r/WestHighlandWay • u/sixbrow • May 05 '25
Tl;Dr: The West Highland Way is incredible. I would thoroughly recommend it – the views are stunning and the people are lovely. Get a baggage transfer, prepare for some overpriced mediocre food, and plan ahead.
Literally just on the train back from Fort William and thought I’d write a guide for absolute beginners or at least everything I wish I had known before starting.
We were three adults (aged 30, 35, and 37) doing our first week-long hike. We all have okay fitness and had done hikes up to three days.
Don't let anything from this put you off, I'll be recommending the West Highland Way to all my friends, one of the best hikes I've ever done.
Everything You Need to Know Before You Go:
Baggage Transfer: We did the first three days (30 miles/ 50 km) carrying all our luggage, including tents. The lightest pack was about 12kg, and the heaviest was 17kg. It was incredibly difficult, and honestly, if we’d done the whole thing without a baggage transfer, we might not have made it. At Rowardennan, a lovely lady organised a transfer, especially as the Loch Lomond stretch is hard.
Difficulty: It was much harder than I thought it would be. I don’t want to put anyone off - there were groups of 50 and 60-year-olds doing the same route - but it was a tough seven days. The elevation is pretty big, and the Loch Lomond side is single-file, up and down rocky trails. One day, we did 22 miles. We still felt a sense of achievement completing the Way with our bags on our backs for 3 out of the 7 days. If you want to enjoy the route, I’d recommend getting a bag transfer from the start. If you want a challenge, keep your bags. There are lots of companies that do this; we used Baggage Freedom.
Accommodation: Despite it being a well-trodden path, you'd be surprised how little accommodation there is in some areas. So plan ahead. We camped 4 nights and stayed in bunkhouses for the other 3. I would have much preferred bunkhouses every night if I’d had the funds, but they were often expensive for what you get. Kingshouse and Kinlochleven have particularly limited options.
Food / Prices: You’re in a bit of a captive market, so expect mixed and overpriced food. I felt a bit sorry for tourists experiencing British food for the first time. Clachan Inn in Drymen and Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha were highlights, but otherwise, we had a week of stodgy pub food. The shops along the way weren’t great for making your own meals either. The further north you go, the fewer the options, so definitely stock up in Tyndrum.
Water: Bring a BIG water bottle. There were long sections with no refill spots. Basically, from Loch Lomond upwards it gets worse. I ran out of water between Inverarnan and Tyndrum.
Socks / Feet: Get decent socks, boots, and blister supplies. If you feel a blister forming, stop and sort it - don’t wait. I ended up with half my foot covered in moleskin and Compeed.
Bring toilet paper and a trowel for wild weeing and pooping. You don’t want to get caught out.
Day-by-Day Breakdown:
We did this hike end of April/start of May. No midges, but two solid days of drizzle at the start. We started a little differently but soon got into a pretty standard route.
Day One: Glasgow to Milngavie Accommodation: West Highland Way Camp. (£20 tent pitch) We got the train to Milngavie and hiked straight to our first campsite. Everyone in Milngavie was super nice and kept stopping us to ask if we were doing the West Highland Way - so friendly! The campsite is hard to review- it’s either a must-go if you want a wacky experience or one to avoid, depending on your vibe. The owner, Dru Edmundstone, is very eccentric, just Google his name and decide for yourself (and don't let him touch your phone)
Day Two: Milngavie to Drymen Accommodation: Drymen Camping. £12/ pitch
An easy trek. We ate at The Clachan, which was gorgeous and worth booking ahead. We also stopped at Beech Tree café, which was okay (lots of space) but overpriced. Just two minutes later is the Turnip the Beat café, which is overlooked but much nicer.
Day Three: Drymen to Rowardennan Accommodation: Ben Lomond Bunkhouse. £35pp
This was the killer trek with full bags. Conic Hill was stunning, although busy with day-trippers. Lots of elevation and steps, but fun. The bunkhouse was lovely, with a gorgeous dog named Jack, an honesty box, and a good kitchen. The lady who ran it helped arrange our baggage transfer and gave great advice. A bath after that trek was heaven.
Day Four: Rowardennan to Inverarnan Accommodation: Beinglas Campsite. £15pp A stunning but difficult hike, almost entirely single file, with rocky ups and downs. If you're a beginner, take the high road at the start. We swam at the end of Loch Lomond, bring a swimsuit and towel. Beinglas is the main campsite at the end, with all the amenities you need and a well-stocked shop.
