Loch Lomond · Eastern shore
Loch Lomond
Walk beside Scotland’s largest loch, with wooded shores and increasingly rugged trail as you head north.
West Highland Way · Scotland
Plan your West Highland Way hike
Build an itinerary around your walking pace, find places to stay and confidently prepare for your self-guided journey from Milngavie to Fort William.
The trail at a glance
What is the West Highland Way?
The West Highland Way is a long-distance walking trail through Scotland’s southern and central Highlands. It runs from Milngavie, near Glasgow, to Fort William, following loch shores, open moorland, glens and mountain passes beneath some of the country’s best-known peaks.
Classic route
154 km
96 miles, Milngavie to Fort William
Elevation gain
3,900 m
12,800 ft; varies by track
Typical duration
7–10 days
Shorter itineraries are possible
Country
Scotland
United Kingdom
Highest point
550 m
Devil’s Staircase, 1,805 ft
Main hiking season
April–October
Weather and daylight vary by month
West Highland Way Route Map
Follow the route through the Scottish Highlands
Starting in Milngavie, the route heads north past Loch Lomond, crosses the open landscape of Rannoch Moor, and continues through Glencoe and over the Devil’s Staircase before reaching Fort William.
Most walkers travel south to north, leaving the gentler early stages behind as the Highland scenery grows more dramatic. The map shows the route’s overall direction and its main overnight stops.
Explore West Highland Way itineraries
Start planning
Plan each part of your West Highland Way
Choose daily stages that suit your group, find accommodation along the route and prepare for the conditions you may meet in the Highlands.
The Hiking Club platform
See your complete West Highland Way plan come together.
Turn the West Highland Way into an itinerary designed around your group. Bring your route, accommodation bookings, preparation and navigation together—and keep adjusting your plan as your trip takes shape.
Build your itinerary
Compare daily distance, ascent, hiking time, alternative routes
and transport connections.
Secure accommodation
Check booking status and live availability for supported
properties, then set opening-date or cancellation alerts.
Prepare confidently
Review your daily stages, recent trail information and the
conditions you may encounter along the route.
Navigate your route
Download your personalised itinerary and GPS map files
for offline use.
Platform access from €79 · One purchase covers your hiking group
The Scottish Highlands
Your daily stages determine how much time you have to enjoy the route.
Choosing your itinerary
How long does the West Highland Way take?
Many walkers allow 7–10 days for the full West Highland Way. The right duration depends on your walking pace, how far you want to travel each day and where you plan to stay.
The classic route runs approximately 154 km / 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William. You can walk it faster, choose a shorter section or use transport to change your stages. Include time for the rocky Loch Lomond shore and more remote northern sections.
Accommodation on the West Highland Way
How do you book accommodation on the West Highland Way?
The West Highland Way offers hotels, B&Bs, hostels and campsites along or near the route. Your overnight stops determine your daily walking distances, so compare accommodation and availability while building your itinerary.
Smaller stops and private rooms can book out on popular dates. Check booking status, confirm how far each property is from the trail and adjust your stages around places you can secure.
Hotels and guesthouses
Private-room stays in towns and villages along the route.
Bed and breakfasts
Smaller local stays, often with breakfast included.
Hostels and bunkhouses
Shared accommodation, with private rooms at some properties.
Campsites
Designated pitches with facilities that vary by location.
Bothies
Basic, free shelters in remote areas without amenities. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pods and glamping
A more comfortable alternative to camping, with additional amenities. Expect to pay more than for a standard campsite.
Bridge of Orchy Hotel
One of the places to stay along the West Highland Way.
Availability changes as properties open bookings and walkers alter their plans. The Hiking Club platform provides booking information, live availability where supported, and opening or cancellation alerts for selected properties. Check campsite and wild camping rules separately when planning nights under canvas.
Through the Highlands
West Highland Way trail highlights
From the shores of Loch Lomond to the open expanse of Rannoch Moor, the West Highland Way builds towards the mountains of Glencoe and finishes beneath Ben Nevis in Fort William.
