Night 1
Hotel in Drymen
This delightful village is part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and offers amazing views of Loch Lomond and the surrounding area.
Experience the wonders of Scotland’s West Highland Way on this guided walking tour
Scotland’s West Highland Way is one of the finest long-distance paths in all of Europe. Combining stunning highland views, charming villages and a warm local welcome, the West Highland Way is a perfect way to discover the very best of the Scottish landscape and culture.
You will conquer Scotland’s premier long-distance trail on this exciting West Highland Way walking tour in the Scottish Highlands. Follow the shores of the exquisite Loch Lomond through spectacular mountain scenery as you make your way from Glasgow to Fort William.
Climb mountain passes such as the Devil’s Staircase and marvel at the incredible Highland views. Learn about the history, culture, and folklore of the region from your experienced local guide as you visit significant locations and hear ancient stories. You’ll also learn to recognize the hardy plant life that grows in this environment and discover how these plants have been used by local people for centuries.
This tour truly offers something for everyone, so book the guided walking tour on the West Highland Way today!
Perched on the beautiful shores of Loch Linnhe, in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Fort William is a unique piece of Scottish history. The fort itself was built by the British as a way to control and subdue the Scottish clans in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, and over the subsequent century it was regularly used to suppress Jacobite uprisings in the Highlands. The excellent West Highland Museum tells the story of the fort and its place in Scottish history, providing a wonderful insight into the turbulent story of the Highlands over the centuries.
Today, the town that surrounds the Fort is a popular destination for outdoor activities. In addition to serving as a base from which to climb Ben Nevis, it’s also home to a ski, snowboard and mountain biking center, and is the end point of the iconic West Highland Way and the starting point of the Great Glen Way. Fort William is an essential stopping point on any Highland itinerary, and a great place to immerse yourself into Scotland’s rich and fascinating history.
Your tour starts early today. Please meet your guide at Glasgow’s Queen Street Station by 8:30 AM. From here, a short train ride takes you to Milngavie. Leave your luggage to be transferred for you, and hike with just the essentials for the day. Though you have not travelled very far from Glasgow, all signs of the city are behind you as your trail sets off through the open countryside. Historically, this trail was part of an important Stone Age route and you’ll see standing stones along the way that remain from this era. Arrive at your hotel in Drymen with time to relax, then enjoy a wonderful welcome dinner and perhaps a dram of whisky from the local Glengoyne distillery.
Spend today walking in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Leave Drymen after breakfast and enter the Garadhban Forest. After walking through the forest, detour slightly from the West Highland Way trail to climb to the top of Conic Hill (361 m / 1,184 ft). Pause here to enjoy a wonderful view of Loch Lomond before walking down to Loch Lomond’s eastern shore at the village of Balmaha. Walk along the banks of the loch through the forest until you come to the peaceful and picturesque village of Rowardennan. Spend the night here at the foot of Ben Lomond mountain (974 m / 3,196 ft).
Enjoy the views of Ben Lomond, also known as Beacon Hill, as you begin this challenging day. The terrain of this segment is rougher and varied, so the pace will be slower but your efforts are rewarded with incredible views and lovely scenery in this wilderness area. End the day with an easier trail as you approach the small hamlet of Inverarnan, where you will stop for the night.
You’re now in the heart of the Scottish Highlands . Begin the day by walking through Glen Falloch, then turn to the north and enter the valley of Strath Fillan. Notice how wild the landscape is here, full of hardy plants that have historically been used by local people for a variety of purposes. Your guide can point out these plants and tell you more about how they were used. Today’s destination is the village of Tyndrum, and you’ll know you’re getting closer to it when you see the elegant, distinctive ridges of Ben Lui rise up to the west. Enjoy free time this evening to explore Tyndrum and choose your own restaurant for dinner (not included).
Today’s trail follows the tracks of the West Highland Railway as it climbs out of Tyndrum. When you reach the top of the pass, the skyline is dominated by the landmark Ben Dorain mountain. Detour slightly from the trail to find a seat carved in stone that, according to legend, contains the sword of Robert the Bruce, a 14th Century Scottish king. As you continue north, walk through a small hamlet called the Bridge of Orchy, then stop for lunch in Inveroran. As you look to the horizon, you’ll see the distinctive peaks of Black Mount to the west, while before you the wild Rannoch Moor extends into the distance. Cross this wild expanse of moor to come to Glencoe and your accommodations for the night. If you so choose, end your day sipping a drink while taking in the view of Buachaille Etive Mor mountain.
The route today is shorter than usual but includes the largest elevation gain of this tour. As you leave Glencoe, climb to the top of the Devil’s Staircase pass (547 m / 1,795 ft). The steep and steady climb winds around several switchbacks, but at the top you will be rewarded with exceptional views overlooking Loch Leven and the village of Glencoe. From this scenic location, your guide can help identify specific peaks among the mountains that seem to stretch as far as the eye can see. You may also get to hear the tale of the Massacre of Glencoe. Descend again on a good trail into the next valley, where you’ll stop for the night in a small village called Kinlochleven.
Get your blood flowing right away this morning with a steep climb up to the top of a pass (274 m / 899 ft) where you’ll get a clear view of Ben Nevis, Scotland’s tallest mountain. Once you have crossed the pass, the rest of the day is much easier. Meander past summer dwellings used by shepherds called sheilings, and pause to appreciate the view of Lochan Lunn Da-Bhra. Ask your guide to share the legend of a mythical bull that roams this area terrorizing the cattle. Descend from here into the lovely Glen Nevis and continue until you reach the end of the West Highland Way trail in Fort William. Congratulations on completing the whole route! Check in to your hotel and freshen up for a fun celebration dinner and drinks.
