West Highland Way Extreme | 4 Nights (Self-Guided) | Scottish Highlands (2023)

Grab your boots and challenge yourself to walk the West Highland Way in 4 days. This route was Scotland’s first designated long distance trail, but it took nearly 20 years for it to be officially opened from its original conception in the 1960s. Although walking days are long, you will experience the outstanding scenery of this beautiful region. There is a good reason this has become a classic trail. Savour the magic of Scotland’s magnificent Highlands with views of vast lochs, majestic mountains, tumbling rivers, wild moors and great glens.

Other versions available

• South Section in 3 Days
• North Section in 4 Days
• West Highland Way - 6 Days
• West Highland Way - 8 Days
• West Highland Way - 9 Days

Quick Facts

About & Details

Itinerary

• Day 1 - Milngavie

  Check into your accommodation in Milngavie.

• Day 2 - Milngavie to Rowardennan

  Arrive in Milngavie (pronounced ‘Mullguy’) Head to the official starting point of the West Highland Way, a grey granite obelisk which stands proudly in Douglas Street and then follow the signposted route along gentle paths through the Mugdock Country Park Estate to Craigallian Loch, where there are surprising views over the Campsie Fells to the North-East. Glencoyne Distillery makes a good stopping place, where you can pop in for a tour and a ‘wee dram’ of the famous whisky. The route then winds past Gartness and down into the attractive village of Drymen.

  The next part of the hike brings a lot of undulations, however it is generally on good paths and tracks. You will pass the geological fault line which marks the boundary of the Highlands and be treated to views over Loch Lomond from Conic Hill. Descending to the village of Balmaha, a touristy village on the shores of Loch Lomond, there are regular boat trips and plenty of places to grab a bite to eat. From here, the route meanders alongside the lake, dipping down to secluded bays and rising up through the native woodland which hugs the shore to the hamlet of Rowardennan and your accommodation for the night.

  42km (26 miles), 1073m (3519ft) ascent approximate

• Day 3 - Rowardennan to Tyndrum

  Standing on the shore at Rowardennan take a moment to savour the quiet beauty and tranquillity of the loch. The vast lake extends over 23 miles and is dotted with 38 islands, many of which used to be inhabited. The majestic Ben Lomond towers over you some 974m above sea level which makes an excellent side trip if you wish to add a free day to your itinerary. The route to Inverarnan takes you along a forest track passing many waterfalls gushing down from the mountain and yields glorious glimpses of the loch through the trees. For the more adventurous, a challenging alternative route hugs the shore, but beware, it is very slow going. At Inversnaid, you enter the RSPB’s nature reserve. This ancient oak woodland is home to a wide array of wildlife including redstarts, red deer and black grouse. You might even encounter a wild goat. The route then climbs away from the loch to Dubh Lochan and down into Glen Falloch, where the scenery changes abruptly to the craggy hillsides and mountain streams of the uplands.

  Heading up Glen Falloch, the trail overlooks the wide river, passing tumbling rapids and sheep pastures to the Falls of Falloch (quite difficult to see from the trail) and onwards to the busy village of Crianlarich – the half way point of the trail. From the village, you walk up through woodland, where you are treated to good views of two great mountains, Ben More and Stob Binnein, before heading down to the River Filla and the interesting remains of St Fillian’s Priory. It’s then a pleasant walk along the valley, passing evidence of the area’s lead mining heritage and through glades of native trees to the tiny village of Tyndrum, a traditional stopping place for travellers heading to Oban and Fort William.

  42km (26 miles), 1357m (4451ft) ascent approximate

• Day 4 - Tyndrum to Kingshouse

  The valley narrows considerably northwards as you walk beneath great majestic mountains with views straight ahead of one particularly impressively shaped mountain, Beinn Dorain. The railway is a companion to Bridge of Orchy, where you leave the valley and enjoy a lovely walk up to the top of a small ridge, where you get to enjoy an incredible view over Loch Tulla, Black Mount and Rannoch Moor – the next leg of your journey. Passing Inveroran, the trail ascends Black Mount, an expanse of high moorland and crosses over the beautiful and remote Rannoch Moor. This wild expanse is designated a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and has inspired many authors and poets. Dotted with innumerable lochans (small boggy pools), the plateau rises to around 500m (1,650ft) and is surrounded by mountains. The route then descends gently past the Glencoe ski station and down to the Kingshouse Hotel, perched beneath the stunning Buachaille Etive Mor.

  Tonight features an overnight stay in Kingshouse. The only accommodation available in this area is The Kingshouse Hotel. If you wish to stay here, a surcharge will apply. Please note that a minimum 2-night stay is required during busy periods, and this is determined by the hotel. Alternatively, we can arrange a return taxi transfer to the nearby villages of Glencoe or Tyndrum where you will stay the night. A supplement may be payable.

  30km (19 miles), 706m (2,316ft) of ascent approximate

• Day 5 - Kingshouse to Fort William

  Our final day’s walk includes the highest point on the walk – the top of the Devil’s Staircase. It is a daunting name, but the reality is actually a fairly straight forward walk up to 548m (1,800ft). Your efforts are rewarded with glorious views over the Mamores and Ben Nevis peeping behind. It’s then a gentle descent down to Kinlochleven at sea level across the rugged mountainside amidst stunning Highland scenery.

  Leaving the hustle of Kinlochleven this section of the walk is tough, but rewarding with some of the best scenery the Scottish Highlands have to offer. Starting with a steep ascent out of Kinlochleven, the trail levels off ascending gently with wonderful views over Loch Leven as you climb up to the top of the Lairigmor Pass. To your right are the Mamores, a ridge of mountains approximately 15km in length and rising steeply on the far side of the loch is the Aonach Eagach, one of the most challenging ridges in Great Britain. After the pass, it’s a gentle walk down beside a cascading mountain stream to a conifer plantation. The final leg takes you through Nevis Forest and into Glen Nevis, where you get glimpses of Ben Nevis standing 1344m (4,406ft) above sea level, with a final push into the centre of Fort William, ready for a celebratory drink. The trip ends at the end of the walk unless you have booked extra nights or other optional services with us.
  39km (24 miles), 1177m (3860ft) approximate

Notes:

Timings and mileages are approximate.

We will always endeavour to accommodate you in the locations detailed in the above itinerary. Due to very high demand, some accommodation providers may occasionally have limited availability and so we may need to accommodate you in an alternative location, nearby. In this case, we will arrange a taxi transfer for you to take you from the trail to your accommodation and back again the following morning.An additional charge may be payable. We will notify you of this when confirming your booking.

The Route

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