Our West Highland Way Route


I first walked the West Highland Way in 2004 and then again the year after. I took 5 days to complete the route the first time and took a more leisurely pace the next year, completing it in 7 days. This year we are attempting to finish the West Highland way in 4 days and taking a further 3 days to walk the 79 miles of the Great Glen Way. I say we as I am walking these two routes with my wife's stepfather. He has always wanted to walk both the West Highland and Great Glen Ways and he has set this summer as his target to complete them. He has also planned out our route, which I have noted below.


Day 1: Milngavie to Rowardennan 27 miles



Our first day should see a flat section of the route from Milngavie to Drymen before the climb over Conic Hill to Balmaha. The hill is only about 360m but it will test our fitness especially since we will be carrying full packs including camping and cooking equipment. Even at Balmaha we still have another 7 miles or so to Rowardennan. In fact I think the wild camping spot is a mile or two short of the Youth Hostel.





The second day should see us complete the length of Loch Lomond, walking along its banks for most of the morning. This can be tough going if it has been raining as the ground can be quite mucky. We should get to Beinglas Farm for lunchtime and a visit to the famous Drovers Inn for lunch. The walking for the afternoon towards Crainlarich and then onto Tyndrum should be fairly level and so I would hope to have this section finish by dinner time. 


The Drovers








Day 3: Tyndrum to Kingshouse. 22 miles

We are planning on stopping at the By The Way Campsite for our second evening on The Way. Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy is a 6 mile hike on level ground and day 3 will start in earnest with the climb from Bridge of Orchy to Inveroran. There is a hotel there that could be a possibility for lunch before the hike though Rannoch Moor, a desolate picturesque walk on a good day. on a bad day it could seem like your walking to Mordor
We will be wild camping at the Kingshouse, which is still closed due to refurbishment. The newly opened bunkhouse also seems to have closed it doors too. 








Day 4: Kingshouse to Fort William 20 miles

Although the back end of this walk after Kinlochleven will be fairly comfortable, our first task after breakfast will be to climb the scarily named Devil's Staircase, a 500m hike straight up before a descent into Kinlochleven. The mileage on this day is only 20miles (only!) so I'm hopeful that we can make it to Fort William by dinner time and a time to unwind with a decent dinner in a local pub. 




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