West Highland Way
Photo: self, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The West Highland Way is a long-distance path from Milngavie near Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. The WHW is one of four officially-designated "Long-Distance Routes" in Scotland, so local authorities support its maintenance.
UnderstandThe route was planned in the 1970s and opened in 1980 as Scotland's first designated Long Distance Path.
PrepareThe trail varies from well-maintained paths to rugged, muddy tracks. While not suitable for baby carriages or wheelchairs, luggage transfer services are widely available, allowing hikers to carry only day packs.
Get inStandard advice is to walk from south to north, using the more gentle terrain in the south as a warm-up to the harder going further north, plus you have the sun and wind behind you.
WalkIt takes 6 to 9 days to complete the WHW, as you can double-up some of the shorter sections. The record for completing it is 13 hours 41 min 8 sec, set in 2017.
Stay safeYou never know, the weather might be glorious. But you must plan on the assumption that at some point bad weather will set in, with stiff cold winds and driving rain.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "West Highland Way" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: self, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons