Walking the West Highland Way - 10 Days

Travel to Milngavie, the official start of the West Highland Way. It's a short train journey from Glasgow, approx 20 mins. Accommodation: We use the chain hotel The Premier Inn.

The official start of the West Highland Way walk is at the obelisk in Milngavie. You follow some good paths through beautiful scenery. Glengoyne Distillery, along the route, is worth a visit. Accommodation: Kip in the Kirk (a converted 1819 church hall) is our overnight stop, where the host will make you more than welcome and has become a favourite with our hikers.

Experience the gentle scenery on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond on today's hike. Passing highland cattle in the fields, the route winds up through forest and across the moors up to Conic Hill. From the summit, enjoy great views over the loch and across the islands there. This marks the boundary of the Highland fault and officially the start of the Highlands proper. The way drops down to Balmaha by the water and then winds its way towards Rowardennan along the lochshore with tree-framed views. Rowardennan marks the road head and a convenient place to stay at our pleasant hotel. An extra day here would be advised if you wanted to make an ascent of Ben Lomond. Accommodation: We stay overnight at Rowardennan Hotel with bar. The inn is practically on the shore of Loch Lomond and beautiful scenery surrounds it including the mass of Ben Lomond. All rooms have ensuite facilities. The restaurant provides carefully selected, seasonal dishes ensuring that you receive a true taste of Scotland.

Today you walk in the shadow of Ben Lomond for much of the time, following the Loch edge path. There are no big ascents to make, but a few short steep ups and downs. You can pass by Rob Roy’s prison and cave, where he is said to have held up in times of difficulty and held prisoners at his pleasure. You could perhaps have a drink at the hotel at Inversnaid before walking on to Ardleish. Here you can raise a buoy on a pole to attract the attention of the ferryman who will collect you and transfer you to our hotel on the western side of the loch (approx £5 per person, not included). If you fancy the longer option, or if the weather is too rough, you need to continue walking to Beinglas farm or the Inverarnan Drover’s inn to call for a taxi to transfer you to the hotel in Ardlui (not included). Accommodation: Tonight we stay at The Ardlui Hotel with comfortable rooms on the western side of Loch Lomond. Rooms have TV and tea tray etc. and there are two restaurants, a lounge and public bars.

An optional transfer (included - needs to be requested at the time of booking) to take you to Crianlarich saving about 8 miles, otherwise return across Loch Lomond by ferry. From here, recommence your walk passing through Glen Falloch and its waterfalls with views towards Benn Mor. A short steep ascent takes you over the shoulder of a hill into the pretty valley of Glen Fillan. Crossing the River Fillan, you can visit the remains of a priory known to Robert The Bruce. He was defeated locally in a skirmish with the English in the broken glacial terrain around Dalrigh, which we next pass on the way to Tyndrum. This is a busy little village which developed from the 1740s from lead mining and now has exploitable Gold and silver reserves nearby. There is the famous 'Green Wellie' shop here for all things Scottish. Accommodation: Tonight we will use a number of guesthouses in the small but bustling village of Tyndrum.

A fairly short but picturesque day walking the West Highland Way. The route continues up past the domed hulks of Ben Odhar, Ben Lui and Ben Dorain to the Bridge of Orchy. Pass the farm of Auch, often with cotton grass streaming in the wind. You may be staying at Bridge of Orchy, otherwise it is time for a quick dram before continuing on to Loch Tulla (Inveroran). This is a beautifully situated lake surrounded by Scots pines - a remnant of the ancient Caledonian forest which covered much of Scotland. In good weather, you can walk steeply over Mam Carraigh for beautiful views. Otherwise take the quiet lochside road. You will be opposite the Black Mount estate of the Flemming family, famous for Ian and Peter. In fact, the James Bond story 'Skyfall' is probably based on this humble pile. Plenty of deer and birdlife are normally evident. There is limited accommodation here, which is the reason for staying in either village. Accommodation: Stay at either the Inveroran Hotel or at the upgraded accommodation - The Bridge of Orchy Hotel. Both hotels are set in beautiful surroundings.

Continue to loch Tulla if necessary. You then head up on the old military road across the wilds and the heather clad wastes of Rannoch Moor. Hike past Ba Bridge, claimed to be the remotest part of the West Highland Way. The scenery becomes ever more expansive with views into great corries once filled with glaciers. Often you can see deer and there is great interplay between land, lake, mountain and sky. The military road winds down to the old drovers' inn near the Gateway to Glencoe. This is in the shadow of perhaps the most impressive looking mountain of the tour: Buachaille Etive Mor (the Shepherd of Etive Mor). Accommodation: We normally overnight at the Kingshouse Hotel. If we cannot confirm the rooms, we can also try to book the bunkhouse. *If you have requested a single room, we will book you in the dormitory at Kinghouse Hotel. Request an upgrade to a single room for an additional charge. *If your trip includes a Friday or Saturday stay at Kingshouse, a two-night minimum applies; this can be a great opportunity to add a rest day and enjoy local walks or the hotel’s facilities, or you can select a different start date to avoid this.

From the Kingshouse Hotel the way passes beside Buchaille Etive Mor and then proceeds up the Devil's staircase to 1850 ft. It as bad as it seems and a well graded section of the West Highland Way. You can try to imagine the army bringing artillery pieces up here. This offers spectacular views back from whence you came. Then it is a long descent to sea level at the head of Loch Leven with views of the Blackwater damn, Loch Leven and The Pap of Glencoe. Kinlochleven was a place for hydroelectric power smelting bauxite for aluminium. Today, one of the old smelters is turned into a climbing centre offering ice climbing. More sedentary activity can be had by walking to the Grey Mares Tail waterfall on the edge of town. Accommodation: In Kinlochleven we use The Highland Getaway or the Bank House Guesthouse. A warm welcome awaits at either of these establishments.

A steep climb up under the steep slopes of the Mamore hills at the beginning of the day follows old Victorian hunting tracks. Then you are back on the old military road and over the Lairigmor Pass. Hike through dense coniferous forest to Glen Nevis past the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak (4408ft). The West Highland Way continues into Fort William on the side of Loch Linnhe, where it ends right in the centre and close to handy pubs for a deserved celebration. Fort William is a Mecca for climbers, mountain bikers and train enthusiasts. The town was built as a garrison against the Jacobite threat. A few remains of the fort are to be seen by the lochside. Accommodation: We use many different B&Bs and guesthouses in Fort William as it is a busy town.

Your West Highland Way holiday ends after breakfast, but why not ask our team to arrange an extra night to climb Ben Nevis and take the evening sleeper train out of Fort William?