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 wilds 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
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Glasgow
Arrive in Glasgow and spend an overnight here.
- Accommodation: Hotel Indigo or similar
Day 2: Glasgow to Balmaha | 12km
After breakfast, you are transferred to Glengoyne Distillery for a tour and tasting session. You are then transferred to Drymen to begin your walk on the West Highland Way, taking in views over Loch Lomond from the top of Conic Hill before descending into Balmaha for your evening stay.
- Walking for the day: 12km, 4h, highest point: 390m
- Accommodation: The Oak Tree Inn or similar
Day 3: Balmaha to Rowardennan | 11.6km
Your walk today takes you along the east side of Loch Lomond, clinging to the water’s edge along much of the way. This is a lovely, low level and relaxed stage as it meanders past pebbly beaches and giving you plenty of time to take in the surrounding scenery and wildlife.
- Walking for the day: 11.6km, 7h, highest point: 120m
- Accommodation: Rowardennan Hotel or similar
Day 4: Rowardennan to Inverarnan | 22km
From Rowardennan, the path heads into thick woodland. There are two options here: the easier being the wide forest track which follows the contours up and down the hill; or the more time consuming, narrow path which skirts over rocks and exposed tree roots along the banks of the loch. The rocky and uneven path continues along the loch, hugging the water’s edge amidst ancient oak forest. The loch becomes noticeably narrower as the path approaches Inverarnan.
- Walking for the day: 22km, 6-7h, highest point: 131m
- Accommodation: The Drovers Inn & Lodge or similar
Day 5: Inverarnan to Tyndrum | 19km
Soon after leaving Inverarnan, the path runs alongside the picturesque, fast-flowing River Falloch before a long stretch on an old military road. The route here closely follows the West Highland Line railway and eventually passes underneath the tracks as the path nears a coniferous forest. The route continues through the forest along a winding, undulating path, eventually crossing the road and River Fillin. Views of the surrounding mountains are wonderful. A well-maintained path follows the River Cononish before reaching Tyndrum.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 5-6h, highest point: 335m
- Accommodation: Tigh Na Fraoch B&B or similar
Day 6: Tyndrum to Kingshouse | 20.6km
From Tyndrum, you have the option to take the iconic West Highland Line train journey to Bridge of Orchy (approx 15mins) before beginning your walk to Kingshouse. The path climbs out of Bridge of Orchy through a coniferous forest, opening out to lovely views to Loch Tulla. The path then takes you past the Inveroran Hotel, before the long stretch across the edge of the wild and eerily remote Rannoch Moor, passing Glencoe Ski Centre and into Glencoe Mountains.
- Walking for the day: 20.6km, 4-5h, highest point: 330m
- Accommodation: Kingshouse Hotel or similar
Day 7: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven | 14.5km
This stage of the West Highland Way includes the infamous Devil’s Staircase, the steepest climb of the route, reaching the highest point of the entire journey (made easier by the zig-zag path up the hill). The views from the top are spectacular. The track away from the staircase towards Kinlochleven signals an escape from the Glencoe Mountains and offers a long descent along excellent tracks all the way into the town.
- Walking for the day: 14.5km 4h 30mins -5h 30mins, highest point: 550m
- Accommodation: Tigh Na Cheo Guesthouse or similar
Day 8: Kinlochleven to Fort William | 25km
The climb out of Kinlochleven is a steep ascent through a small forest. The view from the top is worth it, over 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 centre.
- Walking for the day: 25km 6-7h, highest point: 330m
- Accommodation: Guisachan House B&B or similar
Day 9: Departure
Departure by bus or train to Glasgow (3-4h) or Edinburgh. Additional nights at the end of the walk can be arranged to explore the Highlands at your leisure, including trekking up Scotland’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in stylish B&Bs, guesthouses and hotels. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism.
Show the default hotels for this trip
*Note that hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel from the ones pictured above is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher 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
Although daily elevation gains are not very big, you should be prepared to walk on average 16km or 4-7h per day. Some days will be more challenging than others and the terrain will 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 20 March till 21 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.
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 airport for this tour is Glasgow.
By train or bus
- Glasgow: There are excellent air, train and bus services, allowing easy access anywhere in the UK and overseas.
- Milngavie: Public transport, by train, bus or taxi, from Glasgow city centre
- Fort William: The main routes out of Fort William are by bus and train to Glasgow. The journey, whether by rail or coach, is an absolutely glorious trip with stunning scenery throughout
- A great website useful specifically for public transport planning within Scotland is Traveline Scotland.
Inclusions
Included
- Pre-booked accommodation as per the itinerary on 8 nights in B&B’s, small hotels and guesthouses
- Full breakfast each morning
- Door-to-door luggage transfers on all walking days
- Scottish Whisky Distillery Tour
- Private transfers as described in the itinerary
- Access to your digital pre-departure information (your 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
- Rail tickets from Upper Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy
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; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights along the route or in Glasgow are available upon request
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