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The West Highland Way is Scotland’s most well‑known long‑distance walking route, covering 96 miles (154 km) from Milngavie, near Glasgow, to Fort William beneath Ben Nevis. This 7‑day itinerary completes the full route over six nights, making it the most time‑efficient way to walk the trail end to end.
Designed for walkers with a good level of fitness, this itinerary includes some longer walking days and is best suited to those comfortable covering sustained distances on consecutive days. Daily mileage typically ranges from around 12 to 20 miles, with the longest stage between Tyndrum and Kingshouse, where the route crosses increasingly remote Highland terrain.
The walk takes you through a constantly changing landscape — from lowland paths and woodland tracks to loch shores, open moorland, and mountain passes. With careful planning and reliable overnight stops, this itinerary offers a challenging and highly rewarding way to experience the West Highland Way in a single week.
Route Highlights
Loch Lomond – Follow the eastern shores of Scotland’s largest loch, with a mix of shoreline paths and woodland trails.
Rannoch Moor – Cross a vast and open Highland landscape on one of the most remote sections of the route.
Classic Highland scenery – Walk through glens, forest tracks, historic routes, and mountain passes as the trail heads north.
Evenings & Accommodation
Accommodation is arranged in comfortable guesthouses, inns, and small hotels along the route, chosen for their location and suitability for walkers. Evenings are generally free for you to relax, enjoy a meal locally, and prepare for the next day’s walk.
This itinerary is planned to keep logistics straightforward while allowing you to focus fully on the walking experience.
Our itinerary sets out the West Highland Way as a complete 7‑day walk from Milngavie to Fort William. Distances are balanced to reflect the natural stages of the route, including longer and more demanding days. Each day’s outline gives a clear sense of terrain, effort, and progression along the trail.
Itineraries
Day 1
Milngavie to Drymen (12 miles/ 19.5 km)
The walk begins in Milngavie, just outside Glasgow, following easy paths and tracks through parks, woodland, and open farmland. The route gradually leaves the city behind, passing quiet villages and rolling countryside. Drymen sits at the edge of the Highlands and makes a relaxed first overnight stop.
Day 2
Drymen to Rowardennan (14.5 miles/ 23.5 km)
From Drymen, the route climbs onto the lower slopes of Conic Hill, offering wide views over Loch Lomond and the Highland Boundary Fault. A steeper descent leads down to the loch shore. The day finishes at Rowardennan, surrounded by forest and mountain scenery beneath Ben Lomond.
Day 3
Rowardennan to Inverarnan (14.5 miles / 23 km)
This is a more demanding day, following the rugged eastern shore of Loch Lomond. Narrow, rocky paths and frequent ups and downs make progress slower but rewarding. The route eventually eases near the northern end of the loch, finishing at Inverarnan.
Day 4
Inverarnan to Tyndrum (12 miles/ 19 km)
Leaving Loch Lomond behind, the path follows rivers and old military roads through Glen Falloch and Strath Fillan. The walking becomes more straightforward, with long, steady sections and open glen views. Tyndrum is a small but well‑known waypoint for West Highland Way walkers.
Day 5
Tyndrum to Kingshouse (19 miles / 30.5 km)
This is one of the longest and most remote stages of the route. The trail crosses the wide expanse of Rannoch Moor, following historic tracks through an exposed and atmospheric landscape. Views of surrounding mountains build as the path descends towards Kingshouse in Glen Coe.
Day 6
Kingshouse to Kinlochleven (9 miles / 14.5 km)
The day begins beneath the dramatic peaks of Glen Coe before climbing the Devil’s Staircase, the highest point on the West Highland Way. From the summit, there are expansive views back across Rannoch Moor. A long descent leads down into the village of Kinlochleven.
Day 7
Kinlochleven to Fort William (15 miles / 24 km)
The final day climbs steadily out of Kinlochleven through woodland and open hillside. The route follows glens and forest tracks beneath Ben Nevis before descending into Fort William. The walk finishes in the town centre, marking the end of the West Highland Way.
- Baggage Transfers
- 6 Nights accommodation
- Bespoke Digital Itinerary
Your trip does not include the list below but some are available as additional extras:
- Meals, snacks and drinks (breakfast maybe included in some accommodations)
- Transport to start (Milngavie) and from finish point (Fort William)
- Overnight Accommodation before and after walk
- Additional Nights - If you wish to stay extra nights in one location, we can amend your booking and itinerary.
- Personal Guide (this can be arranged if you wish)
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Robbie Llewellyn– :
I have completed the West Highland way 3 times. All organised and arranged by Alex. He does a professional job arranging all the accommodation and baggage transfers. He is also great at giving tips such as where to stop for lunch and the best places to book for dinner. I would highly recommend using Alex at Claymore adventures to anyone planning on walking the Way.👍🏼
Elaine Gallagher– :
I honestly can’t recommend Claymore Adventures highly enough. They organised my West Highland Way trip last year and the entire experience was outstanding from start to finish.
Everything was planned perfectly, all accommodation was booked for us and every luggage transfer went smoothly without a single issue. Having our bags waiting for us at each stop after a long day walking made such a difference and allowed us to properly enjoy the experience stress-free.
The accommodation choices were excellent throughout the trip, all in great locations and exactly what we needed after long days on the trail. Communication before and during the walk was fantastic too, clear and professional.
What I appreciated most was how easy they made everything. We could simply focus on enjoying the scenery, the walking and the overall adventure without worrying about logistics.
The West Highland Way was an unforgettable experience and Claymore Adventures played a huge part in that. I would absolutely use them again and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone considering a walking holiday in Scotland.
Jamie A– :
The 7 day option is a really well paced itinerary, perfect for any first timer doing the route. The best part for me was that Claymore Adventures had a great rapport with local staff along the way, and had intimate local knowledge of the best cafes, pubs and accommodation. It was clear to me that they have genuine passion and enthusiasm for these amazing places, and arranging for people to visit them.
Pamela Dunsmore– :
Alex and the Team at Claymore did an outstanding job of organising our 7 day trip. It made everything so straightforward – all we had to do was get up and walk! The accommodation was all excellent and the bespoke itinerary with all the hints & tips for lunches and dinners was brilliant! We cannot recommend Alex highly enough