West Highland Way. When to go. Scotland, United Kingdom. 7 Days / 152 KM Point to point Medium

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1 West Highland Way Scotland, United Kingdom 7 Days / 5 KM Point to point Medium Why the West Highland Way Hike the West Highland Way, a Scotsman once told me. We met briefly, both hiking in the French Alpes. I had mentioned to him I wanted to go to Scotland on my next trip. He had a brilliant sales pitch: the West Highland Way is well maintained, well way marked and gradually takes you into more rough territory and into the Scottish Highlands. You spend two days on the shores of Loch Lomond, cross moors and walk down into beautiful glens. For large parts the West Highland Way follows old military and drover roads. Walking the West Highland Way, you ll rest in villages, inns or hotels where century s ago drovers would stay for the night driving livestock from the Highlands to markets in the south. The views of Rannoch Moor keep surprising you by ipohkia on Flickr Taking you 5 km north from Glasgow, the West Highland Way is a wonderful way to experience Scotland, its nature and highlands. You ll probably want to come back to it, as so many people do, hiking it once in spring and then a second time in autumn. It s that beautiful with it s changing scenery taking you along the shores of Loch Lomond, pastures and then through moors and up into the highlands. ASCEND AND DESCEND 89m SCENERY PRACTICAL INFO 68m The West Highland Way also has a couple very practical plus-points. You re at the start of the West Highland Way within an hour from anywhere in Glasgow, and back in Glasgow from the finish in Fort William within a couple of hours. Also, on the West Highland Way you re never very far from civilisation, making it also suitable for the not that experienced hikers. There s plenty of options to stay or eat, so you can walk the West Highland Way in as many or as little days as you like. I ve hiked the West Highland Way twice (yes, it is that nice) and think 7 days is probably best. Shortening the hike to 5 or 6 days means you ll be rushing it. Taking 8 or 9 days (without detours) means walking only a couple of hours every day and having lots of spare time on your hands. The rule is you start the West Highland Way in Milngavie, close to Glasgow, and walk north to Fort William. But there is no law against starting in Fort William and making your way south to Milngavie. Many people walk only parts the West Highland Way and some return to hike another section. Thats very easy, since public transportation is never far away (as you get closer to Fort William, the trail is more remote though). When to go JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Although you can take on the West Highland Way whenever you want, May, June, September and October are probably the best times to walk the Way. In spring

2 you ll see nature waking up after winter, and autumn can be a pleasant surprise with nice warm days. In winter (or roughly from november to april) it will be cold and snow can make the path very difficult and parts will even be dangerous. In July and August the weather is nice and warm (august in Scotland can be wet though), but the summer months are very busy. You may find hotels fully booked and see other walkers most of the day. And also in summer midges (very small, stinging flies) can ruin an afternoon lunch or even make you abandon the route and run home. Midges are small, but there s lots and lots of them and they can detect the carbon dioxide in your breath 00 metres away. Starting point Mapbox OpenStreetMap STARTING POINT Douglas Street, Milngavnie TRANSPORT TO START The West Highland Way starts in Milngavie, a town just outside Glasgow. Milngavie is very easily reached by car or public transport. From Glasgow, take the train to Milngavie from Glasgow Central Station. In case you re flying to Glasgow International Airport, there s a convenient shuttle bus to Glasgow Central Station. Fort William has regular trains and busses back to Glasgow. To the start If you stayed the night in Milngavie, you may have passed the obelisk in the centre of town, the official start of the West Highland Way. Most hikers arrive in the morning, starting their walk at the train station, just a few minutes away from the obelisk. Exiting the train station, turn left and head to the underpass that will take you to Station Road. Just follow the road into a pedestrian area and Douglas Street, where you can t miss the obelisk. How hard For the experienced and fit walker, the West Highland Way is never hard, only if you head out in winter. But it s not an easy walk either. If you decide to walk the entire way in one go, remember: it s 5 km (96 miles). Because you ll need to reach a place to stay every night and you ll want to refuel at restaurants, pubs or a shop, some of your days on the way will be long and strenuous. But if you re able to walk up to 8 hours in a day, you ll be fine. Camping can make the West Highland Way a lot harder, you ll be carrying a large backpack and need to carry fuel, food, water for at least one or two days. I ve seen plenty of hikers, heads down, eyes looking at their feet, toiling their rucksacks at the end of a day and wondered if they were actually enjoying themselves. I won t advise against camping, I ve hiked the way myself twice, once camping every night and I enjoyed that very much. Just make sure you realise that camping is not a picnic. Planning You can walk the West Highland Way in as many or as little days as you like. I ve seen people running parts of the route, there s actually a yearly race with competitors reaching Fort William in less than 6 hours! Most of us will probably need a bit more than that. About 6, 7 or maybe 8 days. It depends on how much time you have, how fit you (and your companions) are, and also where you want to stay overnight. The farther north you go, the options to stay overnight are limited and the distance between hotels increase. You won t find accommodation between Kinlochleven and Fort William, making the last day a -kilometer hike. If you take a tent and camping gear and you re willing to camp in the wild, of course you re options are almost limitless. If you plan to camp, be aware that camping is not permitted everywhere. Along Loch Lomond, between Drymen and Ptarmigan Lodge, you re not allowed to pitch your tent in the wild, so you ll need to stay the night at one of the official campsites or treat yourself to a hotel or hostel.

