Walk the West Highland Way

On arrival at Glasgow Airport, our representative will be at the airport to meet you.
We will transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Glasgow City Walking Tour

Explore the history and architecture of “the best-preserved Victorian city Centre in Europe” This tour visits important buildings symbolising the grand vision of the city fathers, created by a role of honour of architects, designers, and craftsmen.

Duration approx. 2.5 – 3 Hours

Overnight Glasgow

Included: Tour with local guide, bed and breakfast

Glasgow City Walking Tour

Step back in time to the heyday of the City’s elegance and style.

Start with Tea, Scone, cream and jam at the “Willow Tea Room”, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s exquisite creation (1903) for Miss Cranston, the queen of Glasgow Tea Rooms”.

Then embark on a history tour, seeing the best of Victorian Glasgow, ending with a glass of wine at Rogano, the City’s most historic restaurant, opened in 1935 as a homage to the art deco extravaganza of the Queen Mary.

Duration approx. 3.5 Hours

Overnight Glasgow

Included: Tout with local guide, bed and breakfast

Transfer from Glasgow to the starting point of the West Highland Way

Milngavie to Drymen 12 miles (19km)

The journey from Milngavie to Drymen is a good warm-up for the rest of the route. It is a relatively flat introduction to the diverse landscapes you will encounter during the coming 96 miles.

Some smaller lochs and rivers accompany you along the way as views open up to reveal the highland landscape beyond Drymen.

A relatively straightforward start, walking on footpaths, tracks and lanes with no significant climbs.

Height range: 19 – 140 m
Height at start: 51 m
Height at finish: 64 m

Overnight Drymen

Included: transport to start of West Highland Way, Bed and Breakfast

Drymen to Balmaha 6.5 miles (10.5km)

You re-join the West Highland Way on leaving Drymen as it veers away from the A811 and towards Conic Hill.

The view from Conic Hill is world-class, and your first taste of the epic landscapes you will experience on the West Highland Way.

Below you, stretching across the world-famous Loch Lomond, are a chain of islands that mark the highland boundary fault, the literal threshold between the lowlands and the highlands of Scotland.

After tearing yourself away from the views of Loch Lomond, you descend into the tiny village of Balmaha.

Good paths or tracks most of the way but can be twisty and undulating in some places. Some minor roadside walking but mainly Lochside paths once you have left Balmaha.

The only significant ascent is the route section over Conic Hill near Balmaha. There is a low-level alternative.

Height range: 9 – 325 m
Height at start: 64 m
Height at finish: 10 m

Overnight at Balmaha

Included: bedroom and breakfast

Balmaha to Rowardennan 7.5 miles (12km)

The section continues along the shores of Loch Lomond through an ancient oak woodland passing three campsites: Cashel, Milarrochy and Sallochy.

Rowardennan is the starting point for those climbing Ben Lomond. You can also pick up the short 1.5km Ardess Hidden History Trail from here too.

Overnight at Rowardennan

Included: bedroom and breakfast

Rowardennan to Inverarnan 14 miles (22km)

This section takes in the northern, more remote area of Loch Lomond, where the waters plunge to a depth of 620 feet. The terrain is challenging, mainly north of Inversnaid, but the sense of wildness and soaring mountains are worth the extra care and attention needed.

A highlight of this section is the spectacular waterfall at Inversnaid. West Highland Way walkers can get up close as the route takes a footbridge over the waterfall as it cascades down into Loch Lomond.

This stretch begins on forestry track following the eastern shore of Loch Lomond and becomes increasingly rougher with occasional sections of the rocky path with crags and boulders. Beyond Inversnaid, the route is challenging underfoot, and walkers should take care to avoid twisting an ankle or tripping.

Height range: 7 – 105 m
Height at start: 10 m
Height at finish: 27 m

Overnight at Inverarnan

Included: bedroom and breakfast

Inverarnan to Tyndrum 13 miles (21km)

Having immersed yourself in the surroundings of Loch Lomond, you will now enter a different landscape. One of soaring mountains and gentle glen walking.

Following the River Falloch, you will catch glimpses of the cascades of the Falls of Falloch before reaching the halfway point, Crianlarich. Although the way skirts past the village, there is a spur path that takes you into Crianlarich

The path and tracks are mainly well-surfaced, where much of the route consists of an old military road with moderate hills.

The way bypasses Crianlarich to the west, but a spur path leads into the village, the halfway point on the route. The following section to Tyndrum is a straightforward path, offering spectacular mountain scenery.

Height range: 17 – 336 m
Height at start: 27 m
Height at finish: 237 m

Overnight at Tyndrum

Included: bedroom and breakfast

Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy 10 miles (16km)

Before setting off from Tyndrum, it is worth remembering that this is the last chance to stock up on any necessities – there are no more shops until Kinlochleven, 28 miles further up the way!