Argyll · Highland village
Bridge of Orchy
A small Highland stop before the route climbs towards open moorland and the approach to Rannoch Moor.
Central Highlands · Open moor
Rannoch Moor
Cross a broad, exposed landscape where the trail feels remote and weather can change the character of the day.
Glencoe · Mountain scenery
Glencoe
Dramatic mountain views mark the transition from the moor towards Kingshouse and the Devil’s Staircase.
High point · Pass
Devil’s Staircase
Climb the route’s highest pass before descending towards Kinlochleven.
Fort William · Northern finish
Fort William
Finish in Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis. A summit hike is a separate undertaking for those with extra time.
Choose your trailheads
Where can you start and finish the West Highland Way?
The classic route runs north from Milngavie to Fort William, but you can start or finish farther along the trail to create a shorter itinerary. You can also walk it in the opposite direction. Choose trailheads that suit your available time, transport connections and accommodation.
Southern trailhead
Milngavie
Begin the full south-to-north route here, or finish in Milngavie if you choose to walk from Fort William.
Trail access: Milngavie railway station
Central section
Bridge of Orchy
Start or finish here to focus on the northern journey across Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe towards Fort William.
Trail access: Bridge of Orchy railway station
Northern section
Kinlochleven
Choose a shorter final stretch into Fort William, or use the village as the end of an itinerary through Glencoe.
Trail access: Kinlochleven village
Northern trailhead
Fort William
Finish the classic south-to-north walk here, or begin a north-to-south journey towards Milngavie.
Trail access: Fort William town centre
Plan around your available time
Choose the start and finish that work for you.
Compare daily distance, ascent, accommodation and transport connections between your chosen trailheads before settling on an itinerary.
Personalise the route
The main West Highland Way route and its alternatives
The classic West Highland Way is a complete journey from Milngavie to Fort William. Optional summit hikes can add a more demanding day, while a Loch Lomond ferry can change how much of the lakeside trail you walk. Consider how each choice affects your stages and overnight stops.
The foundation for your itinerary
The classic West Highland Way route
Follow the marked route north from Milngavie through the Loch Lomond area, across Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe to Fort William. Shape your daily stages around your pace and available accommodation.
- 154 km / 96 mi Classic distance
- 3,900 m / 12,800 ft Elevation gain
- 7–10 days Typical duration
Optional route choices
Alternatives to consider
Add a summit or use a transport connection to reshape part of your journey. Summit days require their own time and weather assessment; a ferry shortens the walking route rather than adding to it.
Optional summit · Loch Lomond
Ben Lomond
Add a separate mountain hike from the Rowardennan area for broad views over Loch Lomond. Allow a full day or adjust your West Highland Way stage to account for the extra ascent and descent.
Transport option · Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond ferry
A ferry connection can help you shorten or change the demanding lakeside portion of your walk. Check the operating route and timetable for your dates before building it into your itinerary.
Optional summit · Fort William
Ben Nevis
Plan a separate summit day before or after reaching Fort William. Ben Nevis is a major mountain undertaking, so allow suitable time, equipment and conditions rather than treating it as part of the final West Highland Way stage.
Build the route around your ability
See what each choice changes.
Compare daily distance, ascent, estimated hiking time and accommodation when you adjust your West Highland Way itinerary.
Plan around your overnight stops
Check where you can camp before choosing your daily stages.
Sleeping under canvas
Can you camp on the West Highland Way?
Yes. You can use established campsites along the route or plan responsible lightweight wild camping where access rights allow it. Your overnight choices affect your daily distances, and special camping rules apply around parts of Loch Lomond.
Check the Loch Lomond Camping Management Zones. From 1 March to 30 September, camping inside these zones requires a campsite booking or a permit for a designated permit area. Check the National Park’s current zone map before choosing an overnight stop.
Plan the complete journey
Build your itinerary around suitable overnight stops.
Compare campsites and other accommodation with the distance, elevation and estimated hiking time between each stage of your West Highland Way route.
Difficulty and preparation
How difficult is the West Highland Way?
