The West Highland Way will always have a special place in our hearts.

We’ve been offering it since the beginning of our adventure travel division, and we’re proud to have been helping walkers tackle this iconic 155km trail ever since.

The West Highland Way is a challenge for walking enthusiasts the world over. It starts in Milngavie, 10 km north of Glasgow. The trail then heads north, following the eastern shores of peaceful Loch Lomond. After 65 km, the loch is replaced by spectacular Highland scenery, taking walkers past Glencoe and Rannoch Moor before ending in Fort William, Britain’s outdoor adventure capital.

Here are my top tips to help you plan your dream trip.

Adapt your hike

The West Highland Way is a versatile hike. There’s a route to suit everyone. If done in 5 days, it’s a challenge even for experienced walkers, with consecutive 30 km days.

On the other hand, if you do it in 9 days, you’ll be walking at a much more comfortable pace of 17 km per day. This formula is more suitable for beginners or those who want to take their time and take photos of the magnificent landscape.

Whatever your vacation goals, your Inspirations Voyage travel specialist can help you decide on the perfect itinerary for you.

Book as far in advance as possible

Around 36,000 people walk the West Highland Way every year. You may have read that it has a good range of accommodation, but don’t be fooled into thinking that this means it’s easy to plan.

Many key locations along the trail (such as Rowardennan and Inverarnan) have only one or two accommodations. Especially if you want to travel during the high season (May to September), we need as much advance notice as possible to plan your trip.

So if you’re already dreaming of traveling the West Highland Way, don’t delay in contacting us.

Choose your season

Each month on the West Highland Way is unique and can bring enormous advantages (and some inevitable disadvantages). Photographers may wish to travel in April, when the trail is quieter and the mountains are still covered in snow. In May, the wildflowers are blooming and the midges are still at bay, but don’t expect to have the trail all to yourself.

The summer months will be warmer, with plenty of daylight, but still very busy. Don’t forget your mosquito repellent! Summer is also an ideal time for solo hikers looking for hiking companions.

In October, things will be quieter but cooler. You’ll be rewarded with rich, endless autumn colors.

Many hikers want to opt for the month with the least rain (May). However, West Highland weather is full of surprises. No season is immune to rainy weather.

My advice is to choose the month that’s most advantageous for you, and not to let the monthly rainfall statistics influence you too much.
Good clothing will protect you from showers, which brings me to my next piece of advice…

No matter when you travel, pack for ALL seasons…

A few phrases appear in most documents about the West Highland Way…
– “Adverse weather”
– “Four seasons in one day”
– “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”.

All these clichés are true. Whatever the time of year, you need to be prepared for sun, wind, rain and everything in between. The items you can’t survive without are sturdy boots, waterproof bags, gaiters, sunscreen and sunglasses.

One of the best things about booking with Inspirations Voyage is that bag transfers are included, so my advice is to be a serious over-packer. Bring several pairs of socks, warm sweaters, base layers, pants/leggings and waterproof shorts. Even bring a spare pair of walking shoes and a jacket if you have one. That way, you’ll be warm and comfortable every day. Many accommodations on the West Highland Way have drying rooms for wet clothes, but if you have a change of clothes, you won’t have to worry about drying your clothes overnight.

Don’t forget that the beautiful mountain scenery you enjoy on the West Highland Way is the very reason for the unpredictability of the weather. We wouldn’t have one without the other. So be prepared with the right gear to enjoy your walk, no matter what Mother Nature throws at you.

Do a little training

The West Highland Way is not a very technical hike and is suitable for most abilities. However, this challenge should not be taken lightly, and I recommend that you train in advance. Ideally, you’ll be comfortable walking several kilometers on undulating terrain over several consecutive days. That way, you can enjoy the ever-changing landscape, from Loch Lomond to the Nevis mountain range, without worrying that you won’t be able to complete the course.

Training isn’t the only way to protect yourself from the injuries that can spoil a vacation. One of the most interesting aspects of the West Highland Way is the clarity of the route, which consists mainly of old cattle roads, military tracks and forest trails. However, these paths can wreak havoc on even the strongest knees.

Tip: devote 10 minutes every evening to stretching while you’re on the trail. Your legs will thank you!

Book attractions and activities

The West Highland Way is famous for its tranquil lochs, high Munros and alpine forests. It’s also home to many of Scotland’s most innovative attractions. Your information pack will be full of details of what you can see and how to book it.

