I originally planned to do a 2 week trip next April to Scotland and was going to the West Highland Way, into Great Glen Way into Affric Kintail trail. I am now a bit worried that the WHW is going to be way too busy, whereas I want some solitude. Are there are trails that connect to Fort William, of a similar length and/or scenery to the WHW, so I can do the other 2 trails, but avoid the WHW? The start must be accessible via public transport.

Hi, we are starting tomorrow. Any experience how the midget Situation is? Need to buy something agInst?

Thanks assess

edit: thanks for laughing my ass of and crying reading the responses. and sorry to everyone offended

Below is my WHW experience. I am approaching 50, only two 14 miles hikes previously. No real prep training. I walk/run about 6-8 miles a week on a treadmill. 

Arrival: Flew into Glasgow with the wife/cruise director. We wanted to take the bus to the hotel, but paid for an Uber instead. After the long flight, it was well worth the non-bs ride straight to the Primier Inn in Milingave. The hotel was “ok”. Did the job, no frills, 2 stars. We had Indian up the street, also 2 stars. I am a food/hotel snob btw. 

Day 1: AMS Transport picked up the bags at 0800. They loosely weight checked it. We were off right after that. It was about 0.5 miles to the start of the trail. My wife raved about the coffee place right at the start. She is a coffee snob so that gets 5 stars. Day 1 to Drymen was about 15 miles of paved/non-paved roads and trails. We walked through a cow pasture. Arrived at Braeside Hotel in Drymen and stayed in the shed/pod accommodation. It was pretty nice but cramped for 2 with a big bag, 3 stars and recommended. The bag arrived perfectly and was ready for us. AMS does an awesome job. We ate across the street at the Clanach (I think). It was good, 3 stars. 12 miles. 

Day 2: We left Drymen for Rowendennen. Another day of paved/non-paved roads and trails. We walked a lot through cow pasture and up to Conic Hill. The hill itself was super steep but not terribly difficult. As usual the walk down was sketchy but also fine. We arrived in Rowendennen and stayed in the lodges next to the Hotel. The room was basic, 2 stars. The bag was left at the hotel across the street, I’m not sure if that is the standard but it wasn’t a big deal and we got it just fine. We ate at the hotel restaurant and it was ok, 2 stars. We also had them make a lunch pack for the next day, 1 star. 15 miles and fairly scenic. 

Day 3: We left Rowendennen for the Beinglas Campsite. This is commonly referred to as the difficult day due to the terrain along Loch Lomond. I didn’t think it was terrible, but it dragged on. I think there is about 10 miles of it. Only a few times did I need to use my hands for safety, but I’ve definitely been through way worse on the previous two 14 milers. Immediately after the Loch part ended, it started raining. I should say, raining sideways. It was a mess. We still had 4 miles to go and the trails quickly turned into creekbeds with active creeks. Our shoes we soaked through. You couldn’t avoid it at all and we just went with it (because there is no choice). I embraced the suck and was wet head to toe. We arrived at Beinglas finally. The room we stayed in was ok, 2 stars. This was our longest day at 10.5 hours. We didn’t find out until the next day that they have boot dryers that you could use overnight. That would’ve been useful. We did laundry here and the machines kind of sucked. I guess you could say the clothes got cleaner, but not clean. We ate dinner at the the campsite restaurant, 2 stars. Breakfast was free, 2 stars. 14 miles and very scenic. 

Day 4: We were off to Crianlarich. This was kind of an accident that we left in place because we had just done about 41 miles and day 3 was commonly regarded as the hard day. 7 miles and pretty scenic. Unfortunately we were staying about a mile off the trail at the Best Western and it was not an easy mile at all. This meant it was not an easy mile back either. The hotel was nice and the restaurant was great. We both got pizza and as a pizza snob this was an easy thumbs up. 3 stars for both. I would not recommend this though because of the extra 2 miles. 

Day 5: We walked to the Bridge of Orchy. On the way we stopped in Tyndrum. The Green Welly store had an Outdoors section if you need anything you forgot. You can also get shoes here. I seriously considered this but balked. We stayed at the 60 Mile Inn. The walk was ok, pretty scenic, but it rained on us again. Another day of being straight up wet. The 60 Mile Inn, which are really just a cluster of pods, didn’t open until 4 and it was a little unclear how it worked. I called and the bar opens at 4 and you check in through there. No big deal. The pod was super nice, but the hot water system in ours was a little iffy. We made it work. There were also bathrobes and I have never been so happy to be in one. For real, it was a super nice touch. My wife also wants the exact pod we stayed in now. The restaurant was ok, 2 stars is being generous. But the guy was super nice and they had Tennant draft beer which I love, so he gets the benefit. 13 miles. 

