West Highland Way: map, route in 5 days, baggage transfer, and more!

The West Highland Way is the official first long-distance route of Scotland. This route runs on the layout of an old military track built by English troops to quell the ongoing rebellions of the Scottish Jacobite clans. The Jacobites were those who supported James VII after his deposition from the English throne because of being a catholic. The most famous Jacobite rebellion took place in 1745 when Charles Edward Stewart, James VII's grandson, led his Jacobite army to the Battle of Culloden, near Inverness in 1746, where they were finally defeated by the English troops. The tracing of the West Highland Way route began in 1974 and was officially opened in 1980 by Lord Mansfield and so it became the first officially designated long-distance footpath in Scotland.

The West Highland Way runs from Milngavie to Fort William. The trail is 96 miles long, that is to say, 154 kilometers, and is divided into 8 stages. On the way, the route guides you through one of the wildest and most beautiful natural landscapes, including mountains, lakes, valleys, and moorland.

When it comes to the best season to walk the West Highland Way, or the Great Glen Way, the truth is that the weather is pretty much the same, no matter when you go. You can see this as an advantage or a disadvantage. In the Highlands, the weather is always bad. You may even experience all four seasons in one day... and it will certainly rain.

Officially, the best time is during the Summer months, during July and August. During Summer the average temperature rises a little and days are longer. However, during those two months is mosquito season and it can be quite annoying. A more appropriate time would be during Spring, that is from May to June when temperatures are pretty much the same as during Summer, it rains a bit less, and most importantly: there are no mosquitoes.

On the WHW you can either spend the night at a cozy hotel in a small town or camping in one of the several camping sites along the way. The accommodation options, however, can be a bit limited at times. The thing with the West Highland Way is that the stages start and end mostly in very small towns, where there usually are only 1, 2, or maybe 3 accommodation options. The WHW is one of the most popular treks in Scotland and it welcomes thousands of trekkers every year. Arranging the stages and booking the accommodation should not be taken lightly, since the hotels get fully booked months in advance.

Contrary to other trekking tours in Europe, camping is very common on the West Highland Way. On the Alta Via 1, in Italy, for example, wild camping is strictly forbidden. On the WHW, however, at the end of each stage, you will find cozy hotels and also camping sites where you can spend the night. Wild camping is also allowed on the West Highland Way, except from 1st March to 30th September. During this time, camping is only permitted in campsites and designated areas. If you want to go wild camping, there are a series of rules that you should follow:

• Take away all your litter
• Remove all traces of your tent pitch and of any open fire
• Do not cause any pollution
• No fires during the dry season
• Avoid causing problems for local people and land managers by not camping in enclosed fields of crops or farm animals and by keeping well away from buildings
• No motor vehicles allowed

If you are planning on wild camping, visit the Scottish Outdoor Access Code website. There you will find all the information you need about camping rules.

The West Highland Way is a very popular trek and attracts thousands of tourists every year. Thanks to its popularity, a big touristic industry has grown around it and there are plenty of services which will make your walk easier and lighter. One of these services is that of baggage transfer. This service is very popular in other treks in Europe, like the Camino de Santiago in Spain. There are several agencies that offer baggage transfers during the West Highland Way and most of them offer their service for the full trek for about GBP 45,-. The Baggage transfer companies pick up your bags every morning from your hotel and make sure that they are waiting for you at your next stop when you arrive. That way, you can enjoy the trek without any extra weight on your shoulders. Quite convenient, isn't it?

The West Highland Way starts in Milngavie and ends in Fort William. The trail is traditionally walked from south to north, although it can be done in the opposite direction. A good reason for starting the trek from the south and making your way northwards is that Milngavie is located on the outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city.

Starting point

In order to get to Milngavie, the easiest option is taking a plane, train, or bus to Glasgow. Once in Glasgow, you can take a 20-minute train to Milngavie. You can also take the 60A bus line, which takes about 30 minutes. There are also several transfer services that take you from Glasgow straight to the starting point of the WHW.

Ending point

The WHW ends in Fort William. The way back to Glasgow is quite simple since there are direct trains and buses (lines 915 and 916) from Fort William to Glasgow's city center. The bus ride takes about 3 hours, while the train is a bit slower and takes almost 4 hours. If you prefer a faster option, car transfers to Glasgow take about 2 hours and cost GBP 35,- per person. Most luggage transfer agencies also offer these transfers.

The Great Glen Way and theWest Highland Wayare two of the most famous long-distance walking trails in Scotland. If one is not enough, you can very easily combine the two. The West Highland Way happens to end in Fort William, the starting point of the Great Glen Way, which makes them the perfect match for a longer adventure!

The Devil’s Staircase is the highest point along the way, at 1850 ft / 564 meters, and is located between Kingshouse and Kinlochleven. The Devil’s Staircase was initially given its name by the soldiers who were part of the road-building program. Apparently, the carrying of building materials up that stretch of the road wasn't very popular!

The path to the top of the pass is very clear and soon rises above the plain of Rannoch Moor. The trail zigzags as it climbs to the top marked by a cairn, with breathtaking views back to ‘The Buachaille’ and northwards towards the Mamores mountain range. After the pass, the path continues down towards Kinlochleven.

The West Highland Way is a simple trek and can be completed by anyone with an average fitness level. The difficulty level relies on the number of days in which you choose to complete the trek. If you want to get the most out of your walking holiday, it is always advisable to prepare yourself physically. Here are some tips for you:

Cardio

It is best to start moving as soon as you make up your mind about your West Highland Way walk. With the right aerobic fitness, you will have a better heart rate, healthy muscles, and a large lung capacity. Running, walking, more hiking, and cycling or swimming are excellent training options. One hour, three to four times a week is sufficient.

Endurance training

Building up an endurance condition is also important. The best thing you can do is to cover long distances on foot, at least once a week. If you can walk comfortably for a long time, you are ready.

Train with equipment

Use the backpack and shoes you plan to use for your WHW trek while training. By doing that, your body will be prepared for the extra weight and you will avoid blisters.

Know your body

This is perhaps the most important part. If you are questioning your physical abilities, it is advisable to have your doctor examine you. There is no fixed method for preparing for your hike. The preparation may depend on the duration, the environment, and what you want to achieve. Not everyone is a mountain goat. Do not think too much about your preparation. Take it easy and enjoy your time in the mountains.

Yes, the West Highland Way is totally safe. The trails are quite straight forward and there is very little difference in altitude. The biggest challenge during the WHW is the weather. It is well known that the climate in Scotland isn't the best and chances are that it will rain during your WHW trek. The key is knowing that it will happen and being prepared for when it does, so make sure to carry a waterproof jacket and an extra pair of socks with you.

When it comes to the direction, the most popular option is walking the route from south to north and ending at Fort Williams. The signs, however, point in both directions so you can also do it from north to south. The signs on the West Highland Way are clearly marked with the WHW logo.

The path is perfectly laid out and very well signposted, there is no possibility of getting lost. Depending on the section, the trail runs along wide dirt tracks where even a tractor could fit or along narrower pedestrian paths. Regardless of the width of the path, the trail is very clear and easy to follow.

Scottish Emergency Number: 999

112 connects to the same services as 999 and works in exactly the same way. Neither number has priority over the other, so you may use either number to reach the emergency services.