8 nights from Glasgow to Fort William

The West Highland Way - walk with Make Tracks and trek through an astonishing variety of scenery. Hike from the outskirts of Glasgow, along the banks of Loch Lomond, then throughthe heart of the Scottish highlands to the foot of Ben Nevis, Scotland's highest mountain. Enjoy our most popular hiking vacation, staying in good quality Hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation, while your luggage goes by road.

There are many good reasons why theWest Highland Way is Scotland's most popular long distance path. It is easy to get to. The start and finish are both near to rail stations, and Milngavie is only an hour or so by public transport from Glasgow airport. The West Highland Way passes many small towns and villages, so it is well served by accommodation along its length; and on this walk you will never be far from locations which are steeped in the history of Scotland, like the military roads built to suppress the Jacobites after the 1745 rebellion, or the inns at Inveroran and Kingshouse, where, in more peaceful times, cattle drovers with their thousands of black highland cattle gathered on their long walks to the southern markets of Crieff and Falkirk.

West Highland Way - The Route

Day 1	Arrive Milngavie	Easy train connections from Glasgow
Day 2	Milngavie to Drymen (12 miles, 19 k)	Mainly through hill farmland
Day 3	Drymen to Rowardennan (14 miles, 23k)	Partly through farmland, then alongside Loch Lomond to the foot of Ben Lomond
Day 4	Rowardennan to Inverarnan (14 miles, 23k)	Nearly all day alongside Loch Lomond
Day 5	Inverarnan to Tyndrum (13 miles, 21k)	Through Glen Falloch and past Ben More (big mountain)
Day 6	Tyndrum to Kingshouse (19 miles, 30k)	Across the vast wilderness of Rannoch Moor to an old drovers inn
Day 7	Kingshouse to Kinlochleven (9 miles, 15k)	A climb over the Devil's Staircase near the head of Glencoe
Day 8	Kinlochleven to Fort William (14 miles, 23k)	Over another high pass to the foot of Ben Nevis
Day 9	Depart Fort William	Good train and bus connections to Glasgow or the West Highlands

  The best reason for walking the West Highland Way is the fantastic variety of scenery. The route starts just outside Glasgow and heads through farmland, but soon crosses the Highland Boundary Fault to reach some of the most spectacular areas of Scotland. After pleasant walking through Drymen, the route reaches Britain's largest expanse of fresh water, Loch Lomond. The route goes by its entire length, skirting the foot of Ben Lomond. This is the area where Rob Roy McGregor spent much of his time relieving travellers of their money or cattle, before heading over mountain passes to his home in nearby Balquhidder (featured in the Highland Track).

Near the head of Loch Lomond, you will stop the night at the village of Inverarnan, with its inn formerly frequented by cattle drovers. Soon after, the great peaks around Crianlarich come into view, the most notable being Ben More (big mountain). The middle section of the walk, brings even more variety, passing through remnants of the ancient Caledon Forest before climbing onto the edge of the wilderness, the vast watery expanse of Rannoch Moor. Shelter here is normally at another former drovers' inn at Kingshouse. From here, the route climbs again, with views across to the magnificent crags of Buchaille Etive Mor, the Great Shepherd of Glen Etive, which guards the entrance to Glencoe and Glen Etive. The second last night is spent at the head of Loch Leven, a fiord-like sea loch, and the last day caps what should be a fantastic experience as you walk over the Lairigmor (great pass) and into Glen Nevis, eventually coming to the end of the Way at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain.

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Make Tracks Walking Holidays
26 Forbes Road,
Edinburgh
Scotland. UK
EH10 4ED.