3 The officials that maintain the West Highland Way have divided the route into sections, each section starting and ending at a village or hotel. In this Hikable Guide I describe a 7-day hike. But you can make your own decision and even change your mind on the go. You could also find a couple of extra s, like the option to hike up Ben Lomond to enjoy grand views over the Highlands. So, it s really up to you. On different points on the route you ll be able to take a bus or order a taxi, making the number of options you have almost limitless. To give you some inspiration, here s how I hiked the West Highland Way in august of 0 (yes, I went in high season). And more conventional ways: one in 6, one in 7 and one in 8 days. My summer of 0 itinerary is somewhat peculiar with some long and some short days. I brought a tent and camping gear and changed my plans almost daily, maybe more than once every day. Depending on the weather (august can be rainy) or how my feet felt, I would stop early of push on at the end of the day. Day Milngavie - Milarrochy campsite, just north of Balmaha ( km) Day Milarrochy - Rowchoish bothy (6 km) Day Rowchoish - Beinglas farm (5 km) Day Beinglas farm - Bridge of Orchy (0 km) Day 5 Bridge of Orchy - Kingshouse Hotel (0 km) Day 6 Kingshouse Hotel - Kinlochleven (5 km) Day 7 Kinlochleven - Fort William ( km) Because most people prefer a hotel, B&B or bunkhouse over a tent, a more usual option would be this: Day Milngavie - Drymen (9, km) Day Drymen - Rowardennan ( km) Day Rowardennan - Crianlarich ( km) Day Crianlarich - Bridge of Orchy (0,8 km) Day 5 Bridge of Orchy - Kingshouse (9, km) Day 6 Kingshouse - Kinlochleven (, km) Day 7 Kinlochleven - Fort William ( km) If you want to take it easy, you could choose to do the West Highland Way in 8 days. Because the first stretch of the West Highland Way is easy going, shortening the first two days isn t really necessary. Between Bridge of Orchy and Fort William, accommodation is scarce, so taking an extra day somewhere between Drymen and Bridge of Orchy is probably your best option. I also found that the path along Loch Lomond is beautiful, but also the hardest part of the West Highland Way making the 0-kilometre day between Rowardennan and Crianlarich a long one. You could stay in Inverarnan for the night. A good way to squeeze the route into 6 days would be not to stay in Bridge of Orchy, but to keep going for about another kilometres to Inveroran and make it all the way to Kinlochleven the day after that. You could do it in 5 days, but even if you re super fit that will be tough. Finding your way The West Highland Way is very well waymarked, with a white thistle within a hexagon. In theory you could probably get lost, but that won t be easy. The path is well maintained, and I ve found that the moment you start looking for the next waymark, you ll see it shortly. If you don t want to rely on our digital map on your mobile device, you could bring a paper map. Harvey publishes a perfect (waterproof) map for the entire West Highland Way (scale : 0,000). What to bring What, and how much, you bring on a long distance hike is a matter of personal preference. I try to take as little as possible. Even when I camp, I make sure to keep my backpack under 0kg. That means little comfort though, reading my book on my mobile phone and putting on the same t-shirt every morning. So it s a matter of choice, really. Just realise that the West Highland Way is not a walk in the park. At some point you ll be a couple of hours from the nearest village or major road. And although the trail is well maintained, you ll definitely do some scrambling on rocks and tree roots. So, wear good (waterproof) hiking boots, bring a waterproof jacket and trousers (even in summer) and an extra set of clothing to keep you warm after a long day. A (small) first aid kit can be helpful in case painful blisters and absolutely necessary in case of a fall. Don t expect to find something to eat or drink every hour or so. This means you ll need to bring a backpack that is large enough for a water bottle, lunch and snacks next to your personal items. If you plan to camp, don t forget you ll need to carry plenty food and water, you won t find a shop on every stage of the West Highland Way.

