West Highland Way
151 km / 94 miles
Scotland's first official Long Distance Route crosses a variety of terrain which becomes more rugged as it moves northwards and between the major mountain groups. The Way follows the eastern side of Loch Lomond, crossing the slopes of Ben Lomond to Crianlarich and Bridge of Orchy, the western edge of Rannoch Moor and the entrances to Glen Etive and Glen Coe, and up and over the Devil's Staircase and the highest point of the route at 550m, to reach Kinlochleven. The final section follows General Caulfield's military road over the slopes of the Mamores, crossing wild country with extensive views of the Ben Nevis range to reach Fort William.
The book 'The Highland High Way' describes an alternative high level route.
The waymarked Kelvin Walkway (9 miles and on OS mapping) connects Milngavie with the Glasgow Heliport on the north bank of the River Clyde, providing a link into central Glasgow, and this Walkway is included in the Trailblazer guide.
Strider News - August 2013 (Publication Update)
Trailblazer have a new 2013 5th edition of their guidebook, with ISBN-13: 978-1905864508.
Strider News - April 2013 (Publication Update)
A new book, Three Men on the Way Way: A Story of Walking the West Highland Way, by Hamish Brown of Munros fame, is published in 2013, though is not a route guide. See listing below (use full publications lists, via 'more ' button.)
Strider News - December 2012 (Publication Update)
There is a new West Highland Way app newly available for Android phones and tablets to plan their route and accommodation in advance and also use day-to-day walking the route. The app is listed under websites below.
Details:
| Path Type: | Scotland's Great Trails | |
| Waymark: | Thistle within hexagon | |
| Attributes: | Challenging; Lake/Reservoir/Loch; Moorland; Mountain | |
| Start: | NS553745 - Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire  |
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| Finish: | NN112742 - Nevis Bridge, Fort William, Highland |
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| Open Date: | 1980 | |
| Web Sites: | National Park (West Highland Way) | |
| Walk Highlands Website - West Highland Way | ||
| Android App for West Highland Way |
Publications, Badges and Certificates:
| Certificate: | Certificate for National Trails (Long Distance Walkers Association - 2009) |
| Paperback: | West Highland Way (Trailblazer Publications - 2013) |
| Paperback: | West Highland Way: Milngavie to Fort William (Cicerone Press - 5 October 2011) |
| Guidebook + Map Flap: | West Highland Way & Map (Rucksack Readers - 2011) |
| Paperback: | The West Highland Way (Recreational Path Guides) (Aurum Press - 2010) |
| Paperback: | West Highland Way & Map: Official Guide (Mercat Press - 2006) |
| Paperback: | West Highland Way (Pocket Mountains - 2008) |
| Hardback: | Walkers Britain (AA Publishing - 2011) |
| Phone App: | Android Phone App for West Highland Way (Calton Hill Ltd) |
| Booklet: | Official West Highland Way Pocket Companion (West Highland Way Ranger - Annual) |
| Paperback: | Three Men on the Way Way (A Story of Walking the West Highland Way) (Whittles Publishing - 2013) |
| Paperback: | Not the West Highland Way (Cicerone Press - 2010) |
| Leaflet: | West Highland Wayfarer (Famedram Publishing Ltd) |
| Hardback: | Highland High Way: A High-Level Walking Route from Loch Lomond to Fort William (Mainstream Publishing Co Ltd - 1996) |
| Hardback: | Guide to the West Highland Way (Constable and Robinson Ltd - 1988) |
Maps: |
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| Purchase Ordnance Survey Maps (path is named on OS maps): | |
| OS Landranger: | 41, 50, 56, 57, 64 |
| OS Landranger Active: | 41, 50, 56, 57 |
| OS Explorer: | 342, 347, 348, 364, 377, 384, 385, 391, 392, 399 |
| OS Explorer Active: | 342, 347, 348, 364, 377, 384, 385, 391, 392, 399 |
| Other Paper Maps: | |
| Harvey Map (Stripmap): | West Highland Way (Harvey Maps - 2008) |
| Harvey Map (Stripmap): | West Highland Way: DVD & Stripmap (Harvey Maps) |
| Harvey Map (Sheet Map): | Southern Highlamds (Harvey Maps - 2010) |
| Stripmap: | West Highland Way: Map & Guide (Footprint - 1999) |
| Digital Maps: | |
| Downloadable Digital Mapping: | West Highland Way (Anquet Maps) |
| Digital Mapping (25k Scale): | MEMORY-MAP V5 WEST HIGHLAND WAY OS 1:25,000 (Memory-Map Europe) |
| Digital Mapping (25k Scale): | West Highland Way 1:25k & 1:50k (Satmap - 2009) |
Walking Support Providers:
