The West Highland Way

Transcription

1 Self Guided The West Highland Way View Trip Dates Book Now Trip Grade: Blue 6

2 Point to Point The West Highland Way The West Highland Way is a classic long distance walk, covering 152 kilometres (95 miles) from Milngavie on the outskirts of Glasgow, to Fort William in the Highlands. The route travels past the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, across the atmospheric Rannoch Moor, past dramatic Glencoe and onwards to finish at the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain s highest mountain. The West Highland Way is one of the classic treks of the world and is undertaken by many people of all ages from across the world, making it a fun and social trek. On this selfguided walk we arrange your accommodation each evening and baggage transfer, as well as providing you with detailed route notes and maps so that you get the most out of this wonderful trek. Highlights Take on the challenge of Scotland s most famous and one of the world s greatest long distance trails - the West Highland Way. Immerse yourself in the spectacular scenery as you walk through the beautiful landscapes of Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. We will arrange all accommodation, luggage transfer and provide you with maps and comprehensive route notes. Book with confidence You pick the dates that suit you we make all the arrangements required. PLEASE NOTE The itinerary may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wilderness Scotland Guide with regard to weather conditions and other factors.

3 Planned Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Milngavie Day 2 Milngavie to Drymen Day 3 Drymen to Rowardennan Day 4 Rowardennan to Inverarnan Day 5 Inverarnan to Tyndrum Day 6 Tyndrum to Glencoe* Day 7 Glencoe to Kinlochleven Day 8 Kinlochleven to Fort William Day 9 Fort William and Depart Arrival Info Make your own transport arrangements to Milngavie and your first nights accommodation Departure Info From Fort William depart for home or onward travel after breakfast the day after completing the hike. For advice on getting to and from Scotland please our travel advice page on our website:

4 Day 1 Arrive in Milngavie On the first day of the trip you make your own way to Milngavie, on the northern fringes of Glasgow. This is the start point of the trail where you ll spend the night at your first guesthouse, ready to start hiking tomorrow. Day 2 Milngavie to Drymen Starting from Milngavie you hike north along the West Highland Way, passing Craigallian and Carbeth Lochs. You skirt the western flanks of the Campsie Fells where many a Glasgow mountaineer enjoyed their first outing before you reach the first night s accommodation in the village of Drymen at the south-eastern corner of Loch Lomond. Your bags will have been collected from your accommodation while you hike and will be waiting for you in your room when you arrive. Walk details: 19km/12 miles Ascent: 210m/690ft Day 3 Drymen to Rowardennan The trail leaves Drymen and passes through Garadhban Forest. Leaving the forest you can choose to climb Conic Hill, 361m in height with great views over Loch Lomond or a low level alternative path that skirts below the hill. Reaching the eastern banks of Loch Lomond at Balmaha, you follow the shore through forestry until you reach the tranquil setting of Rowardennan, which is nestled at the foot of Ben Lomond. Walk details: 21km/ 13 miles Ascent: 430m/1,410ft

5 Day 4 Rowardennan to Inverarnan This day is considered by many hikers to be the toughest day on the trail. It follows the remote north-eastern shoreline of Loch Lomond, on a rough undulating trail. The path improves as you near your next destination, the tiny settlement of Invernarnan. Walk details: 23km/ 14 miles Ascent: 475m/1,560ft Day 5 Inverarnan to Tyndrum Well into the Highlands now, you are surrounded by rugged mountain peaks. You make your way along Glen Falloch before turning northwards into Strath Fillan. As you approach Tyndrum you are rewarded with wonderful views of Ben Lui rising up in the west. Walk details: 19km/ 12 miles Ascent: 490m/1,608ft Day 6 Tyndrum to Glencoe* This fantastic day begins with a climb out of Tyndrum, with the trail running next to the West Highland Railway line. At the top of the pass the sweeping flanks of Ben Dorain dominate the view. Continuing north you reach Bridge of Orchy and then Inveroran, which makes a good lunch stop. The shapely peaks of the Black Mount now lie to the west while Rannoch Moor stretches into the distance in front of you. Follow the trail across the wild moor, eventually reaching Glencoe and your accommodation at the Kingshouse. A memorable day of trekking! *Day 6 can be split into 2 shorter days with an extra night s accommodation Walk details: 30km/ 18.5 miles Ascent: 644m/2,110ft