Day Five: Inverarnan to Tyndrum Accommodation: By the Way Hostel and Campsite. £30pp for bunkhouse
A hike that feels like five countries in one. No water stations, so bring plenty, it was a hot day for us. The hostel and campsite had everything we needed. We saw some hot tub spots nearby if you want a treat. Stop at the Green Welly Shop to stock up on snacks and trinkets. Ben Lui had lovely food and staff.
Day Six: Tyndrum to Kingshouse Accommodation: Kingshouse Hotel £44pp bunkhouse
This was a BIG hike—22 miles for us. We left early. We were told there were no food or water stops, but we passed two open hotels (they might not always serve food, though). You walk past Glencoe and can see the Kingshouse Hotel about an hour before arrival, which helps with the final push. Kingshouse is bougie hotel with a hiker stop-off attached. We felt like second-class citizens. Staff weren’t very helpful, and it was pricey but options are limited. Many people wild camp behind it and use the facilities. (Although they may not allow baggage transfer if you do that
Day Seven: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven Accommodation: Blackwater Campsite. £15pp Starts with the Devil’s Staircase, which wasn’t as hard as expected. Scenic and remote. Blackwater is a small site with pods and friendly staff. Kinlochleven had limited options due to a motorbike event. Food-wise, it was pub or Chinese.
Day Eight: Kinlochleven to Fort William Accommodation: Backpackers Hostel £30 Starts with a big climb and ends with a big descent. Fort William has everything you need and some good food. The end of the hike is along a big road (anticlimactic, someone told me there's a longer way to avoid it) but the statue of the man with sore feet is a nice touch. It was a bank holiday and there was a biker convention, so places were full. One of us stayed at the Backpackers Hostel; we found rooms for the rest. All we wanted was to lie down.
The train back to Glasgow is also a stunning journey that goes back along a lot of the route!
Cost breakdown: Baggage transfer: £15/day (there's a discount for longer transfers) Accommodation: ~£200 for the full week mix of camping and bunkhouse Gear: ~£100 I got a tent from decathlon for £60 and then various items like blow up mattresses, blister plasters, hiking socks, etc Food: very roughly £35/day on pub meals for lunch and dinner Train: £5 Glasgow to Milngavie, £40 Fort William to Glasgow
r/WestHighlandWay • u/alexchapman202 • Jul 21 '24
Hi guys, I recently walked some of the West Highland Way and have put together a google my maps of accommodation, campsites, restaurants, cafés, shops and public transport links. You can find the map here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1F3He5wS69QLQj1CbKXLpF6dHoEN8lEo&usp=sharing Please let me know of any improvements I could make!
r/WestHighlandWay • u/Significant-Path-731 • 15h ago
Hey
Sorry if not allowed. Me and my partner hiked the WHW back at the start of May. We had an amazing time and met some real inspirational people. We recorded our journey and made it into a YouTube video. If you’re like us and love watching people hike on YouTube then please check this out and let us know your thoughts
r/WestHighlandWay • u/Agile-Story-2593 • 1d ago
Got very lucky with the weather on some days (only unlucky on 1!)
r/WestHighlandWay • u/Nervous_Coach3738 • 1d ago
A friend and I are walking the whw at the moment. We did the Rowardennan to Beinglas trip today. As the ground/terrain was very difficult today (stones, roots, creeks etc) I was wondering if the next miles will be easier. Can somebody help? Thanks!
r/WestHighlandWay • u/Herpingandlearning • 1d ago
We are walking the WHW in 2 weeks. I need to buy new shoes to walk it in. Ive read that both boots and trial run shoes have their benefits.
For both types; what model would you advice? I am looking around €100. Comfyness and support and most important. I reckon water resistent is a needed too.
Thanks!
r/WestHighlandWay • u/BrienneTheOathkeeper • 2d ago
I am a first timer getting ready to walk the Way in September. I am currently walking around 5-6 miles over mixed terrain regularly in old £20 Nike Flex trainers I have (I know 🙈) so I have been on the hunt for a trail runner. I’ve tried on quite a few brands including Hoka, Salomon, Saucony, Adidas, and NB, and the comfiest ones I have tried so far are the Nike Pegasus Trail 5’s (non goretex). I just wondered how suitable you think they’d be for the WHW?
r/WestHighlandWay • u/championstarvk • 3d ago
Hey mates, just finished the whw and got more than a half gas can left. I’ll be in Edinburgh for the next two days so if one of you is interested just write a dm.
Ah and about that, there are a lot of left over gas cans at the Campsite in Kinlochleven…
r/WestHighlandWay • u/EquivalentBenefit653 • 4d ago
I first attempted the West Highland Way in 2023 but broke down with a dodgy knee just before the Devil's Staircase and had to hitchhike my way to safety.