4 DAY Milngavie to Drymen 5 Hours / 9 km 9 m 07 m 6 5 Mapbox OpenStreetMap Looking at the map, the first couple of hours of the West Highland Way may not look that promising. The first day the trail keeps close to roads and buildings of all sorts. Please, don t trust this first impression. Most of the time, the West Highland Way cleverly avoids the bustle of the outskirts of Glasgow. It also feels right. You re leaving Milngavie behind and with it the routines and hassle - or maybe even stress - of your daily life. If you need supplies (like I did coming straight from Glasgow Airport) head over to The Iron Chef, a small hardware store just 50 meters from the start. You ll find something to drink or eat every day for the coming days, but shops are scarce between Milngavie and Fort William. Old railway line Your first steps on the West Highland Way follow an old railway line, along Allander Water and through Allander Park to Mugdock Wood. Almost immediately you ll forget you re still close to Milngavie and Glasgow. The path is easygoing here and exceptionally well way marked. After a while, you ll pass Craigallian Loch on your right and then Carbeth Loch on your left. When you reach the B8, turn left for about 00 meters or so and cross the road to pick up the footpath again. Leaving the B8 behind, you ll enter open farmland and the path soon follows a disused railway line again, this time the old Blane Valley Railway. This track takes you almost all the way to Gartness, about 5 km south from Drymen, the goal of most walkers on day one.

5 Distillery But first, the Glengoyne Distillery will tempt you to take a short break. You ll see its white buildings on your right about km from the start. Depending on the time of day, this is a nice place to stop for a while. If you re more interested in tea or coffee, or a lunch, just about km further on you ll pass Beech Tree Inn. Just passed the Beech Tree Inn you ll have to walk along the A8 for a short while, before taking up the railway track again. The path now runs parallel to the A8 for a couple of kilometers. Soon you ll be leaving the A8 and the railway track, and then it s just another 5 or 6 km to Drymen. The West Highland Way actually doesn t pass through Drymen. So if you re staying the night in town, as many walkers do, you ll have to leave the path and walk into the village (about km). Even if you re not staying in Drymen, with its nice village green it s worth a short visit. If you want to camp, just south of Drymen you ll pass two campsites. One of them also has cabins available: Wishingwell Farmhouse 5 campsite and Easter Drumquhassle Farm. 6 Points of Interest The Iron Chef Shop A hardware shop, perfectly outfitted for hikers and campers and very close to the start. Very convenient if you need some insect repellent or gas for your stove. This is also the office of Travel-Lite, a bagage carrying service. 5 6 Beech Tree Inn Restaurant Bar With a large garden with picknick tables an right next to the trail, the Beech Tree Inn looks to be made for walkers of the West Highland Way. Dumgoyne by Killearn, Stirlingshire, G6 9LA info@thebeechtreeinn.co.uk Drymen Hotel Bed & Breakfast Restaurant Bar Shop Bus Drymen has a nice village green, a small shop and a couple of restaurants and pubs. Plenty of places to stay as well. Wishingwell Farmhouse Campsite Restaurant Bar Wishingwell Farmhouse is a nice place to stop for a cup of tea or coffee. It has a small giftshop. You can also pitch your tent there. Drumore Haugh, Gartness, G6 0NJ morven@thewishingwellfarmhouse. co.uk Drymen Camping (Easter Drumquhassle Farm) Campsite Nice place to camp, also has small cabins. They can cook you breakfast as well and make you a packed lunch if you ask them. Gartness Road, Drymen, G6 0DN enquiries@drymencamping.co.uk 5 Mugdock Road, Milngavie, G6 8PD Glengoyne Distillery Glengoyne Distillery has been making whiskey for about 50 years, so they know what they re doing. If you have time, the distillery is certainly worth the visit. Dumgoyne, Near Killearn, Glasgow, G6 9LB reception@glengoyne.com 5