Day 6: From here we walked to the Kingshouse. The paths were flat and rocky. This was a super difficult day for me because the alternate shoes I was wearing were junk and not right at all for the cobblestoneish like trail. I was underprepared for this one and was holding us back in a big way. It took an extra hour or more because of this. It was very scenic and a nice path otherwise. The Kingshouse was awesome and by far the best hotel. 3.5 stars. Dinner at their restaurant was super good too. 4 stars. And breakfast the next morning was top notch. 5 stars and maybe the best breakfast spread I’ve had a hotel. 12 miles.

Day 7: My feet were still banged up and my wife wanted to put me on the bus which was out of the question. We used a dryer and the good shoes were back in the game. Day 7 to Kinlochleven was the best day IMO. It was very scenic and tons of good photo ops. We arrived at the Devil’s Staircase and of course it started to rain again. It wasn’t impossible at all and we got it knocked out. Once at the top, it stopped raining. LOL. We started the descent into Kinlochleven and it was as advertised - you can see it from miles away and it still takes forever. There were a lot of downhills and that was awkward, but it was a great day! We stayed at the Etive Pod. It was ok, 2 stars, but I think it was one of the better places to stay in town. We ate at a bar up the street which I didn’t care for. I can’t remember the name, but it gets 1 star. Particularly for having a limited menu and no Scottish beer on tap. 9 miles. 

Day 8: Kinlochleven to Fort William. We left super early because it was a far 15 miles and our train out left at 5:30pm. It was totally unnecessary to leave at 630am like we did, but we made good time and it was great to see the sun come up. The climb out of town was on par with the devils staircase IMO. It was a scenic day and the ruins along the path were great. My wife punked out at wanted to take the lower path with the pavement. It rained and was cold, so that’s what we did. We got the obligatory picture and ate at the Black Isle Bar, 4 stars and really good. The bag was waiting for us in the locked green shed next to the Nevis Center. Caught the train back to Glasgow. One more night and flew home. Everything pretty much went off without a hitch. 

Equipment:
Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX low - did awesome
Salomon Speedcross 6 - absolute crap
Vertx Raincoat - did ok
Lightest backpack I had with a cross strap - did awesome
Poncho - should’ve gotten a better one. 
Truewerk T1 and T2 pants - awesome!!!
Carhartt Sun Defender hoodies - awesome
Hiking Poles - absolutely required
AirTag for bag - stress relief

This was my first UK trip. I generally found the food quality to be lacking overall. I’m pretty sad about that, but the views and experience were fantastic. I also noticed that there are a lot of vegetarian choices.

No midges Sept 30-Oct 8. Weather was 40-60 F.

I really messed up with the shoes and should’ve taken one of the 10 others I had at home instead of the Speedcross. I saw so many people say running shoes, etc, so I thought I’d be fine but it was a disaster. Thankfully my other Salomon’s are my go-to and did very well. We also messed up with the ponchos. We were using the disposable junk thinking our raincoats would do the job. It would’ve been worthwhile to invest in a good one. Regardless, Scotland laughs at waterproof and goretex so you’re going to get wet and be wet. 

It was a great hike and totally doable off the couch. I’ll throw another kudo to AMS Transport. The bags made it every time, on time. Do it!!!

Hey everyone!
I’m planning to go hiking in Scotland for around 7 days in early November and thought it could be fun to find a few people who would like to join.

The plan is to explore the Scottish Highlands, enjoy the landscapes, spend time outdoors and have a bit of an adventure. I’m still flexible with the exact route and itinerary, so we could plan things together.

Would anyone be interested in joining? Feel free to comment or send me a DM! :)
Looking forward to hearing from you!

Its currently cold and dark very early but no midges, in summer its warm and long days but many midges, when's your recommend time to do it?

Hello there, we found a bracelet Ben Lomond Car Park, near the toilets. Maybe the owner or a some who nows them is here around.

Its quite big and has written IVAN around it

Hello!

I live in the US and am planning to do the WHW with two friends next April/May. Either end of April or early May.

Does anyone here have any experience with or recommendations for a travel company that arranged for the luggage transfers and accommodations? Macs Adventures and Celtic Trails Walking Holidays are two that have popped up a lot.

Also have a question regarding food: how friendly are the pubs/inns to dietary restrictions? I am a vegetarian and one of my friends is dairy and gluten free due to food allergies.

