Overview
Given that the Great Glen Way and West Highland Way are two of Scotland’s finest walking trails this holiday, which combines both into one pretty package, has to be the ultimate Caledonian combo. Walk for 14 days (a 17 day holiday) through the Highlands and lowlands covering a mammoth 275km of pure Scottish joy, from Loch Lomond to Loch Ness. The Scottish guesthouses you stay at along the way are experts at greeting walkers. They prepare hearty breakfasts and packed lunches and send you on your way to the likes of Invergarry Castle or up Conic Hill, across Lairigmor or Rannoch Moor, as well as the country’s finest lochs.
- Caledonian Canal
- Inverness Castle
- Loch Ness
- Great Glen Way
- West Highland Way
- Invergarry Castle
- Devil’s Staircase
- Allander Water
- Milngavie
- Loch Lomond
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Milngavie
Arrive in the town of Milngavie, the official starting point of the West Highland Way.
- Accommodation: Premier Inn or similar in Milngavie
Day 2: Walk Milngavie – Drymen | 19.3km
The walk starts at the obelisk in Milngavie town centre and follows Allander Water through patches of woodland, before heading into Mugdock Country Park and Craigallian Loch. Finally, follow the hedge-lined country lane, before leaving the West Highland Way and heading down into the village of Drymen.
- Walking for the day: 19.3km, 5-6h, ↑207m ↓198m
- Accommodation: Braeside Guest House or similar in Drymen
Day 3: Drymen – Rowardennan | 23.3km
Back on the West Highland Way, the route soon enters Garadhban Forest, where there are two options for today’s route, the first being an easier walk into Milton of Buchanan, leading to Balmaha on the banks of the loch. Alternatively, the second option is a more strenuous, but ultimately much more rewarding route, as the climb up Conic Hill proffers fabulous views over Loch Lomond. Finally, follow the east side of Loch Lomond, which is a low level and relaxed stage as it meanders along pebble beaches. End the day in Rowardennan.
- Walking for the day: 23.3km, 6-7h, ↑472m ↓512m
- Accommodation: Rowardennan Hotel or similar in Rowardennan
Day 4: Rowardennan – Inverarnan | 22.6km
From Rowardennan, the path heads into thick woodland. There are two options here, the easier being the wide forest track following the contours of the hill. Alternatively, opt for the longer, narrow path that skirts over rocks and exposed tree roots along the banks of the loch. The path then continues along the loch, hugging the water’s edge through an ancient oak forest. The loch becomes noticeably narrower as the path approaches Inverarnan, tonight’s final destination.
- Walking for the day: 22.6km, 6-7h, ↑662m ↓662m
- Accommodation: The Drovers Inn or similar in Inverarnan
Day 5: Inverarnan – Tyndrum | 18.5km
Soon after leaving Inverarnan, the path runs alongside the fast-flowing River Falloch before taking you along a stretch of old military road. The route here closely follows the West Highland Railway and eventually passes underneath the tracks as the path nears a coniferous forest. Continue on through the forest, with the path winding and undulating through the contours before crossing the road and River Fillin, with spectacular mountain views. A well-maintained path follows the River Cononish towards Tyndrum and your accommodation for the evening.
- Walking for the day: 18.5km, 5-6h, ↑379m ↓176m
- Accommodation: Tigh Na Fraoch B&B or similar in Tyndrum
Day 6: Tyndrum – Inveroran | 14.9km
From Tyndrum, the route closely follows the railway and the road. By this stage, you are firmly in the Scottish Highlands, and the views from here all the way to Fort William are spectacular. The path follows an old military road, this is also the most exposed section of the route so far. The trail climbs out of Bridge of Orchy through a coniferous forest, eventually providing views out towards Loch Tulla.
- Walking for the day: 14.9km, 4-5h, ↑275m ↓326m
- Accommodation: Inveroran Hotel or similar in Bridge of Orchy
Day 7: Inveroran – Kingshouse/Glencoe | 14.1km
Begin the day from Inveroran Hotel, heading for the long stretch across the edge of the wild and eerily remote Rannoch Moor, before arriving at Glencoe Ski Centre and heading into the mountain range of Glencoe. If you have not opted for upgraded accommodation in Kingshouse this evening, you are met by your driver at Glencoe Ski Centre, who transfers you to Glencoe, where your day comes to a close.