6 DAY Drymen to Rowardennan 6 Hours / km 665 m 85 m Mapbox OpenStreetMap After a pretty easy first day, the West Highland Way starts to demand more effort. First you ll walk up Conic Hill (60 metres) and then, after a steep descend, you be walking along Loch Lomond for days. The trail along Loch Lomond s shore is the hardest stretch of the West Highland Way, if you ask me. You re not in the Highlands quite yet, but you ll walk up and down steps, rocks and tree roots all day. So, take it easy on this second day and expect to slow down this part of the way. Near Drymen the trail follows the A8 to the east. After a couple of hundred meters, you turn left and walk towards Garadhban Forest. Exiting the forest, you ll be walking up Conic Hill. In April and May it s lambing and calving season, so farmers may ask you to avoid the route up to Conic Hill. There is a detour. From Garadhban Forest, descend down to Milton of Buchanan (roughly an hour from Drymen) and from there make your way to Balmaha. If for some reason you want to avoid the climb up to Conic Hill (and the descend down to Balmaha), this is the route to take. Conic Hill offers nice views of Loch Lomond (if the weather is clear). For those who have the energy left, take the time to get to the top of Conic Hill, the official route of the West Highland Way just misses it. The steep descend (take your time, especially in bad weather) takes you to Balmaha, a nice village on the shore of Loch Lomond. After Balmaha you follow the east shore of Loch Lomond. Here the path becomes more difficult, you re walking on rocks and tree roots for the rest of the day (and tomorrow as well). This is a rewarding part of the trip. One moment you re walking right along the shoreline, the next you enter woodland and lose sight of the lake for a moment. Balmaha is a popular holiday destination and you ll pass two large lochside caravan sites: Milarrochy Bay and Cashel Caravan and Camping Site. 6

