Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE WEST HIGHLAND WAY
Ordnance Survey Explorer maps 392, 384, 377, 364, 385, 342, 347 and 348
Opened in 1980, the spectacular
West Highland Way
was Scotland's first long-distance
footpath, stretching some 95 miles from Milngavie (pronounced “mill-guy”), six miles north of
central Glasgow, to Fort William, where it reaches the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest
mountain. Today, it is by far the most popular such footpath in Scotland, and while for many the
range of scenery, relative ease of walking and nearby facilities make it a classic route, others find
it a little too busy in high season, particularly in comparison with the isolation of many other
parts of the Highlands.
THE ROUTE
The Way follows a combination of ancient
drove roads
, along which Highlanders herded
their cattle and sheep to market in the Lowlands, military roads, built by troops to control the
Jacobite insurgency in the eighteenth century, old coaching roads and disused railway lines. In
addition to the stunning scenery, which is increasingly dramatic as the path heads north,
walkers may see some of Scotland's rarer
wildlife
, including red deer, feral goats and, soaring
over the highest peaks, golden eagles.
Running through theLowlands north of Glasgow, the route runs along the eastern shores of
Loch Lomond, over the Highland Boundary Fault Line, then round Crianlarich, crossing open
heather moorland across the
Rannoch Moor
wilderness area. It passes close to
Glen Coe
(see p.404) before reaching
Fort William
(see p.396). Apart from a stretch between Loch
Lomond and Bridge of Orchy, when the path is within earshot of the main road, this is wild,
remote country: north of Rowardennan on Loch Lomond, the landscape is increasingly
exposed, and you should be well prepared for changeable weather.
TACKLING THE ROUTE
Though this is emphatically not the most strenuous of Britain's long-distance walks - it passes
between lofty mountain peaks, rather than over them - a moderate degree of fitness is
required as there are some steep ascents. If you're looking for an added challenge, you could
work a climb of Ben Lomond or Ben Nevis into your schedule. You might choose to walk
individual sections of the Way (the eight-mile climb from Glen Coe up the Devil's Staircase is
particularly spectacular), but to tackle the whole thing you need to set aside at least seven
days; avoid a Saturday start from Milngavie and you'll be less likely to be walking with hordes
of people, and there'll be less pressure on accommodation. Most walkers tackle the route from
south to north, and manage between ten and fourteen miles a day, staying at hotels, B&Bs and
bunkhouses en route. Camping is permitted at recognized sites.
INFORMATION
The West Highland Way O
cial Guide
(£16.99).
Includes a foldout map as well as descriptions of the
route, with detailed cultural, historical, archeological
and wildlife information.
O
cial
7
Further details about the Way, including a comprehensive
accommodation list. The site also has links to tour
companies and transport providers, who can take your
luggage from one stopping point to the next.
website
west-highland-way.co.uk.
W
Ben Lomond
Ben Lomond
(3192ft) is the most southerly of the “Munros” (see p.10) and one of
the most popular mountains in Scotland, its commanding position above Loch
Lomond affording amazing views of both the Highlands and Lowlands. he
well-signposted route to the summit and back from Rowardennan takes five to
six hours.
Inversnaid
Only walkers can continue north up the lochside from Rowardennan, where the only
other settlement is seven miles north at
INVERSNAID
,
made famous by a poem of the
same name by Gerard Manley Hopkins about a frothing waterfall nearby (“his
darksome burn, horseback brown/His rollrock highroad roaring down”).