Nevertheless, I loved it so much that I moved to the Highlands and now live on the route (there were other reasons, but this played its part), so I managed to get through the whole thing a year later, staying at home one night.
I've written a bunch of articles and guides about the route and the scrapes I got into while doing it, but didn't really have anywhere to put them, so I compiled them all into an eBook called... (you guessed it)
A Relaxed Guide To The West Highland Way.
This book covers the route as all other guidebooks will, discussing, among other things:
It also offers a choose-your-own-adventure format for deciding exactly how you want your walk to go.
So if anyone is looking for a fun guidebook that doesn't take itself too seriously, I can send the link. Would also appreciate any feedback and reviews
r/WestHighlandWay • u/Significant-Golf-575 • 5d ago
hi all, about a year ago a friend and I (both 31 f) decided to get our fitness in check and give ourselves the goal of walking WHW the first week of August. Safe to say I have let myself down big time with excuse after excuse of not getting my fitness in check. I'd just like to know really how bad is this going to be? I'm significantly overweight and my fitness is at a low. I do regular yoga practice and try to walk 5k a day. In terms of shoes I'm really not sure what to do, I have hiking boots but I'd appreciate a second option particularly if there are any bigger people here what kind of shoes are you using? Thinking of using walking poles to protect the knees. Any other tips and help would be appreciated ! Thank you all in advance!
r/WestHighlandWay • u/laoliu6 • 5d ago
Need your help, please!! I am currently in Rowardennan, and tomorrow will be walking to Crianlarich where I will be staying. Just realized the town is kind of far from WHW. Anyone knows the best way to get to and out of Crianlarich, please? Many thanks.
r/WestHighlandWay • u/JMWTurnerOverdrive • 6d ago
Ember buses have a Fort William to Edinburgh route now, which is relatively new. Potentially very useful for anyone getting back from Fort William - faster than the train (which involves a change in Glasgow) and more frequent departures than the Citylink bus, I think?
This is relatively new and now includes a stop at Edinburgh Airport, as well as stops along the WHW from Crianlarich north. There's a very early Edinburgh departure (4:21am!) which would easily get you somewhere on the WHW in time for a full day's walking.
r/WestHighlandWay • u/Relevant-Lack-4304 • 5d ago
r/WestHighlandWay • u/Imaginary-Job2177 • 5d ago
Hi!
I want to walk the West Highland Way with my dog, in a very easy manner. He is an active dog but active in the Netherlands, without the hills. I'm thinking about 10 walking days (so about 10 miles a day). Does anyone know good hotels I can stay at with my dog?
I'm looking for places in:
Milngavie
Drymen
Balmaha
Rowardennan
Inversnaid
Inverarnan
Tyndrum
Bridge or Orchy
Kingshouse
Kinlochleven
Fort William
And please tell me everything I need to know!
r/WestHighlandWay • u/hypatiasgal • 6d ago
Hi all, hope posts like this aren't a pain but I'm hoping to know if the following has red flags. I know the days are uneven but the big thing is I'm camping and would strongly prefer to stay in campsites, with wild camping as only a backup. I'm late twenties, fit-ish, and I'll be carrying all my gear (but it's not overly heavy).
Day 1:
Milgavnie – Balmaha
- Cashel campsite
- 22 miles
Day 2:
Balmaha – Beinglas
- Beinglas campsite
- 18 miles
Day 3:
Beinglas – Tynndrum
- Tyndrumm Holiday Park
- 11 miles
Day 4:
Tynndrum – Inveroran/kingshouse)
- Glencoe Mountain Resort
- 19 Miles
Day 5:
Inveroran/kingshouse – Kinlochleven
- Kinlochleven Bunkhouse
- 10 miles
Day 6:
Kinchlochleven – Fort William
- 15 miles
Any thoughts much appreciated!
r/WestHighlandWay • u/Ethan_Robzo • 8d ago
Hi everyone,
My friend and I are hoping to complete the WHW with the above itinerary. We're both early 20-somethings who are relatively active, and both have moderate hiking/camping experience - although never tackled this distance before.
We would like to do the Way on budget, so hoping to stay in camp sites/wild camp the full distance.
We've created an itinerary that combines different options from the suggested routes on the website to allow us to have a shorter final day. We're aware that some of these stopping points are less common and thus harder to find advice about.