7 Rowardennan is a small hamlet. Rowardennan Hotel 5 is 5 Rowardennan Hotel (The Clansman Bar) a good place to stay, and so is Rowardennan Lodge Youth Hostel. 6 You re now close to Ben Lomond (97), a popular day trip from Rowardennan and a nice way to Hotel Lodge Restaurant Bar overnight@rowardennanhotel.co.uk extend your trip with an extra day of walking. At the foot of Ben Lomond 7, the National Trust for Scotland offers basic accommodation at Ben Lomond Bunkhouse 8, 6 Rowardennan Lodge Youth Hostel Ardess Lodge. Hostel Restaurant Bar Closed parts of december and januari Campers, be aware that wild camping is not permitted between Drymen and Ptarmigan Lodge 9, north of Rowardennan. If you ask me, located on the banks of Loch Lomond, this youth hostel couldn\ t be on a better spot. It\ s also close to the foot of Ben Lomond, making it a nice place to stay an extra night and to leave the West Highland Way for a day and enjoy the views Points of Interest Conic Hill Over 00 metres high, Conic Hill is a surprisingly tiring climb. If the weather is right, you ll see Loch Lomond. Don t underestimate the descend into Balmaha. Balmaha Hotel Bed & Breakfast Restaurant Bar Shop Bus Milarrochy Bay Camping and Caravanning Club Site Campsite Shop Closed in winter, open from april to the end of october North of Drymen, this is a large campsite also accessible for caravans. Walkers staying overnight camp at a designated spot. There\ s also a simple kitchen area, where you can cook a meal or eat your breakfast. Rowardennan Lodge, By Drymen, G6 0AR rowardennan@syha.org.uk 7 8 Ben Lomond Ben Lomond Bunkhouse, Ardess Lodge Lodge At the foot of Ben Lomond, the National Trust for Scotland offers basic accommodation at Ben Lomond Bunkhouse, Ardess Lodge holidays@nts.org.uk uk 9 Ptarmigan Lodge Ptarmigan Lodge is a privately owned cottage. Milarrochy Bay, Balmaha Nr Drymen, G6 0AL Cashel Caravan and Camping Site Campsite Shop March - 7 October

8 DAY Rowardennan to Crianlarich 9 Hours / km 05 m 8 m Mapbox OpenStreetMap The first stretch of this third day on the West Highland Way starts just like the second day ended. The trail again follows the shore of Loch Lomond most of the day, sometimes leaving the Loch and heading into woodland, to then return to its pebbled beaches. At Ardleish you ll leave Loch Lomond behind, and the character of the West Highland Way changes as you are getting closer to the Highlands. This is a long day. Probably the hardest part of the West Highland Way. You can easily shorten it by staying in Ardlui (in summer, there s a ferry crossing the lake) or Inverarnan, extending your trip to a more leisurely 8 days. It all depends on how much time you have and of course on how much your legs can take. Not far from Rowardennan, just past Ptarmigan Lodge (private), you can choose to take a (more difficult) alternative route that stays very close to the water. The official route is a more easygoing (but beautiful) forest track. From both routes you can get to Rowchoish Bothy, now a simple shelter that was used up until the late thirties. From the bothy, the trail leads you back to shore of Loch Lomond, taking you to Inversnaid (there s a hotel and a bunkhouse). Past the Inversnaid Hotel you walk on tree roots and rocks, slowing down your pace. Just north of the hotel you ll pass Rob Roy s Cave, where this famous 7th, 8th century outlaw supposedly hid from his enemies ( a few kilometers back, south of Inversnaid, 8

9 you ve passed Rob Roy s prison, where he s supposed to have kept prisoners himself). Just before Ardleish (nothing more then a ruined cottage) and after another shelter (Doune Bothy) 5, there s a ferry to Ardlui on the other side of the lake. The trail now leaves Loch Lomond behind. A few kilometers after Ardleish, you ll reach Beinglas Farm 6 and across the river Drovers Inn. 7 You now follow the A8, crossing it about an hour south of Crianlarich. 8 You re now walking on old military roads, and Crianlarich isn t far. 7 Drovers Inn Hotel Restaurant Bar This old inn was used by the Highland drovers who drove their cattle to the markets in the south info@thedroversinn.co.uk, 8 Crianlarich Hotel Hostel Bed & Breakfast Restaurant Bar Shop Bus Taxi Points of Interest Ardlui Hotel Hotel Campsite Restaurant Bar Just raise the ball at the ferry crossing, just off the West Highland Way and the nice people of the Ardlui Hotel will come and pick you up. Don t forget to check their website if the ferry is running. Ardlui Loch Lomond, G8 7EB, info@ardlui.co.uk Rowchoish bothy Year round This old barn is maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association. It s dry and it has a working fireplace. Staying here is free, and a fun experience. In summer, don t expect to have it all to yourself. Inversnaid Hotel Hotel Restaurant Bar Inversnaid, By Aberfoyle, FK8 TU enquiries@lochsandglens.co.uk 6 Beinglas Campsite Campsite Restaurant Bar Year round Nice place to stop for a drink. The campsite is decent, and has good hot showers. Store has basic food utilities as well as gas canisters. Cabins are basic but adequate. Make a reservation in high season. Inverarnan, Loch Lomond, G8 7DX, info@ beinglascampsite.com 9