- Walking for the day: 14.1km, 4-5h, ↑491m ↓311m
- Accommodation: Park View B&B or similar in Glencoe
Day 8: Kingshouse/Glencoe – Kinlochleven | 14.3km
This stage of the West Highland Way includes the infamous Devil’s Staircase, the steepest climb of the route, made easier by the zig-zag path up the hill. The views from the top are definitely worth the ascent. Finally, descend towards Kinlochleven along excellent tracks all the way into town.
- Walking for the day: 114.5km, 4-6h, ↑332m ↓566m
- Accommodation: Tigh Na Cheo or similar in Kinlochleven
Day 9: Kinlochleven – Fort William | 24.1km
The climb out of Kinlochleven is a steep ascent through a small forest. The view from the top looks down towards Loch Leven and the village. The old military road then passes through a wide valley on the edge of Mamore mountain range known as Lairigmor, before turning towards Glen Nevis through forested areas. The path gradually descends to Fort William, with a final stretch along the road into Fort William town centre.
- Walking for the day: 24.1km, 6-7h, ↑501m ↓506m
- Accommodation: Guisachan Guestouse or similar in Fort William
Day 10: Rest day Fort William
Relax and explore the surroundings of Fort William. Located on the shores of Loch Linnhe, Fort William is home to many attractions such as museums, Jacobite steam trains and not to forget Ben Nevis.
- Accommodation: Guisachan Guesthouse or similar in Fort William
Day 11: Fort William – Gairlochy | 16.5km
The walk starts by the banks of Loch Linnhe and follows the shoreline to the Caledonian Canal locks. Along this section take in the iconic Neptune’s Staircase which, built in 1803 by Thomas Telford, it is the longest staircase lock in Britain. The trail then changes course and joins the canal as it heads towards the Great Glen. As there is limited accommodation in Gairlochy, your accommodation is likely to be in Spean Bridge, a further 4.5km along the trail. A pick-up service is provided by your accommodation.
- Walking for the day: 16.5km, 4-5h ↑386m ↓364m
- Accommodation: Coire Glas Guest House or similar in Spean Bridge
Day 12: Gairlochy – Invergarry | 26.4km
From Gairlochy, the trail soon leaves the canal and meets Loch Lochy. The route meanders through woodland as it undulates across the hillside towards Laggan Locks. At the locks, the trail continues towards Fort Augustus along Loch Oich.
- Walking for the day: 26.4km, 6-7h ↑91m ↓65m
- Accommodation: Ardgarry Farm or similar in Invergarry
Day 13: Invergarry – Fort Augustus | 13km
Start the day climbing north out of Invergarry through woodland, before descending to the north banks of Loch Oich, where the route once again joins the Caledonian Canal for the walk into Fort Augustus. There are also some stunning mountain views on today’s walk.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 3-4h ↑138m ↓169m
- Accommodation: Abbey Cottage or similar in Fort Augustus
Day 14: Fort Augustus – Invermoriston | 12/12.5km
The trail initially climbs out of Fort Augustus through a forested area onto the open hillside high above the lochs and canals below. Here there are two route options, a higher route to take in the views, or a lower, less intense route skirting Loch Ness. Just before the village of Invermoriston the two trails meet to descend to Invermoriston Bridge, and finally to your accommodation for the evening.
- Walking for the day: 12.5km, 4-5 h,↑389m ↓367m or 12km, 4-5 h,↑266m ↓244m
- Accommodation: Craik Na Dav B&B or similar in Invermoriston
Day 15: Invermoriston – Drumnadrochit | 22/23km
Again, the trail quickly climbs out of Invermoriston, providing fantastic views of Loch Ness and the surrounding mountains. As on the previous day, there is a high and low-level option during this stage. The high route takes in The Viewcatcher, a sculpture made out of wood and stone designed to highlight the view. End the day in Drumnadrochit, a popular spot for Loch Ness monster hunters.
- Walking for the day: 22.1km, 7-8h, ↑624m ↓633 or 23.3km, 7-8h, ↑601m ↓611m
- Accommodation: Kilmore Farmhouse or similar in Drumnadrochit
Day 16: Drumnadrochit – Inverness/Blackfold – Drumnadrochit | 30.5km/19.3km
Today’s walk has two options, either walk the longer distance from Drumnadrochit to Inverness, or extend your trip by a night and split the distance over two days.
Option one: the trail leaves Drumnadrochit along the main road for a short distance before heading onto a wooded hillside. This is the Great Glen Way’s final significant climb, with a gradual descent towards Inverness, but not before more excellent views across the Highlands. The walk to Inverness Castle follows the latter section of the Caledonian Canal into the city centre.
