West Highland Way

The Complete Guide to Walking the West Highland Way in 7 Days

The West Highland Way is Scotland’s most famous long-distance trail. Stretching 96 miles (154 km) from the edge of Glasgow to the foot of Ben Nevis in Fort William, it’s a journey through lochs, moors, forests, and the dramatic Highlands. For many walkers, it’s their first taste of long-distance hiking in Scotland - challenging, but rewarding at every turn.

This guide covers everything you need to know: route highlights, planning tips, and a 7-day itinerary that breaks the trail into manageable sections.

Why Walk the West Highland Way?

• Variety of landscapes – lochside paths, wild moorlands, glens, and mountain views.

• Accessibility – clear waymarking, good transport links, and plenty of accommodation options.

• Heritage – you’ll walk drovers’ roads, old military routes, and pass through villages steeped in Scottish history.

• Challenge with comfort – tough enough to feel like an achievement, but with pubs, B&Bs, and hot meals along the way.

Planning Your Walk

Distance: 96 miles / 154 km
Time: 6–8 days is typical, but 7 days offers a good balance of pace and rest.
Best time to go: Late April to October. Spring brings bluebells, summer gives long daylight hours, and autumn colours are spectacular.
Difficulty: Moderate. No technical climbing, but long days on your feet.
Waymarking: Excellent - look for the thistle symbol.
Accommodation: Campsites, hostels, B&Bs, inns, and hotels. Book well in advance, especially May - September.

Carry Your Own Kit or Use a Baggage Transfer?

One of the big decisions is whether to walk self-supported with a full backpack, or travel light and have your bags moved for you.

• Carrying your own gear: Perfect if you plan to camp most nights. Scotland’s access laws mean you can wild camp responsibly (following the Scottish Outdoor Access Code) almost anywhere along the route. It gives you freedom to stop where you like, though it makes the walk tougher with a heavy pack.

• Using baggage transfers: Many walkers choose to carry just a daypack and let a company move their main bag each day. This way you can stay in pre-booked accommodation and know your luggage will be waiting for you.

Here are some of the most popular baggage transfer companies on the West Highland Way:

Travel-Lite

Base Location: Milngavie (Trail start).
Price: £70 (1–4 bags); £65 (5–8); £60 (9+); part-route £45
Long-established, also offer reverse route & storage

AMS Scotland

Base Location: Milngavie
Price: £70 (1–4 bags); £65 (5–8); £60 (9+)
Family-run, very reliable

Baggage Freedom

Base Location: Milngavie Train Station
Price: £65 per bag (7 stops); £85 (10 stops)
Flexible, will collect from the station

Highland Transfers

Base Location: North Lanarkshire
Price: £65 per bag
Also offer full holiday packages with accommodation

Whether you’re camping wild with everything on your back, or strolling into a cosy inn with your bag already waiting, both approaches are valid - it just depends on the style of adventure you’re after.

7-Day West Highland Way Itinerary

Day 1: Milngavie to Drymen

• Distance: 12 miles (19 km)

• Highlights: Easy start through Mugdock Country Park; rolling farmland; views of the Campsie Fells.

• Overnight: Drymen – pubs, shops, and B&Bs.

Day 2: Drymen to Rowardennan

• Distance: 15 miles (24 km)

• Highlights: Conic Hill viewpoint; Balmaha village; lochside walk to Rowardennan.

• Overnight: Rowardennan – hotel, hostel, and lodges.

Day 3: Rowardennan to Inverarnan

• Distance: 14 miles (22 km)

• Highlights: Rugged lochside paths; oak woods; finish at the Drovers Inn.

• Overnight: Inverarnan – Drovers Inn or Beinglas Farm.

Day 4: Inverarnan to Tyndrum

• Distance: 12 miles (19 km)

• Highlights: Glen Falloch waterfalls; Crianlarich; finish in Tyndrum.

• Overnight: Tyndrum – plenty of walker-friendly options.

Day 5: Tyndrum to Kingshouse

• Distance: 19 miles (30 km)

• Highlights: Dalrigh battlefield; Bridge of Orchy; remote Rannoch Moor.

• Overnight: Kingshouse Hotel or nearby Glencoe.

Day 6: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven

• Distance: 9 miles (14 km)

• Highlights: Buachaille Etive Mòr; Devil’s Staircase climb; descent to Kinlochleven.

• Overnight: Kinlochleven – hostels and B&Bs.

Day 7: Kinlochleven to Fort William

• Distance: 15 miles (24 km)

• Highlights: Climb out of Kinlochleven; Lairigmor pass; Glen Nevis approach; finish in Fort William beneath Ben Nevis.

• Overnight: Fort William – wide choice for a celebratory finish.

Practical Tips

• Book ahead – accommodation fills up months in advance.

• Boots matter – sturdy, waterproof, broken-in.

• Weather-ready kit – waterproofs, warm layers, sunscreen, midge repellent.

• Navigation – well signposted, but a map or GPS app helps.

• Transport – trains from Glasgow to Milngavie; from Fort William, return by train or bus.

The West Highland Way is a trail of contrasts: wild moors, peaceful loch shores, bustling pubs, and remote mountain passes. Whether you carry everything on your back and camp under the stars, or let a baggage company whisk your kit ahead so you can walk light, the reward at Fort William is the same - the satisfaction of completing Scotland’s most iconic long-distance path.