Walking The West Highland Way

Make your own way to Drymen, a small town north of Glasgow that is a gateway to the Highlands. If you arrive early there is a teashop with home made cakes across the green and the small Clacan Inn.

Gentle scenery on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond. Passing highland cattle in the fields, the route winds up through forest and across the moors up to Conic Hill. From the summit enjoy great views over the loch and across the islands there. This marks the boundary of the Highland fault and officially the start of the Highlands proper. The way drops down to Balmaha by the water, and then winds its way towards Rowardennan.

Note: If you like to make an ascent of Ben Lomond, please ask our team to book an extra night at Rowandennan.

Today you walk in the shadow of Ben Lomond for much of the time, following the Loch edge path. There are no big ascents to make, but a few short steep ups and downs. You can pass by Rob Roy’s prison and cave where he is said to have stopped at in times of difficulty and held prisoners at his pleasure. You could perhaps have a drink at the hotel at Inversnaid before walking onto Ardleish, where you can raise a buoy on a pole to attract the attention of the ferryman who will transfer you to the hotel on the western side of the Loch (approx £4, not included). Or if you fancy the longer option, or if the weather is too rough on the water, you need to continue to Beinglas farm or the Inverarnan Drover’s Inn to call for a taxi.

Two choices today: It is a long way from here to Loch Tulla, if you are a strong walker then it is fine, but otherwise we advise you to use the taxi (included) to take you to Crianlarich or further, to reduce the day to a more manageable length. Crianlarich lies under another big peak; Ben Mor. The largely valley  takes you through the moraines of Dalrigh, then via the old mining settlement of Tyndrum where a seam of gold has been found. The route continues to the Bridge of Orchy for a quick dram before continuing on to Loch Tulla (Inveroran). This is a beautifully situated lake surrounded by Scots pines, a remnant of the ancient Caledonian forest.

Head up on the old military road across the wilds and the heather-clad wastes of Rannoch Moor, past Ba Bridge, claimed to be the remotest part of the route. The views become ever more expansive with views into great corries once filled with glaciers. Often you can see deer and a great interplay between land, lake, mountain and sky. The military road winds down to the old drovers inn near the Gateway to Glencoe. This is in the shadow of perhaps the most impressive looking mountain of the tour- Buachaille Etive Mor - the shepherd of Etive Mor.

From the Kings House Hotel, the way passes beside one of the most impressive mountains in Scotland - Buahaille Etive Mor. It then proceeds up the Devil’s staircase to 1850 ft: not as bad as it seems, it is a well graded section of the West Highland Way. This offers spectacular views back from where you came. Then it is a long descent to sea level at the head of Loch Leven with views of the Blackwater damn, Loch Leven and The Pap of Glencoe.

A steep climb up under the steep slopes of the Mamore hills at the beginning of the day follows old Victorian hunting tracks and then you are back on the old military road and over Lairigmor Pass, through dense coniferous forest to Glen Nevis past the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak (4408ft).

The tour ends after breakfast but why not stay an extra night to climb Ben Nevis and take the evening sleeper out of Fort William.