No single authority — passes through multiple regions
West Highland Way
Milngavie (near Glasgow) to Fort William, Scottish Highlands
Distance
154 km
Duration
7–8 days (most walkers; can be done in 6 or stretched to 9)
Elevation gain
4,600 m
Difficulty
ModerateNo booking required — Free to walk; accommodation must be booked independently
Best season
May–September (June–August optimal for weather and long daylight)
Check current trail conditions
Track closures, snow conditions, hut availability, and safety alerts update daily. Always check before departing.
About this trail
Scotland's most popular long-distance route and one of the finest walks in Europe. The Way begins in Milngavie (pronounced 'Mull-guy'), a suburb of Glasgow, and ends in Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis — Britain's highest mountain. The route crosses Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, the vast Rannoch Moor, and the dramatic Glencoe before reaching Fort William. No booking required for the walk itself — accommodation ranges from bunkhouses and B&Bs to wild camping.
Highlights
- ✓Loch Lomond eastern shore — 17km of wild lochside walking through ancient oak woodland
- ✓Rannoch Moor — one of the last great wildernesses in Europe, desolate and magnificent
- ✓Devil's Staircase — the highest point of the route (548m) with views to Glencoe
- ✓Glen Coe — one of Scotland's most dramatic and historically significant glens
- ✓Ben Nevis from Fort William — most walkers add the summit as a final day (1,345m)
🚌 Getting there
Milngavie is 30 minutes by train from Glasgow Queen Street — the walk starts at the obelisk in the town centre. Fort William is served by ScotRail trains from Glasgow Queen Street (3 hours) and the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston overnight.
🎒 What to bring
- ·Full waterproof jacket and trousers — Scotland can be very wet
- ·Midges defence: head net and Smidge or Avon Skin So Soft repellent (essential June–August)
- ·Tramping boots — most sections are well-formed but some are very muddy
- ·Gaiters recommended
- ·7 days of snacks and some food (resupply in villages)
- ·Trekking poles for downhills and river crossings
Hazards & safety
- ·Midges (tiny biting insects) are severe June–August, especially in calm, humid conditions. Head nets and insect repellent are essential, not optional.
- ·River crossings after heavy rain can be dangerous on the Rob Roy Way diversion.
- ·Rannoch Moor sections have limited shelter — navigate carefully in poor visibility.
- ·Wild camping is legal in Scotland under the Land Reform Act — use Leave No Trace principles.
📋 Know before you go
- 1.Baggage transfer: companies like AMS Baggage Transfer collect your main bag each morning and deliver it to your next accommodation — widely used and recommended.
- 2.Accommodation must be booked well in advance for summer (June–August) — bunkhouses and B&Bs on the Way fill up months ahead.
- 3.Midges peak in June–July. Late August–September has fewer midges and spectacular colours. May has the most daylight.
- 4.Ben Nevis summit: most walkers add this as a final day from Fort William (8–9hr return from town). Requires good weather, proper gear, and navigation.
🚨 Emergency contacts
Emergency
999 or 112
Mountain Rescue
999 (ask for Police then Mountain Rescue)
Before you go
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Adventure insurance
Covers helicopter evacuation, search & rescue, and medical costs. Check your policy covers this trail's altitude or multi-day duration.
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Official sources
Trail information here covers stable facts — distances, difficulty, gear, and what to expect. Current conditions (closures, snow levels, hut availability, permit quota) change regularly and must be checked at the official source before you depart.
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