United Kingdom

West Highland Way Highlights

The West Highland Way is a 154km trail from the outskirts of Glasgow to the mountain town of Fort William on Scotland’s rugged West Coast. This trip will pick out the very best bits of the route.

Itinerary

Day 1: Meet the team

You’ll meet the guide at your accommodation in Arrochar. Here you'll spend some time getting to know your new team mates and enjoy a pub dinner in the evening.

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Day 2: Loch Lomond

After a hearty breakfast you'll head to the pier and hop on the boat to Inversnaid on the far side of Loch Lomond. From here you'll take a lovely footpath through the wooded shoreline in a northerly direction. Once at the end of the loch the trail begins to climb slightly beside the river to the Falls of Falloch.

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Day 3: Rannoch Moor

This morning starts with a different method of post-breakfast transport. You'll be hopping on the train to Tyndrum this time. You’ll make a short climb, before crossing the top of the pass and leaving the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Fear not though, as if anything, the scenery becomes more impressive as you travel north. The second half of the day is quite different to the first – You'll head up onto the vast expanse of desolate moorland, with an almost endless number of ponds and lochans dotted across it.

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Day 4: Devil's Staircase

After our long day yesterday, you’ve got a much shorter day today, but it’s not without challenge. After a gentle start you’ll come up against the infamous Devil’s Staircase to climb out of the top of Glencoe. If we’re all feeling fit and strong, you’ve got the option to ascend a peak just next to the path for some spectacular views.

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Day 5: Last leg to Fort William

Your final day takes you from Kinlochleven to Fort William. After a steep start to the day, you'll join the Old Military Road which gives you a steady track for a good few miles. In the afternoon, you can enjoy beautiful views of the mighty Ben Nevis as you make your descent into Glen Nevis.

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Have a question?

If you have any questions about this trip or want to speak with an expert, get in touch.

We're ready to help.

Team Images
Team Images
Team Images

FAQs

Included:

  • Guides
  • 4 nights hostel/hotel accommodation 
  • Meals as per the itinerary
  • Transfers during the trip

Excluded

  • Personal equipment
  • Travel to/from the event  

Start: You’ll meet at 7pm at the accommodation in Arrochar, on day 1 of the itinerary (exact location provided after booking)

End: You'll end in Fort William at 5pm on day 5 of your itinerary. For those of you who’ve left a car at Arrochar, there’s regular train services from Fort William.

You’ll be accommodated at local Hostels/hotels along the route. Exact details will be shared after booking. For your planning purposes, use Arrochar as the start location.  

To fully enjoy the trip you need to be in good physical condition and not completely new to exercise and activity on mountainous terrain. Your body and mind will need to cope with sustained activity, over a number of hours, on a variety of terrain, with steep descents and ascents, on very rocky ground at times. Please discuss personal issues on fitness and experience with us; we can offer advice on preparation. Your guide will ask you to complete a Booking Form declaring health and medical conditions in advance of your event. Your guide needs to know about how best to support you on the mountains.  

The weather in the mountains can be unpredictable at any time of year – we'll do our best to make the most of the day, that might be by getting an early start, or starting later after the worst of the weather has passed. On vary rare occasions the weather may force a more drastic change of route. If this occurs your Mountain Leader will discuss the options with you at the earliest opportunity during the event.  

18, or 16 if accompanied by an adult. 

The maximum group size is 10. 

Day 1: Not included

Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch 

Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch 

Day 5: Breakfast, Lunch 

The group tends to visit local pubs for their evening meals. 

Day 1: No hiking

Day 2: 22km 

Day 3: 31km

Day 4: 14km

Day 5: 24km

  • Rucksack (at least 25 litres) and liner or bags to keep rain out 
  • Comfortable walking boots or shoes with rugged sole/tread (gym trainers are not appropriate) 
  • Walking socks – breathable/not cotton (multiple pairs) 
  • Base layer – synthetic/breathable and not cotton 
  • Walking trousers and shorts – not jeans (option of full leg cover required even if you usually wear shorts) 
  • Warm, fleece layer (ideally windproof) and spare, warmer layer in rucksack 
  • Waterproof jacket with hood (with ‘taped seams’ – needed to be waterproof) 
  • Waterproof trousers (separate to your walking trousers) 
  • Warm hat and sun hat – both options will be needed 
  • Warm gloves
  • Headtorch (not hand-torch) and spare batteries 
  • Trekking poles are advisable 
  • Personal medication, blister treatment, suncream, painkillers 
  • Sandwich bags for sealing articles (including mobile phone) 
  • Reusable bottles or hydration bladder that equal 2 litres 
  • Battery pack to re-charge phone on/off the hill or on the move  
Your head guide is Ross

All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip your guides run RAW Adventures.

By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!

Ross