| Support Providers: | Baggage Handling and Self-Guided Walks (Load Off Your Back) |
| Support Providers: | Baggage Handling and Self-Guided Walks (Easyways) |
| Support Providers: | Baggage Handling Service (Great Glen Travel) |
| Support Providers: | Baggage Handling Service (AMS Scotland Ltd) |
| Support Providers: | Baggage Handling Service (Sherpa Van Project) |
| Support Providers: | Baggage Handling Service (Travel-Lite) |
| Support Providers: | Guided and Self-Guided Walking Holidays (HF Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Guided and Self-Guided Walking Holidays (North-West Frontiers Ltd) |
| Support Providers: | Guided and Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Northwestwalks) |
| Support Providers: | Guided Walking Holidays (Caledonia Hilltreks) |
| Support Providers: | Guided Walking Holidays (Footpath Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (C-N-Do Scotland) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Make Tracks Walking Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Contours Walking Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Transcotland) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (UK Exploratory) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Absolute Escapes Ltd) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Wilderness Scotland) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Macs Adventure) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Celtic Trails Walking Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Walking Holidays in Scotland (Explore Outdoors) |
| Support Providers: | Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Explore Britain) |
| Support Providers: | Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Let's Go Walking! Ltd) |
| Support Providers: | Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Mickledore Travel Ltd) |
| Support Providers: | Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Discovery Travel) |
Group Accommodation within 5 Km of this Path:
| Bunk House: | Balmaha Bunkhouse/Hostel, Loch Lomond, Stirlingshire | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Rowardennan Lodge YHA, By Drymen, Glasgow | < 1 Km |
| Bunk House: | Inversnaid Bunkhouse, Inversnaid, Stirlingshire, Scotland | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Crianlarich YHA, Station Road, Crianlarich | 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | By The Way Hostel And Campsite, Lower Station Rd, Tyndrum | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Blackwater Hostel & Campsite, Kinlochleven, Argyll | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Glen Nevis YHA, Glen Nevis, Fort William | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Achintee Farm Hostel, Glen Nevis, Fort William | < 1 Km |
| Bunk House: | Ben Nevis Inn Bunkhouse, Claggan, Achintee, Fort William | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Coorie Doon Self Catering Cabin | 3 Km |
| Bunk House: | Smiddy Bunkhouse, Station Rd, Corpach, Ft William | 3 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Farr Cottage Lodge, Fort William | 3 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Fort William Backpackers. Fort William | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Bank Street Lodge, Fort William | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Calluna, Fort William | < 1 Km |
Additional Images: |
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Connected Paths:
| Path Highlights: | West Highland Way Highlights 1; West Highland Way Highlights 2; West Highland Way Highlights 3 |
| Scotland's Great Trails: | Great Glen Way; Rob Roy Way; Three Lochs Way |
| Paths Marked on OS mapping: | Kelvin Walkway (Glasgow) |
| Significant un-waymarked paths: | Central Scottish Way |
| Other Paths: | Cape Wrath Trail; East Highland Way; Famous Highland Drove Walk; Land's End to John O'Groats; Mary Queen of Scots Way; Stevenson Way Click to show 3 more Other Paths |
| Anytime Challenges: | Five Degree West Challenge |
| Kanters: | Coast to Coast - Scotland |
Downloads:
| GPS Exchange Format Route File: | West Highland Way GPX Exchange Format Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
| MemoryMap Route file: | West Highland Way Memory Map Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
| Tracklogs Route file: | West Highland Way Tracklogs Route file | Login to Download (Members Only) |
Route Profile:
| 150.0 Km (93.2 miles) 3,946 m (12,946 ft) ascent 552 m (1,811 ft) maximum height |
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