West Highland Way - 153 km - 7 days walk
The West Higland Way is Scotland's first long distance footpath - it was opened in 1980. It has become very popular - estimated 70.000 people walk this route annually. This 7 day walk covers the full 153 km Way.
The path passes through some of Scotland's most beautiful and dramatic scenery. Starting from the edge of Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, the Way soon reaches Loch Lomond's remote and wooden eastern shore before the landscape opens out to the broad glen of Strath Filllan. The Way climbs gently past Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse. Stunning mountain scenery surrounds the Way as it crosses the hills to Kinlochleven and Glen Nevis, where it ends on the outskirts of Fort William.
Day 1: Milngavie
Arrive in Glasgow. Accommodation in Milngavie.
Day 2: Milngavie - Drymen
A relatively simple start to the Way on footpaths, tracks and lanes with no major climbs.
Accommodation in Drymen.
Walk: 19 km - Ascent: 90 m
Day 3: Drymen - Rowardennan
Good paths or tracks most of the way. The only significant ascent being the section of the route over Conic Hill near Balmaha. Stunning view over Loch Lomond on Conic Hill (310 m).
From Balmaha the route runs between the road and the shore of Loch Lomond.
Accommodation in Rowardennan.
Walk:22,5 km - Ascent: 360 m
Day 4: Rowardennan - Inverarnan
The stretch to Inversnaid is mostly forestry track following the eastern shore of Loch Lomond with occational diversions onto a rocky path with crags and boulders. The stretch from Inversnaid to Inverarnan is by far the roughest section of the Way, were the path makes a tortuous route along the side of Loch Lomond with many ups and downs. A hard walk but the scenery is superb. Accommodation in Inverarnan.
Walk: 22,5 km - Ascent: 240 m
Day 5: Inverarnan - Tyndrum
The path and tracks are well-surfaced, the first part of the consists mainly of an old military road and then onto good paths and tracks. Moderate ascents and decents. A straightforward day of glen and low pass walking amid outstanding mountain scenery.
Accommodation in Tyndrum.
Walk: 21 km - Ascent: 300 m
Day 6: Tyndrum - Kingshouse
The surface is mainly good underfoot but on Rannoch Moor there is no shelter of any kind for most of the way. Spectacular scenery. Accommodation in Kingshouse.
Walk: 30 km - Ascent:330 m
Day 7: Kingshouse - Kinlochleven
The surfaces are mainly good - walk up Devils Staircase to the highest point of the Way (550 m) with spectacular scenery before a long descent down to Kinlochleven. Accommodation in Kinlochleven.
Walk: 14,5 km - Ascent: 540 m
Day 8: Kinlochleven - Fort William
Very good paths at this last stage, there is a steep climb out of Kinlochleven, then there is no more serious gradients, the parth through Nevis Forst is a bit rough then on to some tarmac descending down into Fort William.
Accommodation in Fort William.
Walk: 22,5 km - Ascent: 300 m
Day 9: Fort William - Glasgow
Drive to from Fort William to Glasgow (3 hours) where the tour will end.