are no en suite rooms available in an overnight location, we may book a room with shared facilities, but we would always inform you in advance if this was the case.
We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in your itinerary. Occasionally, because of limited availability, we may have to accommodate you at an alternative location. In the unlikely event that we have to accommodate you elsewhere we will advise you of this before confirming your booking and arrange transfers to and from your overnight accommodation at our expense.
Accommodation Upgrade
If you would prefer a little extra luxury whilst in Fort William, Spean Bridge or Mallaig you can upgrade to our hotel accommodation options. For this option we use a selection of country hotels, boutique B&B's and country inns of character.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
This holiday is available to solo walkers with a solo traveler supplement and you'll experience great camaraderie along the West Highland Way. If you require single rooms within your party we will be happy to accommodate your request, but please note it's not normally possible to secure more than three single rooms per party and a single supplement is payable.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning while lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Your accommodation may be able to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked and paid for on arrival. Alternatively, the Macs Adventure App will point out any recommended lunch spots along the way. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby pubs and restaurants.
The route is generally well way marked and easy to follow. Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.
Recommended Reading
Although not essential, if you would like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:
- West Highland Way: Milngavie to Fort William (British Walking Guide). Trailblazers
- 7 Nights in hand-picked B&B's, guesthouses and small hotels
- 7 Breakfasts
- Baggage transfers (on walking days)
- Train travel as per itinerary (standard class)
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office
- Travel to / from Glasgow
- Lunches, dinners, snacks & drinks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights along the route (we recommend a pre-tour night in Glasgow)
- Upgraded accommodations
You can start this tour on any day of the week throuhgout the season which is April to October.
Scotland's climate is notoriously changeable! Expect some amounts of both sunshine and rain regardless of the time of year, so always pack both waterproofs and sunscreen. July and August are usually warmest with average temperatures around 14 degrees centigrate, and highs of up to mid-twenties. Some snow may remain or even fall on the higher parts of the route in March & April, and even beyond. May has the least rainfall on average, but you would still expect some wetter days, and each year can vary greatly.
By Air: Located 8 miles west of Glasgow, Glasgow International Airport is served by routes from Britain and around the world. A regular shuttle bus service runs to the city centre, or you can take a taxi (25 minutes).
By Train: Glasgow has excellent rail links from within the UK. We recommend booking early to get the best fares. For information on all routes contact National Rail Enquires.
By Bus: Services from UK destinations are operated by National Express. Services from Scottish destinations are operated by Scottish Citylink.
By Train: Following completion of your holiday you may wish to return to Glasgow via the West Highland Line (5hrs 30mins). For information on all routes contact National Rail Enquiries.
By Ferry: For onward travel to Skye you can take the Calmac ferry to Armadale (30 minutes). For information on all routes contact Caledonian MacBrayne.
For detailed public transport information see Traveline Scotland.
Your bags will be collected from your accommodation on each walking day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 18kg per person. On the rail days we ask that you take all your baggage with you aboard the train.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
Online Documents
At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimize the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery.
On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.
With 42 miles of walking this is a fair distance and the higher your level of fitness the more you will enjoy the experience. You should be comfortable walking on good tracks and paths over undulating terrain for up to 7 hours. If you currently don’t enjoy that level of fitness, regular walking in hilly terrain supplemented by cardiovascular exercise for at least six months before your walk is recommended. A good gym or personal trainer will be able to draw up a personalised training programme.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the region is extremely popular especially over May/June and July/August. You will find up to date availability on our website and we will always try and accommodate your plans.
You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack and hats/gloves etc. Our info packs have a list of all equipment to bring on your walk.
Traditionally May has always been the most popular time of year because the theory goes that the weather is better and the midges have not yet appeared. Although having walked in every summer month I believe any time between late May and October offers a wonderful experience.
Midges are small biting insects (much like North American gnats) which are prevalent in the summer months. They are particularly bad on still, overcast days but do not bother you if you are moving, the wind is blowing, sun is shining, it’s raining, or you are inside so as long as you carry repellent for the odd occasion you may need it they shouldn’t have any impact on your experience.
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate walkers with dogs as many of the accommodation providers we use do not accept pets and several sections of the way are closed to dogs as they are permissive paths through farm land.
You can use public transport or local taxis to move you to the next overnight stop. Full details are included in your info pack.
You will be required to do both on our Rail and Hike itineraries, and on some days you will be required to take your bags with you or you receive baggage handling to your next walking location! Please check and refer to your specific Rail and Hike itinerary on our website, and visit the ‘Included’ section for clarification on this.
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