West Highland Way: Scotland

Key Details:

• Length: 154 km (96 miles).
• Starting Point: Milngavie, near Glasgow.
• Ending Point: Fort William.
• Typical Duration: 6-8 days for the full route.

The WHW is one of the more popular multi-day hikes in Scotland given it’s good accessibility, its proximity to towns/villages for resupply and support and mild level of incline. I would recommend this hike to anyone who is just getting into long-distance hiking or anyone looking for a solid hike in Scotland that needs little planning. The hike can be completed all year round but is best from May to October.

I spent 5 days on the trail, wild camping for 3 nights and spending 1 night in a hotel. In this report i’ll share some of my favourite photos and areas of the hike, tips, advice and reccomendations.

Getting There & Back

Getting to and from the trail is easy. I got a train from Glasgow Queen Street Station to Milngavie Station, then walked 10 minutes to the trail head. On return, I caught one of the daily City Link buses back down to Glasgow Central.

Wild Camping

I wild camped x 3 nights and stayed in a hotel 1 x night. Wild camping is legal in Scotland (one of the reasons why I love thru-hiking in this beautiful country – just remember to leave no trace). However, wild camping along Loch Lomond south of Rowardennan is not permitted and the rangers will move you along.

There are plenty of B&Bs, hotels and campgrounds where you can also stay. You don’t have to camp to complete this hike.

My itinerary:

Night 1: Start at the West Highland Way Campsite (north of Milngavie)

Night 2: wild camp next to Loch Lomond, north of Rowardennan

Night 3: Crianlarich Hotel

Night 4: wild camp north of Inveroran

Night 5: wild camp near Lairigmor, north of Kinlochleven

Food and Water

Food and water are not an issue on the WHW. You will pass at the very least some sort of shop, cafe, or store each day, and most days you will pass through some form of small town or village where you can resupply. I chose to bring some freeze-dried meals with me as well as I find their weight-to-energy ratio and taste is worth it.

I would also recommend the use of a water filter as well – there are lots of rivers/streams that can be used as a source of water, but take note there are lots of livestock so be cautious of contamination.

Way-marking

Way-marking on the trail is extremely good. There are frequent signs to keep you on track, and usually a few other small groups doing the trek as well. I also used downloaded maps on the AllTrails app on my iPhone in airplane mode to save battery.

Best Bits

In my opinion the best and most scenic bits are Rannoch Moor and the Glencoe National Nature Reserve, just before the devil’s staircase.

The first half of the hike passes through quite a bit of flat farmland and towns/villages and along Loch Lomond, which is nice, but it’s not quite the same as being up in the Highlands. The second half, as you ascend into the Highlands was definitely my favourite section of the trail.

Summary

Overall, I think this hike is incredible. It is heavily trafficked and lacks isolation, particularly in the first half of the hike. The easy low lands at the start provide a relaxing introduction walking in Scotland and exploring this historic trail. As you move into the highlands, the views of the mountains really start to open up, and there’s plenty of space to find a secluded and quiet wild camping spot each night. For anyone looking to do their first thru-hike and wild camp, I think this is the perfect hike. The trail still provides enough of a challenge and incredible views for those who are more experienced as well.