10 DAY Crianlarich to Bridge of Orchy 6 Hours / km m 57 m 5 Mapbox OpenStreetMap From Crianlarich, head back up to the trail that leads you west through the trees and then descends into Strath Fillan (just follow the A8 until you hit the trail again). You ll walk through this wide valley towards Tyndrum, passing underneath the railway and crossing the A8 and River Fillan to Kirkton Farm and what remains of St Fillan s Chapel. Less than a kilometer from there, you ll get to Auchtertyre Farm, a working farm that lets wigwams, has a small shop and serves tea and coffee. After Auchtertyre the trail crosses the highway again, and then heads into Tyndrum. After walking for days, Tyndrum looks and feels a bit like a busy truck stop (it already was a popular spot to rest among cattle drovers in the 8th and 9th century). There s a couple of shops, so you can stock up on supplies. Don t forget, because the next shop you ll see will be in Kinlochleven. walking is easy, the views are nice. You ll cross the railway line a couple of times, before reaching the Bridge of Orchy Hotel. Just on the other side of the river Orchy, you can pitch a tent (no facilities). About kilometers north of Bridge of Orchy, Inveroran Hotel 5 is an alternative place to stay. There s also a place to pitch your tent there. Points of Interest Crianlarich Hotel Hostel Bed & Breakfast Restaurant Bar Shop Bus Taxi The next 0 kilometers follow an old military road. The 0

11 Tyndrum Hotel Restaurant Bar Shop Bus Auchtertyre Farm (Strathfillan Wigwams) Campsite Lodge Shop Auchtertyre Farm is a working farm that also manages Strathfillan Wigwams and a shop, where you can sit down for a cup a of tea. There place for tents as well. Auchtertyre Farm, Crianlarich, FK0 8RU , Wigwams/ Bridge of Orchy Hotel Hotel Campsite Restaurant Bar Year round If you can afford it, give you re feet a rest here. The hotel is beautiful, the rooms are large and modern. Don t forget to try the salmon for breakfast. Hikers on a budget can pitch their tent (for free) just across the bridge. Bridge of Orchy, Argyll, PA6 AD, info@ bridgeoforchy.co.uk, www bridgeoforchy.co.uk 5 Inveroran Hotel Hotel Campsite Restaurant Inveroran Hotel is a 9th century inn. Just passed the hotel you can pitch a tent, and enjoy breakfast sitting at a table the next morning. Bridge of Orchy, PA6 AQ booking@inveroran.com

12 DAY 5 Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse 5 Hours / 9 km 5 m m Mapbox OpenStreetMap The West Highland Way now takes you to Rannoch Moor and right into the highlands. After an easy climb through woodland, you ll enjoy your first views out over Rannoch Moor. You ll pass the Inveroran Hotel and then you ll gently walk up onto Rannoch Moor. Here the West Highland Way can feel isolated, even unfriendly when the weather turns. There nothing much here but moorland. After about kilometers, you ll see the chairlift of Glencoe Mountain Resort. Then it s just another kilometers to the Kingshouse Hotel. Points of Interest Inveroran Hotel Hotel Campsite Restaurant Inveroran Hotel is a 9th century inn. Just passed the hotel you can pitch a tent, and enjoy breakfast sitting at a table the next morning. Bridge of Orchy, PA6 AQ booking@inveroran.com

