West Highland Way: The Highlands – 3&4 Star B&B’s- 5 Days

DISTANCE - ABOVE AVERAGE

Distance training is a major consideration in your overall training program. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan.

Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 17-25 km in a single day. Also include walks on consecutive days to help your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Take every opportunity you can to walk. If you have a fitness watch or phone, you should try to reach >15,000 steps every day.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - ABOVE AVERAGE

Elevation training is a major consideration in your overall training program. You must include walks with serious hill climbs.

If you do not have access to hills, it is essential to replicate the elevation level you will be undertaking in any way possible such as on a treadmill or stair climber. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand, or up and down small hills is incredibly useful. Also, prioritising resistance weight training will help you develop overall muscle strength.  Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems, opposed to distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking.

If high altitude is a factor, incorporate sessions at a higher altitude to acclimatise your body to reduced oxygen levels if you are able to. Ensure you can comfortably walk the average elevation per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

MOUNTAINOUS / UNDULATING TERRAIN

As terrain associated with mountain climbs is often somewhat uneven and rocky, balancing and core exercises are vital.

Try to also include some form of elevation in more than 50% of your walking and prioritise resistance training, whilst incorporating stairs anytime you can. Walking up mountains or hills, up and down stairs at work, or up and down at a local oval with a grandstand is incredibly useful. Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking. Concentrate on doing lots of squats and lunges to build your glute muscles.

AVAILABILITY

This walk is available from April through to October.
Always be prepared for a change of weather! Regardless of when you travel, you can experience rainy days with temperatures dipping to 12°C and on the same day, clear skies and sunshine of up to 22°C. In the early and later weeks of the season, it isn’t unusual to see snow on the mountain tops and you may even experience a frost. May and June are usually the months with the least rainfall, followed by July, August and September. However, what Scotland lacks in warm weather, it truly makes up for it with hospitality.

THE WALKING

We grade this walk as moderate – A moderate active lifestyle makes the walking enjoyable, an exercise regime of 2 to 3 times a week is needed along with usual walks. Typically, days are generally easy-going underfoot and you should be used to covering up to 25km per day with up to 600m of ascent and descent. The route will have sections of ascending, rocky trails and in places, lose terrain underfoot. Trails are very well-defined and are very well way-marked. You will walk on forest tracks, hill paths, bridleways and across moorland that has well-defined tracks. You will also walk through some towns and villages. Although the route is well waymarked, for each of your walks, you will be provided with daily summaries, a map, a guidebook and the GPX tracks if you require to use them for your own device.

HOW TO GET THERE AND AWAY

This walk starts in Bridge of Orchy and finishes in Fort William.

To Bridge of Orchy
Bridge of Orchy is a remote and beautiful settlement. Arrival by train is generally the best way to reach the Bridge of Orchy from either Glasgow or Edinburgh. Services from Glasgow are direct (2hrs 30mins), whereas from Edinburgh you would need to change trains in Glasgow (3hrs 15mins).

If travelling from London, we would suggest taking a domestic flight to either Glasgow or Edinburgh and then catching the train to the Bridge of Orchy.

Caledonian Sleeper Train – London to Scotland
A great way to travel from London is by taking the overnight Caledonian Sleeper train. Depending on the day, services depart London Euston around 9 pm, travelling through the night arriving at the Bridge of Orchy at around 8 am the following day. Find out more information and book tickets www.sleeper.scot.

Onward Travel From Fort William
Fort William has great train connections through to Glasgow (4hrs), Edinburgh (5hrs) and London. Travelling to London you can either travel during the day (9hrs, with a change of stations in Glasgow) or return by the Caledonian Sleeper service, departing Fort William at 8 pm and arriving the next morning into London Euston at 8 am.

For all train travel in the UK, please check The Trainline or National Rail for timetables, prices and ticket purchases.

Another useful planning tool for travel is Rome2Rio should you be travelling from, or to, other destinations.

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.