This is Scotland's most iconic hiking route, and it's the best way to experience its stunning Highland scenery, serene lakes, and remote valleys. This 9-day itinerary is one of our most popular itineraries, ideal for regular hikers and first-timers seeking a challenge. For a more laid-back trip, we also offer 10, or 11-day itineraries.

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way in Scotland, the world renown Tour Du Mont Blanc and Germany's Moselle Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

The West Highland Way can be enjoyed by hikers with various levels of experience. Depending on your levels of physical fitness and personal preference, the route difficulty can vary from “easy to moderate” to “moderate” and “moderate to strenuous”:

• Our best-selling trips are graded as “moderate” hiking experiences: the 8-day and 9-day itineraries.
• For a more laid-back experience, we offer “easy to moderate” trips: the 10-day and 11-day itineraries.
• Seasoned hikers can undertake our “moderate to strenuous” hiking trips: the 7-day, and 6-day itineraries.

Some hiking days will be more demanding than others. While the terrain is a combination of good hiking trails and some rugged footpaths that may be uneven underfoot, the route does not require any technical skills. There are sections of both ascents and descents, with the Devil’s Staircase being the highest point at 1805ft above sea level.

This route is suitable for most regular hikers and the higher your level of physical fitness the more you will enjoy the experience. We suggest hiking regularly and hitting a few hills before your trip, keeping in mind the daily distances and changes in elevation in your daily itinerary.

This trip includes overnight stays in a combination of small hotels, guest houses, and B&B’s. We have worked with many of our local partners for over 20 years. Our great relationships with them will ensure you receive the best attention from the moment you check in!

Accommodation is limited in remote locations along the trail with sometimes just one option. Keep in mind that the standard of accommodation varies throughout your trip, and be sure to book early. All properties offer a warm welcome to hikers, traditional Scottish hospitality, and delicious local food. While offering outstanding service, accommodations are not often equipped with air-conditioning and rooms may become warm during summer despite the temperate climate and cool nights.

With a variety of rooms available, we book en suite rooms as standard, meaning that the bathroom is connected to the bedroom. If en suite rooms are unavailable, we may book a room with shared facilities, but we will always inform you in advance.

Accommodation Location

We will always try to accommodate you at the locations detailed in your itinerary. Occasionally due to limited availability, you will be accommodated at an alternative location to confirm your booking on your preferred travel dates. For example, if you are staying in Inverarnan on your itinerary, you may need to spend 2 nights in either Tyndrum, Crianlarich, or Bridge of Orchy (depending on your chosen trip itinerary). In that case we will include transfers to and from these locations, and they will be included in the cost of your tour. There may be other locations where you will have to stay at an alternative location, rest assured that we will always ask you about this in advance. 

The Kingshouse Hotel

During busy booking times a supplement may apply when staying at the Kingshouse Hotel. Unfortunately, this can’t be avoided due to the hotel’s increasing costs on certain dates of the year. If you do not want to stay at the Kingshouse, there will be no supplement. You can stay in Glencoe or Ballachulish as an alternative.

Solo Hikers

This holiday is available to solo hikers, although a supplement is payable as double-occupancy rooms are booked and costs are not shared. If you require single rooms within your party, we would be happy to accommodate your request, although a supplement is payable. It is not generally possible to secure more than three single rooms in a party.

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning while lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Your accommodation may be able to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked and paid for on arrival. Alternatively, the Macs Adventure App will point out any recommended lunch spots along the way. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby pubs and restaurants.

Extending your vacation

You may wish to take some extra nights along the route, either to rest or for those with plenty of energy to explore some of the other walking opportunities nearby. We recommend extra nights at Rowardennan (for climbing Ben Lomond, a Munro with commanding views over Loch Lomond), Crianlarich (a halfway stop with options for visiting the seaside town of Oban, complete with whisky distillery, via the local train service), or Fort William (for climbing Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain).

The route is well-waymarked throughout and easy to follow. Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account. 

This trip is available from the end of March to mid-October. We suggest booking as soon as your plans are finalized as the West Highland Way is extremely popular and will sell out quickly (especially over April/May and July/August). We will always try our best to book your preferred dates, and having some flexibility in your travel dates improves our chances of confirming your booking.