2 nights camping or 2 nights at the hostel? The hostel is a bit closer to the trail, but I'm not sure if that's worth staying there or not.

Wrapping up booking accommodations for next May. Planning to hit Ben Nevis before the last few km into Ft Williams. I'm a slow hiker, so I'm considering 2 nights in Glen Nevis as a base camp while doing the mtn, then head into FW after the second night. I'm doing both camp/hostels throughout my trek. Debating between whether I want to do 2 nights in a tent or in a pod at the Glen Nevis campsite, or at the Glen Nevis hostel.

Hello team.

I'm getting ready to set off on Wednesday, and am just double checking everything, and there's one thing I could do with clarifying:

I'm staying in bunkhouses and hostels on the pictured itinerary, with the plan to restock food on a daily basis as I go. I'm looking at what's available at each stop, and it seems like there are plenty of pubs and shops, apart from in Rowardennan and Kingshouse, where I'll need to plan ahead a bit more at the previous stops. Does that sound about right?

I walked the WHW solo last week (September 21-27). There was another solo walker I kept running into, and while we exchanged numerous hellos we never chatted, and I regret not talking to you! Long shot, but I saw a similar post here from a hiker in April 2025 (thank you for the inspiration and sorry for plagiarizing the post title), so posting this in case this person sees it!

I had purple hair, a striped waterproof, and an orange daypack. You had a blue backpack and a walking pole, and I’m 99% sure you spoke German (but forgive me if I’m being a linguistic dunderhead). Neither of us walked with earbuds. I think we first ran into each other before Drymen, but I could be misremembering; I know we definitely crossed paths by the shores past Balmaha. We last said hello at the pub at Tailrace Inn in Kinlochleven, and I assumed I’d see you again on the trail the following day, but alas! I hope you had a good last day of the hike despite the rain, and a safe travel home :)

Pack out the paper! Bury your poo!

Has anyone done something like this on the West Highland Way? We’re planning to walk Kingshouse to Kinlochleven, but rather than staying overnight in Kinlochleven, we’re considering getting transport to Glencoe and then catching a bus to Glasgow that same day.

We’ll be doing this in early May. I’ve previously done Alta Via 1, so I’m reasonably comfortable with longer hiking days, and I’m not particularly concerned about completing every section of the WHW. We only have about six days for the trip, and accommodation availability in Kinlochleven is making this option more appealing.

A few things I’d love advice on:

1) Has anyone actually done Kingshouse → Kinlochleven and made it to Glasgow the same evening?

2) How reliable/easy is it to arrange a taxi from Kinlochleven to Glencoe?

3) Is Glencoe the best place to connect with a bus to Glasgow, or is there a better transfer point?

4) Would you pre-book the taxi, or is getting one after arriving in Kinlochleven realistic?

5) Any other logistical issue I’m overlooking?

We’re fine with cutting the WHW short after Kinlochleven. The priority is having a good hiking trip rather than completing the entire route. Would love to hear from anyone who has done something similar.

We did the new ending of the WHW and I wish we hadn’t. It had no real significance, added more uphill walking and when we stepped off the trail, it felt a little like being in the end scene of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. We walked out onto a street end with dumpsters and no real sense of where we were. Two days later, we walked where the ending normally goes and thought it was much better. You see the Ben Nevis Center and feel like you are actually entering the town of Fort William rather than trying to sneak through a back door.
Anyone else have thoughts about the Cow Hill addition?

So planning on doing a fast and light WHW 4-5 days. Planning on heading off mid Feb.

I was thinking of taking the NH Mongar 2 UL.

Has anyone completed it in Feb and used a similar tent with no issues?

Thanks

As you all know scotland can get very windy and very wet, the tents ive gotten in the past did not hold up well which for the price was expected, but im willing to spend more on one that will hold up and be worth the money, what recommendations do you guys have?

I’ve just completed the WHW over the last six days. An absolutely stunning hike through the Scottish highlands. Lots of beautiful towns and kind people along the way.
Something I did notice though was the amount of toilet paper and wet wipes on the sides of the trail where people are relieving themselves.
PLEASE. For not only the sake of future hikers trying to enjoy this trail but for animals and these fragile ecosystems you’re walking through, PACK OUT YOUR TOILET PAPER. I don’t care if it’s paper. I don’t care if the packet says biodegradable. It’s ruining these pristine environments for all to enjoy. Bring a ziploc and pop them in there once you’ve wiped. You’re in town nearly everyday so you can dispose of the ziploc in no time at all.
No one wants to see your soiled, half degraded toilet paper.
Or better yet, treat yourself to a kulacloth. They work really well. I’ve used them for years now and they work a treat.

