West Highland Way: The Highlands - 5 Days

The walk starts in Bridge of Orchy and finishes in Fort William, in the Scottish Highlands. Glasgow Airport (GLA) is the most convenient entry point, with good domestic and international connections. From the airport, a shuttle bus to Glasgow Central Station takes around 30 minutes, from where trains reach Bridge of Orchy in around 25 minutes. A scenic and popular alternative is the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston, departing around 11.00pm and arriving in Glasgow at around 7.30am. Always purchase your train ticket before boarding in the UK.

The walk ends in Fort William, which has good rail connections via the West Highland Line to Glasgow in around 4 hours and Edinburgh in around 5 hours. The Caledonian Sleeper also runs from Fort William to London Euston, departing at 11.00pm and arriving the following morning at 8.00am.

This walk is available from 1 April to 14 October, with no fixed start days. May is the most popular month, often with the least rainfall, most sunshine and long evenings. Spring brings wildflowers and quieter trails. July and August are the warmest months but also the busiest; midges around Loch Lomond can be a nuisance, so pack repellent. By late September the midges are gone, the crowds thin and the hills turn gold and amber. Pack waterproofs and layers whatever the month; in Scotland, four seasons in one day is not a figure of speech.

Terrain covers forest tracks, hill paths, bridleways, and moorland, with some rocky and loose sections underfoot. Trails are well-defined and well-waymarked throughout. Sturdy walking boots are essential, and layers are a must as Scottish weather can change quickly. An exercise regime of two to three times per week, in addition to your usual walks, is recommended in preparation. Daily walk notes, maps, and GPX tracks are provided.

You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.

A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.

Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.

Walk with just a light daypack while your main luggage travels ahead to your next stop. Each morning you hand over your bag and set off unencumbered across moor and hillside, arriving to find it already waiting for you. It's one less thing to think about on a route where the terrain and the weather can both turn quickly, leaving you free to focus on the walking itself.

For your safety and well-being, we are unable to accept bookings for solo walkers on this self-guided trip. The remote nature of some tracks and limited mobile reception mean that walking alone presents a higher risk in case of emergencies.