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Summary

From Milngavie on the outskirts of Glasgow to Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis, the West Highland Way is 96 miles (154km) of well maintained footpath through varied scenery which gets progressively wilder as you walk northwards. We aim to provide a fully supported (transport, baggage transfer, guiding) sociable, small group experience of the West Highland Way.

Itinerary

The holiday includes 6 nights full board accommodation and 7 full days of guided walking on the West Highland Way. Baggage transfer is included. The trip departs from Edinburgh at 08.30am on the first Sunday of the hiking holiday, with a second pick-up in Glasgow at 10.00, returning around 9pm from Fort William on the final Saturday.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 (Sunday): Milngavie to Drymen - We will depart Edinburgh at 08.30am (Glasgow city centre pick-up 10am) before starting walking the gentle first day through forestry and farmland with a tasting stop at the Glengoyne Distillery before arriving at the village of Drymen.

12m/20km, minimal ascent - 5/6 hours

Day 2 (Monday): Drymen to Rowardennan - From Drymen the route takes us through more forestry before the first proper ascent of the week, Conic Hill which has wonderful views of Loch Lomond and then a steep descent to the lochside at Balmaha, from where we follow the shore paths northwards to the hotel at Rowardennan.

14m/22km. 300m/1000ft ascent - 6/7 hours

Day 3 (Tuesday): Rowardennan to Inverarnan - A whole day on the wild eastern shore of Loch Lomond before arriving at the Drover’s Inn, one of Scotland’s most atmospheric inns.

14m/22km, minimal ascent, rough path in parts, 6/7 hours

Day 4 (Wednesday): Inverarnan to Bridge of Orchy - Walking mostly on good tracks through Glen Falloch and Strathfillan, we have reached the half way point to Fort William before our final push over to Bridge of Orchy, where we have the increasingly majestic view of Ben Dorain for company. It is our longest section, and the evening meal and drinks at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel will certainly be well-earned!

19 miles/30km, 250m/800ft ascent, good trails, 7/8 hours

Day 5: (Thursday): Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse - We start off with a small wooded ascent where we have excellent views of the Black Mount, Rannoch Moor and Loch Tulla before heading down to the isolated Inveroran Hotel and then the rest of the day is spent on old military road in glorious isolation across Rannoch Moor, the remotest section of the whole Way, ending at the Kingshouse Hotel at the head of Glencoe.

12 miles/18km, 250m/800ft ascent, good trails, 6/7 hours

Day 6 (Friday): Kingshouse to Kinlochleven - The highest point of the Way at nearly 600m/2000ft and known as the Devil’s Staircase by the labourers who built the Blackwater Dam in 1909, this section has a fearce reputation but is in fact a pleasant day’s walking with awesome views of the Glencoe Hills and the Mamores, before descending through woodland to the village of Kinlochleven.

6m/10km, 3100ft/966m ascent, track and paths, 6 hrs

Day 7: (Saturday): Kinlochleven to Fort William - Our final days walking starts with a wooded ascent from Kinlochleven, before rejoining more old military road which we follow over to Glen Nevis, hopefully a good view of Ben Nevis and the descent into Fort William, where we finish with a celebratory drink and meal.

15m/24km, 300m/1000ft ascent, good trails, 6/7 hours

We finish off with a meal in Fort William to celebrate before heading back to Edinburgh in the evening.

Accommodation and Meals

Your accommodation for the week is in personally selected hotels and guesthouses along the West Highland Way. We only use places we have personally visited and approved and you will be warmly received by your host. Please note that single rooms are increasingly hard to obtain in this more remote area and that en-suite facilities for singles may not always be available. Check with us when you book.

Evening meals for the whole group on this trip are normally taken at a local inn or restaurant. On all our tours we make a special effort to ensure that your evening meals are a highlight of the trip and seafood is a particular speciality on this trip. Specific dietary requirements can normally be catered for if we know in advance. Packed lunches are not included.

Baggage Transfer

Your luggage will be transported by a reliable local baggage transfer specialist so you only need to carry a day pack with personal equipment. Midday lunches will be taken at pubs and cafes where possible and as packed lunches on the longer, more isolated sections.

Transport

Return transport from Edinburgh will be by minibus, there is an option of sitting out sections of the Way if you wish and the transport will be available. Please do not book onward travel on the final Saturday as there will be a late finish.

Grading of Walks

The walking throughout this tour we class as “moderate/challenging” – suitable for people of reasonable fitness who enjoy walking or the outdoors but who needn’t necessarily have any previous hiking experience. Most of the walks are on easy trails and tracks with some gentle ascents - however the distances involved means that there a reasonable challenge involved. If you have any doubts about your suitability for the trip please just ask! Please read our grading guide here.