13 Glencoe Mountain Resort Campsite Restaurant Bus Open year round With a ski lift and mountain bike hire, Glencoe Mountain Resort can t match the character of Kingshouse, 0 minutes further along the West Highland Way. On the other hand, the food is good, the people friendly. And if it s rainy: they have a drying room you can use. Glencoe, Argyll, PH9 HZ admin@glencoemountain.co.uk Kings House Hotel Hotel Campsite Restaurant Bar Year round Built in the 7th century, Kings House Hotel bursts of character. It s popular, so do make a reservation. Camping on the other side of the river is permitted and free. Enjoy a meal and have a beer or whiskey with other hikers in the Walkers Bar. Glencoe, Argyll, PH9 HY

14 DAY 6 Kingshouse to Kinlochleven Hours / km m 659 m Mapbox OpenStreetMap This is a short day. Relax in the morning, plan a long lunch along the way or walk around Kinlochleven in the afternoon. The first 5 kilometers follow a wide track along the A8, then you turn right and go straight up Devil s Staircase (58m), the top of the West Highland Way. The name sounds daunting, and Devil s Staircase is a serious climb, but your sixth day in, you ll be enjoying the views from the top before you know it. From Devil s Staircase it s down to Kinlochleven. The last steps to the town are not the most inspiring, since you ll be walking past long water pipes that carry water from the Blackwater Reservoir to the hydroelectric power station in Kinlochleven. When you see the pipes, you re almost there. The path leads you into town, where there s plenty of options to stay the night, have a drink or do some shopping. Points of Interest Kinlochleven Hotel Campsite Bed & Breakfast Restaurant Bar Shop Bus

15 DAY 7 Kinlochleven to Fort William 7 Hours / km 75 m 77 m Mapbox OpenStreetMap You re almost there. Maybe by now you re looking forward to your last steps on the West Highland Way, or maybe you re not done walking yet (in which case you could consider heading up to Inverness, via the The Great Glen Way, which is another 8 km or 7 miles from Fort William). But you ll probably experience some kind of feeling of accomplishment, as I did walking down into Glen Nevis and eventually through Fort William, until this last moment just a name, but also your goal for the last couple of days. The day starts on military roads, the path before you in plain view and easygoing most of the time. But remember: you ll perhaps see other hikers, but there s not much else between Kinlochleven and Fort William. So bring enough food and water for the day. Leave Kinlochleven behind you by following the main road to the north (B86) for a short while. Turn right for a short (but somewhat steep) climb through woodland to reach the military road that takes you west and turns north after an hour or two. Just before the descent into Glen Nevis, there is an iron age fort, Dun Deardail. It s a short detour and worth a visit. There s not much left after thousands of years, but you can see the outline of the fort on a hilltop, and enjoy the views though. You can t miss it, there s a big sign right next to the road. From there it s downhill into the glen and back to civilisation. The end of the West Highland Way was moved in 00 to Gordon Square, right in the middle of Fort William. Plenty of places to stay or have a bite to eat here. The campsite is a short hour long walk back, and is very close to the route of the West Highland Way. 5

16 So, if you plan to camp you could leave the trail and descend to the campsite, pitch your tent and leave your things there before walking the last bit of the way. Points of Interest Kinlochleven Hotel Campsite Bed & Breakfast Restaurant Bar Shop Bus. Fort William Hotel Bed & Breakfast Restaurant Bar Shop Bus Train About the author Jan Douwe Kooistra Walking is an important part of my life. Has been for as long as I can remember. In the woods, around town and as often as possible in the mountains. I even did some mountain climbing. I climbed Castor (6), my first (and only) four-thousander, together with my girlfriend. It s a beautiful climb, close to Matterhorn in Switzerland. But I guess I just love hiking more. I ve never found really good digital hiking guides, so I decided to make them myself. You re reading one of them, I hope you like it. I d really like to hear from you what you think and if my guides are useful. I ve walked the West Highland Way twice, once years ago and a second time in the summer of 0 to write this guide. And there s a big chance that I ll walk it again. Maybe I ll take my daughter when she s old enough. Colofon This Hikable Guide is created by Hikable. If you want let us know what you think or if you think something is not correct, just the author at jd@hikable.com. 6