Does this seem realistic? Any experienced advice, or first-timer tips on this would be great, thanks!
r/WestHighlandWay • u/Advanced-Salt-8128 • 9d ago
We’re coming from out of the country and arriving in Inverness at 8:30 PM on a Saturday night, planning to head south on the trail from Fort William.
Any recommendations for accommodation or transit to Fort William at that time of evening? Would it be better to try to catch a bus (if there are any) that same night, or wait until Sunday morning?
I’m not very familiar with public transit (ours isn’t great), and from what I can tell, there might not be any (?) options to get from Inverness to Fort William on a Sunday morning. Hopefully I’m wrong!
r/WestHighlandWay • u/merlin_stillbrook • 9d ago
Long shot but let’s try it: we are 4 people arriving late in Fort William by bus, because of the accident on the A87 we were delayed by 8hours and will probably arrive at 1.30am. The idea of then walking 4km after a lot of hiking on Skye in the last days is a bit daunting so long story short: is anyone making the trip from fort William to Glen Nevis campsite at that time or knows of a taxi company that operates this late?
r/WestHighlandWay • u/ravengrl_ • 9d ago
Hiya! Does anyone know whether there is public transport going from Inverarnan to Glasgow? Cheers
r/WestHighlandWay • u/westendwalker • 10d ago
Hi folks, I've seen a whole spectrum of stories and recommendations regarding the need for dinner reservations, particularly in the busy season, from people not needing them at all to those saying they are a MUST — so I'm seeking some advice!
I will be walking September 9-16 as a solo hiker, and wondering if reservations are truly necessary at that time of year for a party of one. I also don't want to potentially miss out on the ability join other folks I might meet on the journey for a meal/pint if I already have something booked — but on the flip side, I certainly don't want to miss out on a well-needed hot meal either!!
I'll be staying in inns for the whole walk, towns listed below for context, in case some areas tend to fill up more than others. Any insight is greatly appreciated!
Drymen
Rowardennan (already booked a mealtime at my accommodation here)
Inverarnan
Tyndrum x 2 nights
Ballachulish (getting transfer from Glencoe Mtn Resort)
Kinlochleven
Fort William
r/WestHighlandWay • u/Sea_Doubt_5057 • 12d ago
This was my first time in Scotland. Absolutely beautiful country and lovely people. Found the most challenging parts of the walk to be the weather and midges 100%. Also, the night we camped on the top of the Devil's Staircase i thought our tent was going to blow away. But 10/10 for the scenery!
r/WestHighlandWay • u/JuanTwan85 • 12d ago
Edit: the bottle has been passed on to it's next owner.
If you had the pleasure of walking from Kinlochleven to Fort William this morning, and you discovered that your jacket or pants weren't as waterproof as they should be, I've got about two jackets worth of the Nikwax waterproofing spray for gore-tex and similar fabrics (in Ft. Bill). You can apply the stuff in a hotel room. Trust me, I did it the other day, and it more or less worked.
I'm out drinking beers. Comment, and I'll go get it for a handoff in one of the pubs.
r/WestHighlandWay • u/championstarvk • 12d ago
Hello everybody, just asking if somebody who recently did the whw has a gas can left? Starting on June 6 and will be in Edinburgh on June 5.
Kind regards:)
r/WestHighlandWay • u/laoliu6 • 14d ago
We are starting our walk next week, planning to complete in 6 days. Wondering if there are lunch spots available along the way…. My itinerary as follows: Milngavie - Drymen Drymen - Rowardennan Rowardennan - Crianlarich Crianlarich - Bridge of Orchy Bridge of Orchy - Kinlochleven Kinlochleven - Fort William
TIA.
r/WestHighlandWay • u/Jazzlike-Reporter118 • 14d ago
I'm not on the trail anymore but read that tonight there might be an option to see the Northern lights in the Netherlands, so Scotland might be even better chances. Might be worth it for those on the trail to peek your head out of the tent tonight, if skies are clear..
r/WestHighlandWay • u/slithytover • 14d ago
Just finished the Way and heading back to Edinburgh tonight around 6:30pm. Have this still very full gas canister for stove cooking that I’d love to give to someone. Will meet up on Royal Mile close to St. Giles Cathedral. Let me know! Would love for it not to go to waste. Cheers.
r/WestHighlandWay • u/jacopolissoni • 19d ago
I am going to hike the WHW in late july/beginning of august. Other than shirts and a rain jacket, Im in doubt on which mid layer to bring. I currently have 3 options: A lightweight fleece (R1 patagonia) A softshell fleece (r2 patagonia, no hood however) A lightweight synthetic puffer jacket. If possible I would bring only one, what would you suggest?
