West Highland Way Walking Holiday in Scotland
8 nights and 7 days walking
Day by Day Itinerary
On this 95 mile Scottish walking holiday you hike through the West Highlands of Scotlands most stunning landscape along Loch Lomond to Fort William.
This is one of our Moorland Walking Holidays, and also one of our Scotland Walking Holidays.
Where in the UK is the West Highland Way
West Highland Way Walking Holiday
in Scotland
from Milngavie via Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Bridge of Orchy, Rannoch Moor to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands
8 nights and 7 days walking
The West Highland Way walking holiday is a 95 mile (152 kilometres) way-marked walking trail. The route can be walked in either direction and for those looking for a longer walking holiday it can be linked to a walking holiday on The Great Glen Way.
This self guided Scottish West Highland Way walking holiday in Scotland’s West Highlands is through some of Scotland’s most historic land and makes a varied and interesting hiking tour. The West Highland Way walking holiday passes through some of Scotland’s most stunning landscape, the magical lochs and moors full of wildlife. The highlights along the way are some of the West Highlands most famous. Loch Lomond, a centre for walkers and watersports for generations, is a great place to extend your stay and explore one of Scotland’s best loved lochs. Fort William, a centre for walkers and mountaineers for generations, is a great place to extend your stay and climb Scotland’s highest mountain Ben Nevis.
The West Highland Way walking holiday in Scotland connects with the Great Glen Way in Fort William, and the John Muir Way in Drymen.
You can combine this West Highland Way Scottish walking holiday with a walk along the Scottish Higlands Great Glen on from Fort William to Inverness on The Great Glen Way for a longer walking holiday.
Our self-guided walking holidays are designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind and can be tailor-made to your own personal requirements.
The routes are clearly way-marked to provide reassurance on your hiking vacation.
We use a selection of guest houses, inns or small hotels with en-suite or private bathroom to ensure you are well rested each night after a busy day hiking and sightseeing. Rest assured that all our accommodation walking holiday providers are hand-picked and offer you that famous British hospitality.
Special diets can be catered for, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free.
We organize the luggage transfer so your bags are at your next accommodation when you arrive. We try to get your bags delivered by 4pm, but this may be delayed due to road conditions.
Let’s Go Walking has developed one of the largest selection of walking holidays.
Our offices are staffed 9am to 9pm during our walking season (March to September) to ensure your walking holiday runs without a hitch.
All our walking holidays are self-guided and you must be a confident map reader and able to navigate from a compass bearing. The weather in the UK and Ireland can change quickly effecting visibility and underfoot conditions. It is important to carry a selection of clothing with you on your hike each day to cope with changing weather conditions. If you are not confident of completing any days walk, do not set out.
This walking holiday in the UK operates April to September and in either direction.
These daily distances are only a suggestion. If you would like to walk longer or shorter distances, we can arrange that too.
Our stated distances include mileage to the accommodation or pickup point and so may not agree with the guide book mileages.
Rest days can be taken in any location.
Why not combine this walk with a hiking tour in another part of England or the UK. Our staff will be happy to advise on necessary transfers.
Online booking available.
A deposit of £85 per person is required to secure the booking, with the balance due 6 weeks before departure.
Optional extra days and accommodation upgrades can be added during the booking process online.
Please wait for the confirmation of your holiday before making final travel plans just in case your holiday is not available for your requested date.
West Highland Way Walking Holiday
Milngavie to Fort William
Suggested Tour Duration:
8 nights, 7 days walking
Total Distance:
95 miles
Min/max daily distance:
9/19 miles
Average Daily distance:
14 miles
Grading:
moderate
Features:
Loch Lomond
Rannoch Moor
Glencoe
This route connects with:
Great Glen Way
John Muir Way
Please note the accommodation in Glencoe included in the price is for a room with shared bathroom.
If an en-suite room is required for this one night, please add the supplement for Kingshouse Hotel.
West Highland Way Walking Holiday
in Scotland
from Milngavie via Loch Lomond , Glencoe, Bridge of Orchy,
Rannoch Moor to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands
8 nights and 7 days walking
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Milngavie
To start your Scottish walking holiday you make your own to Milngavie in Scotland. We can assist with air, coach or train transfers. Car parking is available for the duration of your self-guided walking holiday on The West Highland Way.