- from an experienced thruhiker.

Thank you 🫶

First post- Husband and I are planning to hike the WHW next July. (A 5 day hike.) I've been researching (planning is as much fun as the actual trip!) and wondering if I should start picking up some things like wool bras, underwear, merino shirts, etc. I know they require less washing and stay fresher but is it worth it or should I just stick with what I already use? We are using a luggage transfer service so I can pack a little heavier.

Hi all! I posted here previously about our West Highland Way plans, and I really appreciated the advice and insights provided.

We’ll finish in Fort William on a Sunday and stay there that night. We then have four nights, Monday through Thursday, before heading back to Glasgow on Friday for an event on Saturday May 29th.

After several days of hiking, we’re hoping to slow down, enjoy some unique scenery, eat well, and spend time in places with a strong local character. Ideally, we’d stay in one or two places where we can walk to pubs and restaurants in the evening, fit in a whisky tasting, and explore the surrounding area during the day, without making the logistics too complicated.

We’re obviously considering:

Skye: Spend the four nights there, perhaps travelling via Inverness, then return to Glasgow on Friday. Is that practical in our timeframe? Would a car be the best way to explore? And how busy is Skye in late May?

Mull: Travel via Oban, explore Mull and perhaps a nearby island, then return to Glasgow. This sounds like it might suit a slower pace, but we’d love to hear how the logistics compare.

We’re in our early 40s, adventurous, and happy to rent a car, though we’d prefer to pick it up and return it in the same place. Which option would you choose, and what towns would make good bases for evenings on foot?

We’re also open to other suggestions, such as Arran or simply more time in the Highlands.

We will have some time after the 29th as well. 4ish nights and we’re considering returning to Edinburgh, which we visited in 2025, but would welcome other ideas for that part of the trip too.

We’re usually pretty comfortable researching and planning trips, but there are so many appealing options here that we’d really value some local or experienced perspective.

Thanks so much for any advice on places to stay, routes, or experiences you’ve enjoyed!

Edit to say thank you all so much! You guys have been amazing and I have so many more participants than expected, and I'm loving reading everybody's experiences. I really appreciate you all taking the time to help out <3

Hi everyone!

I’m looking for people who have participated in the West Highland Way (full route or a partial section) to take part in a survey for my master's dissertation on long-distance walking and tourism development in the Scottish Highlands. It should take about 10 minutes to complete. If you have a spare few minutes and would like to take part, the link to the survey is here:

https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/uhi/west-highland-way

Thanks so much for your help! I really appreciate anyone taking the time to respond - and please feel free to share this with anyone else who might be interested 😊

I see this topic come up a lot, but I haven't found any substantive reason boots are better than trail runners for this trail. There's occasionally the person that says they regretted the sneakers, but I wonder if that's because they just weren't used to those kinds of conditions in those kinds of shoes?

Hiking the trail next May, mix of camping and hostels with a bag transport.

I regularly hike/backpack in the Northeast US - rocks and roots galore. I do this all in trail runners. I have a pair of boots but I generally only wear them in the snow. Even here locally people rave about boots, but wet 'waterproof' boots don't dry out. And I think the argument for "ankle support" is weak.

Is there *really* a need for boots on this trail if you're used to similar miles, elevation, and terrain using trail runners? I'd consider bringing mine as a backup but would prefer not to have dead weight/space in my transport bag.

Edit: Appreciate all the comments so far. It definitely seems split with strong believers on either side. I've been hiking/backpacking in Hoka Speedgoats for about 5 years now, going through about a pair a year. Across many trails/varieties in the northeast, MI, PA, WV, UT, AZ, etc. They don't have a plate in them, I've hiked dozens of miles on scree and talus in them with 30+ lbs on my back. I've similarly done trips with multiple days in rain and understand/mitigate the risks involved with wet feet. I think I'll go with them and bring a second pair to swap with as needed.

Hey everybody,
I’m currently hiking the WHW and I’m around Beinglas at the moment. I was wondering how flexible I can be if I arrive at my planned destination early and decide to hike on for another 1–2 hours.
Are there any sections where it’s particularly difficult to find suitable wild camping spots that I should be aware of before heading into them in the evening?

My backpacking rain jacket has proven that it SOAKS through to my mid layer. So I’m in the market for GOOD rain/wind gear that I can use for trips in the highlands.

Doing the West Highland Way early September next year hopefully!