I advise you to buy your tickets in advance if possible, to avoid disappointment. Below are some of my favorite visits:

– Glengoyne Distillery (between Milngavie and Drymen). In business since 1833, Glengoyne prides itself on its traditional, slow and sustainable distilling techniques. There are a wide variety of tours and tastings to book, sure to get your feet wet all the way to Drymen.

– Ice Factor (Kinlochleven). At Kinlochleven, you’ll find the world’s largest indoor ice climbing wall. They offer a wide range of activities for all levels, including introductory ice climbing courses, indoor climbing and aerial adventure courses. For those who (like me) want to relax, their café is a great place to watch the action over a hot drink and delicious cakes. After all… you’ve already walked 128 km this week!

– Loch Linnhe Cruises (Fort William). Replace your aching legs with sea legs on a boat trip on Loch Linnhe. You’ll visit shipwrecks, fish farms and see some of Scotland’s abundant wildlife, including seals, porpoises, otters, red deer and eagles.

– Nevis mountain range (Fort William). Take a ride on the UK’s only mountain gondola to Aonach Mòr, Britain’s eighth-highest mountain. The views over the Great Glen and Ben Nevis are spectacular.

Book your transport in advance

The West Highland Way is surprisingly easy to get to, given its vastness and sometimes wild nature. As long as you can get to Glasgow, you won’t find the journey difficult. Save money by booking your train in advance. Trains leave Glasgow Queen Street for Milngavie 4 times an hour. For your return journey, there are 3 trains a day from Fort William to Glasgow.

You may notice that the bus from Fort William to Glasgow is faster than the train. I advise you to opt for the train. The trip from Fort William to Milngavie on the West Highland Line is one of the most beautiful journeys in the world. Take a seat on the right-hand side if you can, sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. You’ll cross the wild and bewitching Rannoch Moor and visit Corrour, the highest and most isolated station in the UK.

You’ll also have the chance to revisit several of your West Highland Way stops, including Bridge of Orchy and Tyndrum. I loved spotting the hikers who were following exactly in my footsteps a few days earlier.

Familiarize yourself with the itinerary

Every day is unique, and it helps to know what to expect. My information pack was invaluable in highlighting everything I needed to be aware of. For example, there was a 12.8 km stretch on Rannoch Moor without any signposting. This could have made me panic if I hadn’t known it was going to happen.

It’s also important to note which are the best places to stock up. Before setting off, I knew that Drymen, Tyndrum and Kinlochleven would be the best places to stock up on snacks or anything else I needed (e.g. plasters for blisters).

By familiarizing myself with the route in advance, I was also able to plan pleasant stops along the way. Who doesn’t love a frothy hot chocolate for a break after a long day’s walking? Make sure you leave time for some of your favorite activities. Not every day will have cafés or pubs to stop at, so always make sure you have plenty of provisions.

Between Drymen and Rowardennan – Café St Mocha

Between Inverarnan and Tyndrum – The Rod & Reel Pub

Between Tyndrum and Kingshouse – Bridge of Orchy Hotel or Inveroran Hotel.

Treat yourself!

Walking the West Highland Way is a huge challenge, and you may want to reward yourself after those hard-earned miles. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities to do so. My advice is to plan to treat yourself during the second half of your hike, when your reserves may be depleted.

What better place to splurge than at the Kingshouse Hotel? My 30 km walk from Tyndrum was made much easier knowing that I had a night here to look forward to. The Kingshouse is a luxury hotel located in the heart of the Glencoe Valley, on the West Highland Way. It has a bath in every room, ridiculously comfortable beds, a cosy bar with a log fire and a restaurant serving hearty Highland classics.

Fort William also has a wide range of upscale accommodations for those looking to treat themselves after a hike. The Nevis Bank Inn and the Crolinnhe Guest House are just two of our favorites.

There are also several gourmet restaurants close to the trail for those in the mood for a decadent evening. On your penultimate night in Kinlochleven, why not take a short cab ride to the Lochleven Seafood Café in Onich? Their seafood platter is as fresh as it gets and will see you through to Fort William the next day.

In Fort William, I recommend that you celebrate your success by dining at Crannog, an intimate restaurant with stunning views over Loch Linnhe.

Make the most of it!

The West Highland Way is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK, and I often had to pinch myself to see what I was seeing. Take time to savor the views and the atmosphere.

The best way to enjoy a hassle-free vacation is to book with Inspirations Voyage. We’ll take care of everything, from booking the best available accommodation to organizing your luggage transfer. We’ll even provide you with maps and recommendations on where to stock up on provisions for lunch and evening meals. Get in touch with us today to start planning your perfect walking vacation on the West Highland Way.