West Highland Way path

West Highland Way Guided Walking Holidays

The 95 mile West Highland Way links Milngavie, just outside Glasgow, to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. It passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Britain, from lowland Scotland into the heart of the Highlands. From Drymen to Tyndrum the Way traverses the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park.

The Way starts gently, undulating through woods and farmland, it winds along the wooded banks of Loch Lomond, across the wilderness of Rannoch Moor, over the mountains above Glencoe to a dramatic finish at the foot of Ben Nevis – Britain’s highest mountain.

Much of the Way follows ancient and historic routes of communication and makes use of Drove Roads or Military Roads built to help in the control of Jacobite Clansmen. The first half of the route crosses valley floor terrain or traverses their sides and only occasionally rises to 300m/1000ft. North of Tyndrum the terrain is a little more challenging as the Way crosses open countryside - Rannoch Moor (445m/1460ft), the Devils Staircase (548m/1797ft) and the Lairigmor (330m/1082ft).


2010 holidays

Tour start dates

  • 26th June 2010 - 4th July 2010 - Limited availability

Also available on request from April to October for private group bookings. Please contact us for availability and a price.

To book your holiday please click here.

Duration of tour
9 days (8 nights)

Total distance
95 miles

Price

Price £565 per person
Prices include

  • Selected accommodation (all rooms ensuite) including breakfast.

  • Experienced guide.

  • Luggage transfer between overnight accommodation.

Grade of walk
Generally this is a moderate route though some strenuous walking is encountered e.g. on Rannoch Moor (445m/1460ft), the Devils Staircase (548m/1797ft) and the Lairigmor (330m/1082ft).

Start of route
Milngavie

End of route
Fort William

Group size
Maximum 12 people.

Accommodation
Accommodation in en-suite rooms in selected comfortable Guest Houses, Hotels and Inns.

Extra nights accommodation
Additional nights accommodation can be booked on request for anyone wishing to arrive or depart a day or two earlier/later.

Meals
A full Scottish breakfast is included. Packed lunches can be purchased from your overnight accommodation or from local convenience stores. Evening meals can be purchased in pubs and overnight accommodation when a pub is not available.

Your Guide
Your experienced Guide will provide daily information about the route, and guide the way. Your Guide will provide information about your accommodation and places to eat in the evening, etc. Your Guide is emergency first aid trained.

Luggage transfer
For the duration of the walk your luggage is transferred between overnight accommodation by luggage transfer service, so all you need to carry is a day rucksack and its contents.

Travel
For information on travelling to and from the route please click here

Dossier
For further information about the route please click here.


Outline Itinerary

Day 1 :
Arrive at your accommodation. The hotel in Drymen is our base for the first 3 nights of this holiday. The hotel has a bar, restaurant and leisure club. Set amidst beautiful countryside the village has a few shops, pubs and a bank. Meet your guide and fellow walkers at the welcome meeting in the evening.


Day 2: Milngavie to Drymen. Distance 12 miles
After breakfast we transfer to Milngavie, the official start of the West Highland Way is a granite obelisk in Douglas Street, Milngavie. The Way leaves the town centre and enters Mugdock Country Park. On leaving the park the route continues northwards on good paths through rolling farmland. We continue along the route back to our hotel in Drymen.


Day 3: Drymen to Rowardennan. Distance 15 miles
We leave the hotel and rejoin the Way. It enters Garadhban Forest and follows a forest track for a few miles. Upon leaving the forest we follow the path as is climbs almost to the summit of Conic Hill (360m), on a clear day there are wonderful views over Loch Lomond. The Way then descends to Balmaha, and passes the National Park Centre. We follow a woodland walk along good paths or tracks as the Way runs close to the eastern shore of Loch Lomond to Rowardennan. We transfer back to the hotel in Drymen.


Day 4: Rowardennan to Inverarnan. Distance 14 miles
We leave the hotel and transfer back to Rowardennan from where The Way follows mainly forestry tracks through countryside, once inhabited by Rob Roy, to Inversnaid. The Way then continues along the side of the loch but the going is more difficult and the path for the next few miles is regarded as one of the toughest sections of the Way. Two miles before Inverarnan the going is much easier. The historic Drovers’ Inn at Inverarnan is a great favourite with its range of meals and selection of beers and whiskies. It is well worth a visit, if only to see the collection of stuffed animals and birds. It is also reputed to be haunted by several ghosts. Guests will be safe in their beds in the Lodge over the road while the guide sleeps with his light on in his single room at the Inn.


Day 5: Inverarnan to Tyndrum. Distance 12 miles
The Way continues along good paths and tracks, much of which is an old military road. This is the gateway to the Highlands and the Way gains height as it leaves the Loch Lomond basin and rises to 250m. From Crianlarich (180m) we continue along good paths and tracks with some moderate descents and ascents to Tyndrum.


Day 6: Tyndrum to Kingshouse. Distance 19 miles
This is the longest day of the holiday. The Way continues for 7 miles along good paths and tracks following the line of an old military road to the Bridge of Orchy. The route crosses the bridge and climbs a small hillock (310m) with some superb views all-round. There is good going underfoot as you cross Rannoch Moor, one of Britains largest and wildest moors. The path climbs steadily to its high point at 450m before descending to Kingshouse. The scenery is spectacular but you are highly exposed and in bad weather this can be a very tough stage of the Way. Built in the 17th century, Kingshouse is believed to be one of Scotland's oldest licensed inns.


Day 7: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven. Distance 9 miles
The Way follows the route of an old military road. 3 miles beyond Kings House the Way climbs steeply up the Devils Staircase. At 550m this is the highest point on the Way. There is now a long descent into Kinlochleven. This again is a hard and exposed stage in bad weather.


Day 8: Kinlochleven to Fort William. Distance 14 miles
In the first mile the Way zigzags steeply up the hillside to meet an old military road (250m). The highest point on todays route is Lairigmor, the high pass (330m), though there are no more serious gradients as the route continues on good paths with high mountains on both sides. The final stretch is a bit of rough walking through Nevis Forest, with Ben Nevis (1344m) the highest mountain in the British Isles, visible through breaks in the trees. The Way descends into Glen Nevis and follows a road for the final 1.5miles to Nevis Bridge and the end of a wonderful route.


Day 9: Fort William.
Depart from your accommodation and head for home, or book an extra night or two. Fort William is the largest town in the west Highlands of Scotland. It is surrounded by magnificent scenery and has an important history. There are high mountains, lochs, beautiful glens, forests and beaches in between. This is a huge outdoor playground which caters for a wide range of activities. Fort William is an excellent location to spend an extra day or more. There is a wealth of on land, and on water activities. Many people stay a day longer just to climb Ben Nevis. Please contact us if you require further information.