The West Highland Way is a long-distance walk on marked paths, generally without technical climbing. Its challenge comes from walking day after day across varied ground, including rocky stretches beside Loch Lomond and exposed Highland terrain.
The effort will depend on your daily stages, pack weight, weather and whether you add optional mountain hikes. A comfortable shorter itinerary and a fast traverse can feel like very different trips.
Trail type
Easy to moderate
Elevation gain
Approx. 3,900 m
Typical duration
7–10 days
Uneven ground
The path along the eastern shore of Loch Lomond can be rocky, rooted and slower than its distance suggests. Allow time for careful footing, especially with a full pack.
Remote, exposed stages
Rannoch Moor and the approach to Glencoe have fewer sheltered places to stop. Wind and rain can make these stages feel much harder than the elevation profile suggests.
Changing conditions
Rain can leave paths muddy or slippery, and Highland weather can shift during the day. Bring suitable layers and check the forecast before each stage.
Your daily stages
Consecutive walking days and long gaps between overnight stops can be tiring. Choose distances that leave your group time to recover and enjoy the route.
Glencoe · Highland conditions
Prepare for changing weather in every part of the walking season.
Choose your hiking dates
When is the best time to hike the West Highland Way?
Most hikers choose April to October. Spring can bring fewer midges, summer offers long days, and early autumn can be quieter. The best dates for your group depend on daylight, weather, accommodation availability and the experience you want.
Use current conditions to make the final call. Weather and ground conditions can change quickly. Check the forecast and your planned stage before setting out each day.
Plan around your dates
Match your stages to available accommodation.
Compare West Highland Way itineraries and overnight stops for your preferred dates, then adjust your stages around the places you can secure.
Build a realistic budget
How much does it cost to hike the West Highland Way?
The cost of a self-guided West Highland Way hike depends on your duration, accommodation and meals. Allow separately for travel to Scotland, insurance, equipment and any baggage transfers or local transport you choose to use.
An example from our cost guide
£600–£900
Per person for a seven-day itinerary using B&Bs or guesthouses and eating out.
Your accommodation choices make the biggest difference.
Camping or hostels with self-catered meals can cost less. Hotels, private rooms, restaurant meals and baggage transfers can push the total higher.
This is an illustrative range from our cost guide, not a current quote. Confirm prices and availability for your dates and chosen overnight stops.
Accommodation
Campsites, hostels, B&Bs, pods and hotels have different prices. Your chosen stops may limit the options on a particular night.
Food
Groceries and self-catering can reduce costs; café lunches, pub dinners, snacks and drinks add to daily spending.
Duration
Each additional walking or rest day usually adds another night of accommodation and a day of meals.
Transport
Include travel to Milngavie, your onward journey from Fort William and any buses, trains, ferries or baggage transfers.
Include in your trail budget
- Accommodation or a permitted camping stop for each night
- Breakfast and dinner, where they are not included
- Lunches, snacks and drinks during the walk
Remember to add
- Travel to and from Scotland
- Insurance, equipment and personal spending
- Local transport, baggage transfer and extra nights
Plan your own trip
Build a budget around your actual itinerary.
Choose your daily stages and accommodation in the planning platform, then check current prices for the places you intend to book.
Budget figures are indicative and vary with travel dates, provider prices, availability, group size and personal choices.
Compare multi-day trails
Is the West Highland Way right for you?
The West Highland Way offers a long-distance journey through Scotland without the repeated high mountain passes of the Alps. Compare its length and character with two Alpine hikes before choosing a route that suits your time and experience.
Current trail
West Highland Way
A marked route from Milngavie to Fort William through lochside woodland, open moor and Highland glens. A strong choice for a first multi-day walk, with rocky and remote stages that still reward preparation.
Distance
155 km · 97 mi
Typical duration
7–10 days
Alpine circuit
Tour du Mont Blanc
Circle the Mont Blanc massif through France, Italy and Switzerland. The route has more sustained climbing and descending, mountain passes and a broad choice of huts and village accommodation.