Busy times in Kinlochleven are at the end of April and the beginning of May. This is because the "Pre-65 Scottish Motorcycle Trials" are held here during that time. There is also a busy time in Fort William at the end of April for a week because of the "Scottish 6 Days Trial Event". We have blocked start dates accordingly due to these events as availability is extra tight on these particular dates.

A supplement may apply when staying at the Kingshouse Hotel. Unfortunately, this can’t be avoided due to the hotel’s increasing costs on certain dates of the year. If you do not want to stay at the Kingshouse, there will be no supplement and you can stay in Glencoe or Ballachulish as an alternative.

Scotland's climate is notoriously changeable! From May to September, Scotland experiences temperate weather with the least amount of rainfall in May making it the most popular time to hike the West Highland Way. The months of June, July, and August mark the 'vacation season' (or holiday season) and accommodations are very busy during these months making it essential to book early. July and August are usually warmest with average temperatures around 57°F, and highs of up to 77°F. Traveling at the start of the season (March/April) or toward the end (October) will offer a much quieter experience. Keep in mind that some snow may remain or even fall on the higher parts of the route in the months of March and the start of April. 

The weather can be changeable and unpredictable any month, often resulting in experiencing “all four seasons in a single day”. All hikers are advised to monitor the forecast and always be prepared with waterproofs, extra layers, sun-cream, and hats - your hike will be much more enjoyable if you're ready for all types of weather!

The West Highland Way begins in Milngavie, a distant suburb of Glasgow approx. 8 miles from the city center. There are excellent national and international transport connections by air, rail, and bus. Scotland has a couple of international airports: Glasgow, Glasgow Prestwick, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Inverness. London serves as the main UK gateway for long-haul flights and is often the more affordable option when flying from North America. 

By Air

Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport are the most convenient airports to fly into.

Glasgow Airport: Situated 8 miles west of the city, the airport is served by numerous domestic and international airlines. Regular Citylink public buses run between the airport and the city center (duration: 15 min). Taxis are also available from the airport to your accommodation in Glasgow, to Glasgow Central Train Station, and to the city center. 

Edinburgh Airport: Situated 45 miles east of Glasgow, the airport is served by numerous domestic and international airlines. Regular Citylink public buses run between the airport and Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station in the city center (duration: 1hr). You could also take the tram towards Edinburgh city center (duration: 30 min) and then connect with the train from Edinburgh Haymarket Train Station to Glasgow Queen Street Train Station (duration: 1hr). 

By Rail

Traveling to Scotland by train from other parts of the UK is straightforward. Considering the check-in time and flight duration from London or other UK destinations, taking the train to Glasgow might be a more comfortable and convenient option. Booking in advance secures the best fares. For information on all routes visit Scotrail or National Rail.

By Bus

Public buses are the most affordable way to reach Scotland from other places in the UK. Services from England or Wales are operated by National Express or by Scottish Citylink from Scotland.

Getting to Milngavie

The best and simplest way to get to Milngavie from Glasgow is by train. Regular Scotrail services run between Glasgow Central and Queen Street Stations (duration: 25 min). Milngavie railway station is close to the start of the West Highland Way, and this is also where you will leave your luggage with our local handlers. 

Alternatively, you can flag down a taxi on the street, call a taxi from your hotel, or use Uber (duration: 15 min). 

By Rail

If you are returning to Glasgow, we recommend taking the train on the West Highland Line, renowned as one of the world's most scenic rail journeys (duration: 4hrs). It's an experience in itself! Reserving your seat in advance is recommended to secure the best fare.

If you're interested in exploring Scotland for a bit longer, you can for example connect to Inverness or Mallaig (then onto the Isle of Skye by ferry) by rail, using Scotrail. Speak to one of our experts for assistance or you need help planning another adventure.

By Bus

From Fort William you have the option to take Citylink buses directly to Glasgow (duration: 3hrs, 15min), Edinburgh city center (duration: 5hrs, 20 min), or Edinburgh Airport (duration: 5 hrs). You can also continue your journey to the Isle of Skye using the Citylink bus service. 

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person. Please ensure that you do not bring more than one bag of 20kg as if this occurs, the luggage transfer company will ask you to pay an additional fee. Our luggage transfer company can store the extra bag for you whilst you are on the tour and will deliver it to your final accommodation for an additional cost. Extra luggage and bag storage costs can be made locally. 

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase.  Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person.  It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.