Walks around Fort William Highland

Kind: Scottish certified Long-distance Route

Time required: 7-8 days

Region: Scottish Highlands

Start: Milngavie, Dunbartonshire

End: Fort William, Highlands

Trouble: Moderate

When you should Go: April to October

When it comes to stunning surroundings, the western Highlands provides the best in Britain. Remarkable mountain ranges, idyllic lochs and stunning panoramic views tend to be aplenty. It’s of not surprising after that any particular one associated with the busiest long-distance trails in Britain passes all the way through it.

Some 30, 000 individuals from across the world descend on Scotland annually to go the western Highland Method, which takes walkers on a scenic trip through this spectacular landscape; its popularity helped by the proven fact that the whole trail may be walked in a week.

What exactly have you been waiting for? Get those hiking shoes ready and get making plans for your journey!

What is the walk like?

The western Highland Way is 96 mile walk-through a number of the best scenery Britain provides. It uses a mixture of drovers paths, and old military and coaching roadways, and minds along lochs, through forests or more mountains.

The path is usually in good condition and not especially hard, even though there are some huge hills and high climbs. Just what climbs you can find, regularly tend to be rewarded with stunning views. Don’t forget your camera as you’ll come-back with a memory card full of amazing shots.

In the southern end associated with the trail is Milngavie, a commuter city near Glasgow, but don’t let that put you off as you’re quickly from the town and into the countryside. During the northern end, the West Highland Method terminates with Ben Nevis close by, in the bustling but reasonably remote Highland city of Fort William.

Its popularity does mean that you will observe lots of people in the path during summer season, and from across the globe. If you need a walk that includes comfort and tranquillity, this is simply not usually the one. But along with those site visitors come great facilities with a lot of B&Bs, hostels plus.

If you’d prefer to learn, you'll search an internet chart for the course.

Course chart

You can observe the path of this West Highland Method utilizing the chart overhead. Utilising the controls you are able to scroll around, zoom in and explore the path. Remember that this chart is helpful information only, and may never be used for navigation.

Planning a schedule

As with every stroll, a vital decision is which path you walk in. Many West Highland Method walkers travel south to north, maintaining the sunlight out from the eyes. This has another benefit too. Those going north to south will inevitably end up being forced to greet most fellow walkers moving in the exact opposite path! The southern end can also be easier to reach by public transport, additionally the trip straight back from Fort William by train is spectacular way to commemorate your walk.

The western Highland Way is frequently split into seven or eight times, even though it is possible to go faster. Both seven and eight-day itineraries are given below. Each one of the locations have actually accommodation, club and store unless usually noted and need roughly per day to cover. Places with a railway place are marked with a *.

7 Time Itinerary

Notes:

1. No shop
2. No nearby services. See to find out more

8 Day Itinerary

When to go

Its place in addition to large ground means that the West Highland means is the best walked between April and October. Before as you are able to anticipate snow and very tough conditions. Late spring is a particularly good time to walk if you want to prevent the dreaded midges which have a home in the region.

Breaking the walk up for many trips

If you don't are now living in or relatively close to the West Highlands, the trail is a hard one to split. Perhaps not because there aren’t techniques to do so, but because train travel takes so long to obtain everywhere.

That said, you can find train programs at Crianlarich, Bridge of Orchy and Tyndrum that are on or close to the path. Near the top of Loch Lomond, two kilometers before Inverarnan, a ferry operates toward opposite region of the loch near Ardlui place. Most of the stations take the western Highland Line which works between Glasgow and Fort William (and to Mallaig.)

Expanding Your Walk

If one few days of walking is not sufficient for you personally, the western Highland Way connects at Fort William with the Great Glen solution to Inverness, and also the East Highland solution to Aviemore.

In addition at Fort William is Ben Nevis, the UK’s biggest hill that will take each day to climb up. The routes up Ben Nevis are good, plus it’s perhaps not a massively hard rise; only a lengthy one. Be prepared for snow at the top, in the summer, and get fully up truth be told there and find the summit covered in cloud!

Finding and booking accommodation

The interest in the western Highland Method means that there’s typically a lot of places to remain. That said, it can be busy so it’s really worth scheduling if you'd like to be sure of a bed. The official site contains information on accommodation providers on or near the path, although not when you look at the most user-friendly structure. It also lists organizations who'll reserve every little thing for you.

It’s perhaps not an exhaustive number, but sensibly extensive. You may find alternate sources by searching the old net.

Alternate accommodation near King’s House

The phase ending within King’s home resort is one of difficult for finding accommodation. Whilst the resort has 22 bedrooms and a campsite, if they're booked up then there's no place else close by, and you'll want to make use of trains and buses. Scottish Citylink coaches visit the nearby Glencoe Ski Centre. There’s no bus stop – simply maintain your eyes open the coach, and stick your arm away. Mentors run every two hours, seven days per week. Alternatively, if you pop to your King’s House resort, you can contact a local taxi.

The coaches head south to Tyndrum, or north to Glencoe. Glencoe could be the nearest and it is a wonderful twenty-minute trip straight down this incredibly breathtaking an element of the world.

There’s several motels and B&Bs in Glencoe village, and neighbouring Ballachulish (in addition regarding the coach route.)

There's also accommodation at the SYHA Glencoe, Glencoe Independent Hostel while the fantastic Clachaig Inn which includes a famous climbers club. They're not in village, and need some hiking when you get off the mentor because they are on a road that runs parallel to your primary A82.

For Clachaig, you'll want to alight the coach on roadway that turns off at Achnambeithach (at the western end of Achtiochtan.) it is a favorite pub, signposted from the roadway, and it's likely that the driver know in which you imply. The club is a half mile stroll from junction aided by the A82.

For the two hostels you've got a choice – you can either alight depending on the Clachaig – the hostels are a mile more within the road. Alternatively it is possible to walk from Glencoe town – this is certainly a mile . 5 from town. The Clachaig may be the nearest club to both hostels (even though SYHA is licensed and does some dishes.)