Essential Guide:
The West Highland Way

Welcome to everything you need to know about the West Highland Way, all in one place! The West Highland Way is Scotland’s most well-known long-distance trail. It is traditionally walked from Milngavie in the south to Fort William in the north. The route passes some of the best scenery in Scotland and has become a must-do activity for locals and visitors alike.

Total Length of the Way		154 km/95.6 miles
Footfall		Around 35,000 people walk the whole route annually.
Highest Point		550m / 1804 feet, the summit of the Devil’s Staircase
How Many Days Does the West Highland Way Take?		6-8 days
How Many Steps is the West Highland Way?		200,000 (Based on the average stride)
Fastest Completion of the West Highland Way?		To our knowledge, Ultrarunner Rob Sinclair did the whole route in 13 hours and 41 minutes in 2017.

The West Highland Way is Scotland’s first official long-distance trail. Tom Hunter proposed the trail, driven to find a way to protect the Scottish countryside from overdevelopment. Hunter and his wife Margaret gained a lot of support from fellow walking lovers for the trail, who joined forces to put together a proposed route. His idea was also met with objections from landowners, local authorities, and the Countryside Commission. Despite the setbacks, the trail was approved in 1974.

The popularity of the recently opened Pennine Way in 1965 in Northern England certainly helped to make a case for the opening of the West Highland Way. Building the route required anticipating the strains that large volumes of walkers would bring to the area. The route was to be provisioned with waymarkers, surfacing, bridges, stiles, and appropriate drainage. It passes and makes use of historical roads like old military roads and drove roads used for herding cattle between the Highlands and the Lowlands. Taking this all into consideration, the West Highland Way was completed in 1980.

2010 marks two further historic milestones. In June 2010 the West Highland Way was welcomed to be part of the International Appalachian Trail. Later that year, the way was extended by a further mile, moving the official finishing point up to Fort William’s main square in the town centre. The new official end of the way is marked with seating, a stone map, and the Sore Feet statue for visitors to pose with.

Knowing that there is something yummy waiting for you at lunch and dinner time can be a pretty key motivator when trekking 9-15 miles/15-25 kilometres a day! We’re lucky that the West Highland Way is sprinkled with some great eateries en-route to tuck into some traditional and some less conventional Scottish fare.

If you’re travelling with us rest assured that we ensure that you’re booked up in the restaurant of choice and that packed lunches are seen to, but if you’re going at it more independently a bit more logistics are required. Depending on the distances you are walking each day, there may not always be a place where you can buy lunch along the way so come prepared with a packed meal if that’s the case.

We’ve put together an interactive map with the best places to eat or have a drink and the selection includes restaurants, pubs, distilleries, chippies, and farm shops.

West Highland Way Food Guide & Map

Milngavie to Drymen is the first stage of the West Highland Way. This leg is a good introduction for what is to come in the following days. It starts off relatively flat with a variation of scenery. Although you are starting close to Glasgow, you are quickly leaving the urban scenery and walking up to Mugdock Country Park and through open countryside. You hike north along the West Highland Way, passing Craigallian and Carbeth Lochs. You skirt the western flanks of the Campsie Fells, where many a Glasgow mountaineer enjoyed their first outing. Your day’s walking ends when you reach the village of Drymen.

Full Walking Description: Walkhighlands – Milngavie to Drymen

The trail leaves Drymen and passes through Garadhban Forest. Leaving the forest you can choose to climb Conic Hill, 361m in height with great views over Loch Lomond. Alternatively, there is a low-level path that skirts below the hill. The views across the Loch and the islands are said to be some of the most beautiful along the trail. After reaching the eastern banks of Loch Lomond at Balmaha, follow the shore through the forest until you reach the tranquil setting of Rowardennan, nestled at the foot of Ben Lomond.

Full Walking Description: Walkhighlands – Drymen to Rowardennan

Well into the Highlands now, you are surrounded by rugged mountain peaks. You make your way along Glen Falloch before turning northwards into Strath Fillan. As you approach Tyndrum you are rewarded with wonderful views of Ben Lui rising up in the west.

Full Walking Description: Walkhighlands – Inverarnan to Tyndrum

This fantastic day begins with a climb out of Tyndrum, with the trail running next to the West Highland Railway line. At the top of the pass, the sweeping flanks of Ben Dorain dominate the view. A short detour takes you to a carved stone seat said to contain the sword of Robert the Bruce. Continuing north, you’ll reach the tiny settlement of Bridge of Orchy and then Inveroran. The shapely peaks of the Black Mount now lie to the west while the wilds of Rannoch Moor stretch into the distance in front of you. Follow the trail across this wild moor, one of the most remote and atmospheric sections of the whole route.

*This section of the trail ends officially at the Kingshouse Hotel in Glen Coe. The day can get split into two shorter days, traditionally breaking the route up at Bridge of Orchy or Inveroran.

Full Walking Descriptions:

• Walkhighlands – Tyndrom to Inveroran
• Walkhighlands – Inveroran to Kingshouse

This is a shorter day but with the steepest ascent of the route. From the Kingshouse climb the trail known as the ‘Devil’s Staircase’. It is steep, eroded and with some switchbacks. The ascent is steady and constant. At the top of the pass at 547m, you get incredible views of Glen Coe and down to Loch Leven. Descend on a good trail into the small village of Kinlochleven.

Full Walking Description: Walkhighlands – Kingshouse to Kinlochleven

The final day sees the trail climb over a final pass – 274m this time. After crossing the pass, the hard work of the day is done and you walk past old sheilings (summer dwellings for shepherds) with views over Lochan Lunn Da-Bhra. With views across to Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland, the trail descends into Glen Nevis and down to the end of the route in Fort William. You’ve made it!

Full Walking Description: Walkhighlands – Kinlochleven to Fort William