This section of the route offers some up close and personal views of the surrounding mountains. Soon after leaving Tyndrum, you will skirt the steep sides of Beinn Odhar, and the pyramid of Beinn Dorain sits ahead, a companion across the floor of the glen until you reach Bridge of Orchy.

The railway will peel off to the right, and you’ll see another viaduct showcasing the engineering skills of the West Highland Railway Line. From here, the glen widens and flattens with a gentle descent down to the railway station and views across to Glen Orchy.

After Bridge of Orchy, the way joins the Old Military Road. A short climb up the hill gives a dramatic viewpoint across Loch Tulla and the Black Mount. Beyond Inveroran, the remote Rannoch Moor beckons.

There is a good path underfoot throughout with a few inclines and descents. Today is the most straightforward day, while walking on the West Highland Way, as you’ll find on the way, immersing yourself in vast glens and striking mountain scenery.

Height range: 157 – 329 m
Height at start: 237 m
Height at finish: 176 m

Overnight at Bridge of Orchy

Included: bedroom and breakfast

Inveroran to Glencoe 10 miles (16km)

From Forest Lodge, the path slowly rises onto the edges of Rannoch Moor. A wild and remote section of the West Highland Way and one of the last great wildernesses of Europe. On a good day, this area offers relatively straightforward walking but if the weather isn’t favourable, ensure you are wrapped up from the elements as it may be tough going across the exposed ground.

Ba Bridge is halfway across the moor and an obvious rest point to take in the views. It can be bleak and beautiful at the same time, depending on the conditions! A short distance after this, on your left, the ruins of Ba cottage may offer some slight shelter or a lovely spot for lunch.

The undulating old military road eventually brings your march past the Glencoe Ski Centre, Black Rock Cottage and within view of one of Scotland’s most photographed mountains, Buachaille Etive Mor.

The track along the old Parliamentary Road is good, but Rannoch Moor is very exposed and can be tricky in bad weather. There is no shelter on this section of the way until reaching the Ski Centre, but in good weather, this is a rewarding part of the trail with superb scenery throughout.

Height range: 168 – 446 m
Height at start: 176 m
Height at finish: 244 m

Overnight at Glencoe

Included: bedroom and breakfast

Kingshouse to Kinlochleven 9 miles (14.5km)

Leaving from Kingshouse brings you face to face with the imposing sight of Buachaille Etive Mor, one of Scotland’s most famous Munros.

The mountains name aptly translates to The Great Herdsman of Etive, sitting at the entrance to Glen Etive on the left and the scene of the James Bond film Skyfall, with the historic Glen Coe on the right; the scene of the massacre of Clan MacDonald in 1692.

You’ll make your way towards Altnafeadh close to the foot (and starting point!) of Buachaille Etive Mor, before turning sharply right for the Devil’s Staircase. This zig-zag climb will take you up to the highest point of the West Highland Way at 550m and marked by a cairn, with breathtaking views back to ‘The Buachaille’ and northwards towards the Mamores mountain range.

After your climb up the Devil’s Staircase, the way thankfully meanders across the moorland before heading down to Kinlochleven. If the 78 miles of trekking you have now undertaken haven’t been enough, you could always brush up on your climbing skills at the National Centre for Ice Climbing – the world’s largest indoor ice climbing wall.

The way is good underfoot, stony in places and easy to follow, but can be very exposed in poor weather, especially on the moorland section before Kinlochleven.

Height range: 5 – 551 m
Height at start: 244 m
Height at finish: 5 m

Overnight at Kinlochleven

Included: bedroom and breakfast

Kinlochleven to Fort William 14 miles (22km)

This last section begins with a steep climb out of Kinlochleven, eventually relenting and giving you superb views down Loch Leven and back to Kinlochleven.

Lairigmor (the great pass) is ahead of you, which provides easy walking between steep and grand mountains. The path follows the glen as it bends to the north, reaching woodland before heading towards Glen Nevis.

The way continues through forestry plantations while Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis comes into view. There are plenty of opportunities to climb this from the valley floor should you wish! Before the last section and descent to Fort William, you could also make a slight detour and visit the remains of Dun Deardail, an Iron Age fort located in Glen Nevis.

You are now on the West Highland Way home stretch, where Fort William and celebrations await. Make your way into the town centre to the finish for a photo opportunity with the bronze statue of a fellow walker at Gordon Square.

Congratulations, you have just completed the 96-mile West Highland Way from Milngavie to Fort William!

A steep climb out of Kinlochleven. The Lairigmor is rough underfoot.
The path from Lundavra to Glen Nevis is undulating before finishing on the tarmac into Fort William.

Height range: 5 – 336 m
Height at start: 5 m
Height at finish: 5 m

Overnight at Fort William

Included: bedroom and breakfast

Day at Leisure to enjoy as you please.

Well done, you can clap yourself on the back – you did it!

Today is departure day. Depart at your leisure after breakfast
Turas math Dhuibh! Have a good journey!