Sadly, our West Highland Way walking tour has come to an end. Breakfast is included, then you are free to leave from your hotel at your leisure. Many guests enjoy riding the West Highland Railway to return to Glasgow. This adventurous train ride offers several departure times each day. Have a pleasant onward journey!
This guided walking tour in Scotland is run as a fixed-departure tour where you’d be joining a group, however, custom private tours can be organized for those willing to travel with their group only (please contact us with your preferred date and the number of people in your group and we will create the itinerary just for you).
Make new friends and join a group walking tour on West Highland Way. Note that the departures on June 12th, July 24th and August 21st are women’s only. Prices below are per person:
Start | Finish | Duration | Places Left | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023-04-17 Glasgow 8 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-04-24 Fort William | 8 | 5+ | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-05-01 Glasgow 8 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-05-08 Fort William | 8 | 5+ | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-05-15 Glasgow 8 days / 4 Spaces Left | 2023-05-22 Fort William | 8 | 4 | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-05-29 Glasgow 8 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-06-05 Fort William | 8 | 5+ | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-06-12 Glasgow 8 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-06-19 Fort William | 8 | 5+ | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-06-26 Glasgow 8 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-07-03 Fort William | 8 | 5+ | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-07-10 Glasgow 8 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-07-17 Fort William | 8 | 5+ | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-07-24 Glasgow 8 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-07-31 Fort William | 8 | 5+ | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-08-07 Glasgow 8 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-08-14 Fort William | 8 | 5+ | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-08-21 Glasgow 8 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-08-28 Fort William | 8 | 5+ | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-09-04 Glasgow 8 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-09-11 Fort William | 8 | 5+ | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-09-16 Glasgow 8 days / null Spaces Left | 2023-09-26 Fort William | 8 | null | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now | |
2023-09-18 Glasgow 8 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-09-25 Fort William | 8 | 5+ | $2,575USDBook Now | Book Now |
This tour is based in guesthouses, small hotels, highland inns, and bed and breakfasts. Accommodation options along the West Highlands Way are very limited, so standards will vary throughout the tour.
Whenever possible, you will stay in rooms with en suite facilities, but in some locations this is not available. In some cases, accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement of $425USD to have private rooms in hotels. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible.
This delightful village is part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and offers amazing views of Loch Lomond and the surrounding area.
Perfectly situated on the shores of Loch Lomond and at the foot of Ben Lomond mountain, the rural village of Rowardennan will take your breath away.
Inverarnan is a lovely small village beside the River Falloch, surrounded by spectacular nature and historical heritage sites.
Discover why this village is so popular with tourists. Nestled in the shadow of the beautiful Ben Lui, “Tyndrum” means “the house on the ridge”.
Discover why this magnificent area is known as the Outdoor Capital of the UK. You may even recognize the spectacular scenery from blockbuster films.
At the head of Loch Leven lies the village of Kinlochleven, known throughout Scotland for the abundant wild mountain land which surrounds it.
The second largest town in the Scottish Highlands, Fort William offers visitors a variety of scenic waterways and mountains to explore.
7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners, snacks along the route each day.
Accommodations for 7 nights along the tour. Accommodations before the tour in Glasgow and after the tour in Fort Williams are not included.
Transport for you and your luggage is included from the beginning of the tour to the end.
How hard is the West Highland Way Walking Tour?
We rate this tour as a 4 / 5. Most days of this tour require walking 20-30 km on good trails. You should have experience in walking these distances in hilly or mountainous terrain.
Do I need a visa to travel to Scotland?
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
Is this tour to Scottish Highlands guaranteed?
The tour is guaranteed to run if there are at least 2 people booked.
How big is the group?
The groups for this tour are capped at 16 people to ensure everything runs smoothly and everyone gets individual attention from the guide. If the group size exceeds 10 people, a second guide will be added.
Are meals included on the West Highland Way Walking Tour?
7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 6 dinners are included.
Do I need insurance?
Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
How do I get to Glasgow to start this tour?
You can get to Glasgow by flying to Glasgow International Airport (GLA). This airport has connections with New York City, Toronto, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Milan, London and many other major cities. Glasgow is also connected to other cities in United Kingdom by rail. Please meet your guide at Glasgow Queen Street Station by 8:30 AM on the first day of your tour.
Is the West Highland Way Walking Tour in English?
Yes, the tour guide is English speaking.
Where does the West Highland Way Walking Tour end?
The tour ends in Fort William.
Do I need special vaccines to travel to Scotland?
Check with your family doctor.
Are there any travel restrictions for Scotland?
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
When is the best time to travel to Scotland for this tour?
The best time to travel to Scotland for this walking tour is from May to October.
All tours on 10Adventures are operated by highly vetted local tour operators and guides.
Having local tour operators and guides means you get a more authentic experience, and your booking creates jobs in the local communities you visit.
Details of the local tour operator will be listed on your booking invoice. If you have questions about the local operator prior to booking, please click the “Ask a Question” button below.
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20 total ratings, 0 with reviewsStephen L.
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We rate this tour as a 4 / 5. Most days of this tour require walking 20-30 km on good trails. You should have experience in walking these distances in hilly or mountainous terrain.
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
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