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The West Highland Way is a famous Scottish long distance walk from Milngavie (just outside Glasgow) to Fort William in the Highlands. The trail was the first officially designated long distance path in Scotland. It was approved for development in 1974 and was completed and opened on 6th October 1980. |
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The West Highland Way is a challenging walking route which in places crosses wild expanses of remote country where the going can be strenuous. It extends for some 92 miles from Milngavie, near Glasgow to Fort William and offers about a weeks walking according to age and experience.
The West Highland Way follows the shores of Loch Lomond, Scotland's largest freshwater loch, along the foot of Ben Lomond and it passes from the lowlands across the Highland Boundary Fault and into the Scottish Highlands.
The weather in the Scottish mountains can change rapidly at any time of the year, whilst conditions in the winter months can be arctic. Walkers should not attempt the route unless they have the fitness, experience and equipment necessary for walking in all weathers.
When you go:
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Take windproof and woollens
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Take a compass and know how to use it
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Carry spare food and a torch
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Know the weather signs and local forecast
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Plan within your abilities
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Know simple first aid and the symptoms of exposure
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Wear climbing boots or stout walking boots
Some of the team at Visit Loch Lomond, together with some friends, walked the West Highland Way during 2009. Rather than do it all in one go, we broke it down into three weekends. Below you will read about our experience and give you an insight into walking the Way.
Stage One: Milngavie to Drymen (12 miles)
A lovely sunny morning when we meet at 9am! Not very many regular walkers and ages ranged from our teens to our fifties! We decided to walk the West Highland Way over three week-ends!
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A favourite meeting point for the start of the walk is under the clock in the precinct however the official start of the West Highland Way is from the granite obelisk in Douglas Street in Milngavie. Always a good time to grab a coffee before you go! |
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After leaving the route of the former railway line, you follow the Allander Water, through Drumclog Moor and into Mugdock Country Park. Was quite an easy stroll! We continued past Craigallian Loch and met the B821, just after passing Carbeth Loch. Enjoying lovely views of the Campsie Fells, we followed the track bed of the old disused Blane Valley Railway Line. Again a lovely stroll passing the Glengoyne Distillery. |
Having walked for around four hours, we took a well-earned rest and enjoyed lunch in the beer garden at The Beech Tree Inn. The sun was still out! Fed and watered, we continued the West Highland Way along the track which runs parallel to the A81 for about 1.5 miles. Just after the old Killearn hospital site, the Way passes under the B834 and 1 km further on, re-crosses the A81. Not long after crossing the A81, we left the old railway and started climbing up by a bridge where we turned onto a minor road from Killearn to Drymen a short distance from Gartness. Just past Easter Drumquhassle at the crest of the hill, we could see Loch Lomond in the distance. It was not too long before we reached our first night's destination and accommodation at Elmbank Bed and Breakfast in Drymen.
We had a great meal in the Clachan Inn that evening followed by an night of live entertainment in the Winnock Hotel. Perhaps we should have gone to bed a bit earlier!
Stage Two: Drymen to Rowardennan (15 miles)
Details to follow
Stage Three: Rowardennan to Inverarnan (14 miles)
Details to follow
Stage Four: Inverarnan to Tyndrum (12 miles)
Details to follow
Stage Five: Tyndrum to Inveroran (9 miles)
Details to follow
Stage Six: Inveroran to Kingshouse (10 miles)
Details to follow
Stage Seven: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven (9 miles)
Details to follow
Stage Eight: Kinlochleven to Fort William (14 miles)
Details to follow
