West Highland Way: Glasgow to Fort William

Stage routesUnited Kingdom

West Highland Way: Glasgow to Fort William

Seven days across the Highlands: Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor and Glencoe.

On foot · Stage by stage · 152 km · 7 stages · 2 min read

What the West Highland Way is like

It runs from the edge of Glasgow to Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis: the shore of Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. It is the perfect first long-distance walk, well waymarked, with villages and pubs every few hours.

Only the east shore of Loch Lomond is slow, with roots and rocks, and Rannoch Moor is almost always wet, so waterproof boots help.

Key facts

TypeOn foot
Distance152 km
Total climbing2,771 m
Start and finishMilngavie → Fort William
On foot7 days, 22 km a day on average
When to goApril to October. Midges peak in June and July: repellent and a head net if you camp.
Pick your stages

From where to where?

The whole route is 7 stages. Pick where you start and finish: always in a stage town.

Usual: 7 days.

KEAGO MAP
ⓘ© MapTiler · © OpenStreetMap contributors
Route profile152 km · 7 stages
0 m150 m300 m1234567

Altitude of each stage town; each stage's climbing is in its details.

7 days, 152.2 km and 2,771 m of climbing: about 21.7 km a day and 6 nights on the way.

  1. Milngavie → Drymen19 km · 200 m D+Eat: Balmaha
  2. Drymen → Rowardennan23 km · 400 m D+
  3. Rowardennan → Inverarnan22 km · 500 m D+Eat: Inversnaid
  4. Inverarnan → Tyndrum20 km · 450 m D+
  5. Tyndrum → Kingshouse30 km · 350 m D+Eat: Bridge of Orchy
  6. Kingshouse → Kinlochleven14 km · 400 m D+
  7. Kinlochleven → Fort William24.2 km · 471 m D+Eat: Lairigmor

Create your account and build Milngavie to Fort William in 7 days.

It is free and takes a minute.

  • Save the plan and pick up where you left off
  • Carry it on your phone, map and times included
  • Send it to your group with one link
  • Download the itinerary and the calendar
Create my accountI already have an account

How to plan it

It is 7 stages and 152 km, about 22 km a day; at an easier pace, eight or nine days. Arrive by train from Glasgow to Milngavie and return by train from Fort William on a beautiful line; an extra day lets you climb Ben Nevis.

Walk it from April to October; June and July bring midges. B&Bs are booked months ahead because beds are few, and bag transfer services carry your pack between stops.

Stages

  1. Milngavie → Drymen19 km · +200 mEat: Balmaha, Conic Hill
  2. Drymen → Rowardennan23 km · +400 mLoch Lomond shore and the Ben
  3. Rowardennan → Inverarnan22 km · +500 mEat: Inversnaid, Crianlarich
  4. Inverarnan → Tyndrum20 km · +450 mOld gold mines and Rannoch gateway
  5. Tyndrum → Kingshouse30 km · +350 mEat: Bridge of Orchy, Glencoe
  6. Kingshouse → Kinlochleven14 km · +400 mGrey Mare's waterfall and via ferrata
  7. Kinlochleven → Fort William24.2 km · +471 mEat: Lairigmor, Glen Nevis · Ben Nevis and the Caledonian Canal

One stage a day, town to town. Approximate distance and climbing: every GPX varies a little.

Frequently asked questions

How long is West Highland Way: Glasgow to Fort William?152 km in total, with around 2,771 m of climbing.
How many days does it take?7 days on foot (22 km average per stage).
Where do people usually sleep?The usual overnight points are Drymen, Rowardennan, Inverarnan, Tyndrum, Kingshouse, Kinlochleven, Fort William. The stage table lists them section by section.
Where does West Highland Way: Glasgow to Fort William start and end?It starts in Milngavie and ends in Fort William. You can start or finish at any stage end.
When is the best time to go?April to October. Midges peak in June and July: repellent and a head net if you camp.

In Keago this route becomes a plan: one card per stage with time and duration, the daily track, each night's accommodation with link and location, the meals, and both travel tickets where the whole group can see them. Everyone confirms and you know who is missing.

Create your account and keep building your West Highland Way: Glasgow to Fort William plan.

It is free and takes a minute.

  • Save the plan and pick up where you left off
  • Carry it on your phone, map and times included
  • Send it to your group with one link
  • Download the itinerary and the calendar
Create my accountI already have an account