Optional Day: Extra day in Milngavie
Enjoy the area and maybe take a train ride on the Glasgow on of Sctolands most famous and interesting cities
Day 2: Milngavie to Drymen 12 miles easy
The West Highland Way walking trail starts in Milngavie at the railway station. Milngavie is a suburb of Glasgow with a range of shops and pubs. Today’s walk is an easy one through rolling countryside and farmland. At Dumgoyach Bridge the route joins a disused railway track. At Glengoyne just a little detour from the route there is a distillery to visit.
Day 3: Walk Drymen to Rowardennan 14 miles easy
The West Highland Way from Drymen is another easy hiking day with the only major climb at Conic Hill to 358m. The walking trail follows forest tracks then on to open moorland. The slight detour up to Conic Hill is well worth it as from the summit there are great views over Loch Lomond. This hill also marks the start of the Scottish’s Highlands. The walking trail makes its away along the side of Loch Lomond. On the Loch’s shore there is a marker commemorating the opening of the West Highland Way in 1980. You stay either at Rowardennan or across Loch Lomond at Tarbet.
Day 4: Rowardennan to Inverarnan 14 miles easy
The West Highland Way from Rowardennan is another easy hiking day along Loch Lomond. The walking trail follows forest tracks for much of the way; the forestry is slowly being replanted with native broadleaf trees. The views along the Loch are splendid and have inspired walkers to Scotland for years. The route along Loch Lomond passes Rob Roy’s Cave, although easily missed. At Ardleish the trail leaves the loch side and climbs to give great views of Loch Lomond and the mountains to the north. You descend to Inverarnan via the footbridge over Ben Glas Burn.
Day 5: Inverarnan to Tyndrum 13 miles easy
Today’s walk follows the River Fallochy though Glen Falloch passing several waterfalls and the Falls of Falloch. The West Highland Way passes very close to the village of Crianlarich with a pub and shops. This is approximately the half way point of your walking holiday. Walking on from Crianlarich the hiking trails climbs to give fine views across to Ben More. The town of Tyndrum, a former lead-mining village, has a small selection of shops, pubs and restaurants.
Day 6: Tyndrum to Kingshouse/Glencoe 19 miles moderate
Today’s section of The West Highland Way is the longest but proves to be one of the favourite walks. On leaving Tyndrum the trail rejoins the old military road giving great views of the surrounding mountains. The path passes village of The Bridge Of Orchy with its famous hotel and railway station, then on to Rannoch Moor. This section is across Rannoch Moor is remote and gives the walk a taste of the scale of the Scottish Highlands. A cairn marks the highest point on the moor (445m) and affords great views of Glencoe. At Glencoe there is a ski centre, café, shops and hotel.
Day 7: Kingshouse/Glencoe to Kinlochleven 9 miles moderate
Today’s walk is short but includes a hike up Devil’s Staircase and a long descent. The trail returns to the old military road at Altnafeadh, affording some of the best views of the mountains around Glencoe. The highest point on The West Highland Way is at the top of the Devil’s Staircase at 584m and on a clear day Ben Nevis is visible. The trail winds its way down to the town of Kinlochleven with a selection of shops, and bars. There is also a visitor’s centre telling the town’s short involvement with aluminium smelting.
Day 8: Kinlochleven to Fort William 14 miles moderate
Today’s walk is the most taxing but includes some breathtaking views. The route leads through forestry plantations and open moor land giving fine views of Ben Nevis. The route enters Fort William via Glen Nevis and along the banks of the River Nevis.
Optional Day: Extra day in Fort William
The town of Fort William is a centre for walking and outdoor sports in the scottish highlands. It has a large selection shops, pubs, hotels etc and makes a great place to extend your stay with perhaps walk up Ben Nevis or walk The Great Glen Way to Inverness. You may like to take a train ride on the steam train from Fort William to Mallaig.
Day 9: Depart after breakfast
Depart after breakfast or extend your holiday and spend some time in the area.
We can transfer you to your car or you can depart by train or bus.
Please note the following events in Fort William:
The Scottish 6 day Motorcycle Trails will take place from Sunday 5th to Saturday 11th May 2024.
The Downhill Cycling World Championships will place from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th May 2024.
The West Highland Way Race will take place on Saturday 15th June 2024.
This affects the availability of accommodation in Fort William and our ability to deliver your luggage.
Therefore when booking your walking holiday on West Highland Way we suggest you avoid Fort William around these dates.
The Ben Nevis Hill Race will take place in Fort William on Saturday 7th September 2024.
This affects the availability of accommodation along the route and our ability to deliver your luggage.