Distance
166 km · 103 mi
Typical duration
7–11 days
Greater mountain challenge
Walker’s Haute Route
Travel from Chamonix towards Zermatt across remote valleys and a succession of high Alpine passes. Longer and more demanding, it suits hikers ready for sustained mountain terrain.
Distance
213 km · 132 mi
Typical duration
11–14 days
Ricky
West Highland Way trail specialist
Expert Access
Plan your West Highland Way with someone who knows the trail.
If you would like personal help, work with Ricky to design an achievable itinerary around your group, hiking dates, accommodation and priorities. You can then continue booking and preparing independently inside The Hiking Club platform.
60-minute consultation
Your hiking companions can join.
Personalised itinerary
Designed collaboratively for your group.
Platform access
Continue planning, booking and preparing.
Planning questions
West Highland Way FAQs
Clear answers to common questions about planning a self-guided West Highland Way hike.
How long is the West Highland Way?
The classic route from Milngavie to Fort William is approximately 154–155 km (96–97 miles). Your total distance will change if you choose different trailheads, accommodation detours or optional side trips.
How many days do you need for the West Highland Way?
Typical duration: 7–10 days; faster itineraries: 5–6 days. The right duration depends on your fitness, preferred daily distance and whether you want time for side trips or shorter walking days.
Compare West Highland Way itineraries before choosing your stages.
Is the West Highland Way suitable for a first multi-day hike?
It can be a good first multi-day hike if you are prepared for consecutive walking days. The route is waymarked and passes villages and accommodation, but long stages, rough ground beside Loch Lomond and exposed sections in poor weather still require planning and suitable fitness.
Can you hike the West Highland Way without a guide?
Yes. Many hikers walk it independently. Plan stages that suit your group, arrange overnight stops, carry reliable navigation and check the weather and route conditions before each day.
See how to prepare your route for offline navigation.
Where does the West Highland Way start and finish?
The official route starts in Milngavie, near Glasgow, and finishes in Fort William. You can also start or finish at accessible places along the route, such as Drymen, Tyndrum, Bridge of Orchy or Kinlochleven, to create a shorter itinerary.
Which direction should you hike the West Highland Way?
Most people walk south to north, from Milngavie to Fort William, with the Highland scenery building as the journey progresses. North to south is also possible. Choose the direction that works best for your travel plans, available accommodation and preferred daily stages.
Can you camp along the West Highland Way?
Yes. There are established campsites along the route, and wild camping is possible in some areas under Scotland’s access rules. Restrictions apply in designated Camping Management Zones around Loch Lomond during part of the year, so check the current rules and any permit requirements for your exact overnight stops.
Read the West Highland Way camping guide when planning your stages.
When is the best time to hike the West Highland Way?
The main walking period is generally April to October. Spring can offer longer days with fewer midges, while summer brings warmer temperatures, busier accommodation and more midges. Autumn can be quieter, but daylight shortens. Prepare for rain and changing weather in every season.
When should you book West Highland Way accommodation?
Book ahead once your route and dates are taking shape, particularly if you want private rooms or are walking during busy periods. Accommodation choices are limited at some overnight stops, so check availability before fixing every stage of your itinerary.
Review the West Highland Way accommodation booking status.
How popular is the West Highland Way?
The West Highland Way is one of Scotland’s best-known long-distance walks. Popular overnight stops can be busy during the main walking season, particularly when accommodation choices are limited. Book ahead if your dates or room preferences are fixed.
Can I incorporate transport into my West Highland Way itinerary?
Yes. Trains and buses serve several places along the route, and ferries provide options around Loch Lomond. You can use transport to reach a different start or finish point, shorten your hike or adjust a stage. Services do not reach every part of the trail, so check connections for your exact dates and route.
The itinerary planner lets you compare hiking stages and transport choices as you build your trip.
Plan your self-guided West Highland Way
Bring your entire West Highland Way plan together.
Build an itinerary around your group, find accommodation for your chosen stages, prepare for changing Highland conditions and take your personalised route with you from Milngavie to Fort William.
- Compare routes and daily stages
- Check accommodation availability
- Set opening and cancellation alerts
- Review current trail updates
- Plan transport connections
- Download your route for offline use