The Route
The path uses many ancient roads, including drovers' roads, military roads and old coaching roads and is traditionally walked from south to north. As well as increasing the sense of adventure, taking the route in this direction keeps the sun from one's eyes.
The route is commonly walked in seven to eight days, although fitter and more experienced walkers do it in five or six. The route can be covered in considerably less time than this, but less hurried progress is the choice of the majority of walkers, allowing for appreciation of the countryside along the Way. Indeed, enjoyment of the natural surroundings of the walk is the primary motivating factor for many people following the route.
The path officially starts in Milngavie town centre (approx 25 minutes by train from Glasgow Central Station), where a granite obelisk is located. Most walkers arrive at the railway station located close by. Milngavie is a town located on the northern fringe of the conurbation of Glasgow, and the path quickly enters open countryside. It proceeds by way of country roads, an abandoned railway, the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park and scenic Conic Hill on the Highland Boundary Fault, to reach Balmaha on Loch Lomond. From here, the route follows the isolated, wooded, eastern shores of the loch via Rowardennan and Inversnaid to Inverarnan. Rowardennan is the furthest north road access which is available on the east shore of the loch from the south. There is road access to Inversnaid from the east, via Aberfoyle.
The Way follows Glen Falloch northward to Crianlarich then north west along Strathfillan to Tyndrum. North of Tyndrum the Way enters Glen Orchy before crossing the desolate yet beautiful Rannoch Moor and descending into Glen Coe. From here, the route climbs the Devil's Staircase before a great descent to sea level at Kinlochleven. The final stage skirts the Mamore Mountains on an old military road and descends into Glen Nevis before finishing in Fort William.
The last stage passes the foot of Ben Nevis and many walkers crown their achievement by climbing the highest mountain in Britain.
Due to the large number of walkers being constrained to a single track, some parts of the Way have become badly eroded. However a considerable amount of work is undertaken to maintain the route.
Walkers seeking solitude should consider starting their journey away from the weekends.
When deciding the time of year to attempt the Way, it is good to know that midges (biting flies) and mosquitoes begin swarming in May and last well into August, some years even September. Also, Scottish weather can be particularly rugged and must be respected with proper forecasting and gear.
A walk along the Way is often broken up into sections or stages, each of which will typically be walked in a day. One pattern of sections, travelling from south to north, is as follows:
Read more about this topic: West Highland Way
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