Therefore when booking your walking holiday on West Highland Way we suggest you avoid these dates.
West Highland Way Walking Holiday
9 day itinerary
Milngavie to Fort William
7 days walking and 8 nights
Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at Milngavie
Optional Day: extra day in Milngavie
Day 2: Milngavie to Drymen 12 miles
Day 3: Drymen to Rowardennan 14 miles
Day 4: Rowardennan to Inverarnan 14 miles
Day 5: Inverarnan to Tyndrum 13 miles
Day 6: Tyndrum to Kingshouse 19 miles
Day 7: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven 9 miles
Day 8: Kinlochleven to Fort William 14 miles
Optional Day: extra day in Fort William
Day 9: Depart after breakfast
9 day itinerary 8 nights
| Double or Twin Occupancy | Single Occupancy travelling with others | Solo Traveller |
|
| 2024 | £1,024 | £1,816 | £1,976 |
All prices subject to change
Extra night in Milngavie from £42.50 per person
Extra night in Fort William from £55.00 per person
Optional Accommodation Upgrades for
West Highland Way Walking Holiday
Can be added when booking online
Subject to availability Supplement per person per night
Drymen
Buchanan Arms Hotel
double/twin
£39.00
single
please ask
Winnock Hotel
£48.00
please ask
Rowardennan
Rowardennan Hotel
double/twin
£19.00
single
£38.00
Inverarnan
Drovers Inn
double/twin
£15.00
single
please ask
Kingshouse/Glencoe
Kingshouse Hotel en-suite room
double/twin
£89.00
single
£158.00
Fort William
Alexandra Hotel
double/twin
£55.00
single
please ask
Ben Nevis Hotel
£55.00
please ask
Nevis Bank Inn
£55.00
please ask
What’s included
in your West Highland Way Walking Holiday in Scotland
- accommodation at high quality guest houses, inns or small hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
- room with en-suite or private bathroom (except at Glencoe where the room shares a bathroom, upgrade to en-suite available), tea and coffee making facilities
- daily luggage transfer
- support should there be any problems on route
- detailed itineraries
- OS 1:25,000 map
- guide to West Highland Way
Optional Extras
for your West Highland Way Walking Holiday in Scotland
- upgrade to the region’s most elegant, prestigious and famous hotels, where available
- transfers back to car or station
- parking facilities
- rest days
- inn to inn walks
What’s not included
in your West Highland Way Walking Holiday in Scotland
- lunches and dinners
- travel insurance
Lunches and Dinners
These are not included.
Evening meals
These are available at overnight locations, either at your accommodation or in the town/village.
Packed lunches
These can be provided by your accommodation or can be obtained from a local store, or cafe or inn along the route.
Holiday Travel Insurance
We require that you take out holiday insurance as Let’s Go Biking Ltd accepts no liability for the following:
cancellation, personal accident, illness, loss/theft of personal possessions and/or money, and any unforeseen circumstances, especially travel delays.
This is in addition to our existing
booking conditions.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Our telephone Lines are open 7 days a week.
UK +44 (0)1837 880075
or +44 (0)207 193 1252
March to September 9am to 9pm
October to February 9am to 5pm
US +1 (646) 233-1541
New York 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
AUS +61 (02) 8006 0182
Sydney 10 hours ahead of UK time:
March to September 7pm to 7am EADT
October to February 7pm to 3am EADT
CAN +1 (647) 4786251
Toronto 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
or
West Highland Way Walking Holiday:
How to get there:
- By Plane to Edinburgh or Glasgow airport
- By Car to Milngavie where parking is available
- By Train / Bus to Milngavie/ Glasgow or Fort William
We have moorland walking holidays in the UK in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland.
This is one of our categories of walking holidays.
- Cleveland Way
- Coleridge Way in Somerset
- Copper Trail in Cornwall
- Cumbria Way passes through the Lake District
- Dales Way
- Dartmoor Way in Devon
- Glens of Antrim on the Moyle Way in Northern Ireland
- Glyndwrs Way in Wales
- Hadrians Wall Path
- Hebridean Way in Scotland
- Herriot Way
- Isle of Man Coastal and Moorland Footpath
- Macmillan Way West
- Mourne Way in Northern Ireland
- Richmond Way
- Tarka Trail in Devon
- Two Moors Way in Devon
- West Highland Way in Scotland
- Wicklow Way in Ireland
- Yorkshire Wolds Way
