Overview
Walk the iconic and varied West Highland Way in comfort, with the help of a few quick transfers to help you along the 154km long-distance walking trail between Milgavie, just north of Glasgow up to Fort William on the shores of Loch Linnhe, with Ben Nevis waiting to greet you on the final stretch. On this nine day holiday with, on average, 16km of walking per day, you stay in stylish guesthouses and small hotels, all with the usual Scottish flair. Experience the spectacle of the Highlands, including Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the wilds of Rannoch Moor and the Glencoe peaks.
Full list of our West Highland Way itineraries is available here.
- Scottish Highlands
- Glasgow
- Scottish Whisky Distillery Tour
- Bridge of Orchy
- Tyndrum
- Loch Tulla
- Devil’s Staircase
- Loch Lomond
- Drymen
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Glasgow
Arrive in Glasgow and if time allows, we recommend a visit to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum or try the City Centre Mural Trail.
- Accommodation: Hotel Indigo or similar in Glasgow
Day 2: Glasgow – Balmaha | 12.9km
After breakfast, you are met by your driver and transferred to Glengoyne Distillery for a tour and tasting session. After a wee dram, meet your driver to be transferred to Drymen to begin your walk on the West Highland Way. Along the way take in views over Loch Lomond from the top of Conic Hill before descending into Balmaha where your day comes to a close.
- Walking for the day: 12.9km, 4h, ↑385m ↓443m
- Accommodation: The Oak Tree Inn or similar in Balmaha
Day 3: Balmaha – Rowardennan | 12.2km
Your walk today takes you along the east side of Loch Lomond, clinging to the water’s edge along much of the way. Today’s route is a low level and relaxed stage as it meanders along pebble beaches. End the day in Rowardennan.
- Walking for the day: 12.2km, 3-4h, ↑200m ↓193m
- Accommodation: Rowardennan Hotel or similar in Rowardennan
Day 4: Rowardennan – Ardlui/Inverarnan | 19.1km/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 you approach its northernmost point where a short, scenic ferry will carry you across the loch to your accommodation in Ardlui.
- Walking for the day: 19.1km, 5-6h, ↑560m ↓550m to Ardlui or 22.6km, 6-7h, ↑662m ↓652m to Inverarnan
- Accommodation: The Ardlui Hotel or similar in Inverarnan
Day 5: Ardlui/Inverarnan – Tyndrum | 22km/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: 22km, 6-7h ↑470m ↓285m from Ardlui, or 18.5km, 5-6h, ↑379m ↓176m from Inverarnan
- Accommodation: Tyndrum Inn or similar in Tyndrum
Day 6: Tyndrum – Kingshouse | 19.4km/30.3km
From Tyndrum, you have the option to walk the full route from Tyndrum or take the iconic West Highland Line train journey to Bridge of Orchy (approx 15mins) before beginning your walk to Kingshouse. 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, and 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. Continue on 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.
Please note surcharges apply at Kingshouse Hotel on certain dates. Please read our ‘when to go’ section for information.
- Walking for the day: 19.4km ↑450m ↓380m from Bridge of Orchy or 30.3km, 7-8h, ↑581m ↓553m from Tyndrum
- Accommodation: Kingshouse Hotel or similar in Glencoe or Ballachulish
Day 7: Kingshouse – Kinlochleven | 14.5km
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: 14.5km, 4-6h, ↑332m ↓566m
- Accommodation: The Tailrace Inn or similar in Kinlochleven
Day 8: 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: The Garrison Hotel or similar in Fort William
Day 9: 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.
Show the default hotels for this trip
- Hotel Indigo (Glasgow)
- The Oak Tree Inn (Balmaha)
- Rowardennan Hotel (Rowardennan)
- The Ardlui Hotel (Inverarnan)
- Tyndrum Inn (Tyndrum)
- Kingshouse Hotel (Kingshouse)
- The Tailrace Inn (Kinlochleven)
- The Garrison Hotel (Fort William)
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 12-30km, 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 March until October.
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.
Please be advised that accommodation availability in Rowardennan, Ardlui/Inverarnan and Kinlochleven for May 2026 is now very limited. As a result, it is likely that additional transfers to alternative accommodations in Balmaha, Crianlarich and Glencoe, respectively, will be necessary.
Surcharges are be required to at Kingshouse Hotel on a Friday or Saturday night, when a minimum two-night stay is required. This can be added alongside an extra activity or self-guided hike in the Glencoe area, or used as a rest day. Alternatively, we will arrange an accommodation in Glencoe or Ballachulish with return transfers.
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) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Scotland without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with train stations in Glasgow and Fort William. For more details, see Trainline, or use the Omio planner above
- Arrival/departure: Glasgow 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
- 8 nights accommodation
- 8 breakfasts
- Scottish Whisky Distillery Tour
- Private transfers as described in the itinerary
- Door-to-door luggage transfers on all walking days (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- 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)
- Rail tickets from Upper Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have 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.
- Extra nights along the route or in Glasgow are available upon request