- Walking for the day: 30.8km, 8-9h ↑402m ↓412m
- Accommodation: Premier Inn River Ness or similar in Inverness
Option two: start with a morning transfer from Drumnadrochit to Blackfold. Follow the route as it ascends gradually across heather moorland and woodlands, catching a glimpse of Loch Ness before returning to Drumnadrochit for the night.
- Walking for the day: 19.3km, 5-6h ↑150m ↓412m
- Accommodation: Kilmore Farmhouse or similar in Drumnadrochit
Optional extra day (if you choose option two for day sixteen): Blackfold to Inverness | 11.8km
If you choose option two and end the previous day in Blackfold, today will start with a morning transfer from Drumnadrochit to Blackfold. Walk Blackfold to Inverness, taking in spectacular views of the lochs and highlands along the way. Finally, follow the Caledonian Canal to end your journey on the Great Glen Way.
- Walking for the day:11.8km, 4h ↑25m ↓269m
- Accommodation: Premier Inn River Ness or similar in Inverness
Day 17: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their proximity to the West Highland Way, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click here to view our default hotels for this tour
- Premier Inn (Milngavie)
- Braeside Guest House (Drymen)
- Rowardennan Hotel (Rowardennan)
- The Drovers Inn & Lodge (Inverarnan)
- Tigh Na Fraoch B&B (Tyndrum)
- Inveroran Hotel (Inveroran)
- Park View B&B (Glencoe)
- Tigh Na Cheo Guesthouse (Kinlochleven)
- Guisachan Guest House (Fort William)
- Coire Glas Guest House (Gairlochy)
- Ardgarry Farm (Invergarry)
- Abbey Cottage (Fort Augustus)
- Craik Na Dav B&B (Invermoriston)
- Kilmore Farmhouse (Drumnadrochit)
- Premier Inn River Ness (Inverness)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. You can have dinner at the guesthouse you are staying at or at the village pubs and restaurants.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is graded as moderate, with daily distance ranging from 10-30km, although daily elevation gains are not very big, some days are more challenging than others and the terrain can be varied with some rough and rugged footpaths (read more about difficulty grades). The route is well signposted throughout, however, walkers must be vigilant at all times as there are paths and junctions along the way which deviate from the main route.
We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available to commence every day from 23rd March until 28th September.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
The West Highland Way is Scotland’s most celebrated trail, and it gets particularly busy during school and public or bank holidays. These include the UK’s two bank holidays at the beginning and end of May, Easter and August. Accommodation gets booked up way in advance during these periods, so it’s best to get in early. For detailed info, see our blog on the Best time to go to Scotland.
Getting there
Up-to-date travel advice on the United Kingdom is available here (for Canadian citizens) and here (for US citizens).
Click to view travel options and route planner
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Glasgow Airport (GLA), Edinburgh Airport (EDI) and Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Scotland without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with train stations in Milngavie and Fort William. For more details, see Trainline, or use the Omio planner above
- Arrival/departure: Milngavie and Fort William are well connected by train, bus or taxi from Glasgow city centre for more information see Traveline Scotland or use the Omio planner above.
- You can also take the Caledonian Sleeper train between London and Fort William.
UK Visa and entry requirements:
IMPORTANT: From 2025, the UK is implementing a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for many countries around the world. Up until 08 January, the ETA requirement only applied to nationals from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
On 08 January 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to visitors from eligible non-European countries, including Australian, Canadian and US nationals. Then, on 02 April 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to eligible European countries, referring to most of Europe.
You can view the full list of countries that this applies to here and apply for your ETA here, or on the UK ETA app. The ETA usually takes up to three working days to be processed, although we advise applying as early as possible, in advance of your travel dates. People travelling with an Irish passport don’t need an ETA.
You can read more about the UK entry requirements on our blog.
Inclusions
Included
- 16 nights accommodation
- 16 breakfasts
- Door-to-door luggage transfers on all walking days (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Return transfers from the trail to accommodations where needed as per itinerary
- Access to your digital pre-departure information (accommodation list, GPS map of the route, baggage transfer information, itineraries, route information of cafes, restaurants, local bus timetables, etc.)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- Single room supplement applies to members of a group who require a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Add an extra night in Drumnadrochit with morning transfers to split the walk between Drumnadrochit and Inverness
- Extra nights along the route or in Glasgow
- Overnight in Kingshouse Hotel, instead of Glencoe, available upon request
Reviews
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