6 Day 7 Glencoe to Kinlochleven This is a shorter day but with the biggest ascent of the route. You hike into Glencoe then climb the trail known as the Devil s Staircase. It is steep with some switchbacks the ascent is steady and constant. At the top of the pass at 547m, you get great views of Glencoe and down Loch Leven. Descend on a good trail to the small village of Kinlochleven. Walk details: 14km/ 8.5 miles Ascent: 430m/1,410ft Day 8 Kinlochleven to Fort William The final day sees the trail climb over a final pass 274m this time. With views across to Ben Nevis the highest mountain in Scotland the trail descends into Glen Nevis and down to the end of the route in Fort William. You ve made it! Reward yourself with a good dinner tonight! Walk details: 24km/ 15 miles Ascent: 475m/1,560ft Day 9 Fort William and Depart After a leisurely breakfast, you can put on some comfortable footwear and explore the town of Fort William before starting your journey home. If you travel back to Glasgow on the train along the West Highland Line you ll have the chance to look out for familiar sights and reflect on a memorable hike through Scotland s Highlands.

7 Trip Grading Blue 6 Blue graded walking holidays are suitable for fit and experienced hikers. We walk at a good pace and you can expect to be out for 6-8 hours a day. You will not always be on a path and the terrain underfoot can be rough and boggy, including boulder fields and mountain tops. Some of the daily walks will involve a mountain ascent of over 3000ft / 900m high. Daily distances will be up to approx 16km but may be longer occasionally. The weather in Scotland can be unpredictable and at times can make activities more challenging. Please do bear this in mind when thinking about what trip to join. If you have any questions about the grading, then please do give our Adventure Consultants a call to chat through your experience and suitability for this trip. It is your responsibility to ensure you are appropriately fit and capable of doing the described hikes in the expected times. Please refer to the grading section on our website for more details. If you are unsure we encourage you to speak to us first.

8 Accommodation and Meals This is a point to point itinerary where you walk to a new accommodation each day. The accommodation on this trip is graded as Classic and we handpick the best available accommodation along the route, which ranges from small guesthouses, Highland inns, small hotels and bed and breakfast establishments. As accommodation is in short supply on this route however, please note that some establishments will be better than others. Our accommodation partners are carefully chosen according to a number of factors - charming locations, very good facilities and a reputation for providing Highland hospitality. Wherever available, we will reserve en suite rooms for you, however on this trip it is not always possible. Breakfast is included each morning. Lunches and evening meals are not included however many guest houses will also be able to provide a packed lunch for you if you ask them the night before. Local shops sell sandwiches and snacks for the day ahead. Evening meals can be taken in local restaurants, hotels or bars. Single Rooms Due to the nature of the accommodations we use, single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis. Wherever available, we will reserve en suite rooms for you. Please note however that on the West Highland Way this is not always possible due to the limited accommodation options, so on some nights you will have private facilities instead.

9 Inclusions This trip includes the following: 8 nights accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis in guest houses, B&Bs, small hotels and inns along the route. Luggage transfer for 1 bag per person for the duration of the trip, meaning you will only have to carry a day rucksack while you hike Comprehensive information pack containing your maps, route notes, amenities dossier and helpful information for your hike The services of the Wilderness Scotland Team prior to & during your trip Extra Nights & Accommodation Upgrades If you wish to choose upgraded accommodation you may consider the following options. Please contact a member of the team to book. Upgraded accommodation package we will reserve the best rooms available along the route Split Day 6 and walk the route over 9 days. Upgraded package plus luxury nights at 5 star Inverlochy Castle and Glencoe House

10 Our holidays reviewed in your words Great Self Guided Tour on the West Highland Way. We really liked all the accommodations, and baggage transfer was easy and efficient. Laura Roe All Trip Reviews Here

11 Sustainable Travel Wilderness Scotland is committed to the principles of ecotourism. We work very hard to ensure our engagements with local communities, wild lands and wildlife are positive. We are a proud partner of the Leave No Trace Centre for Outdoor Ethics, which enhances our commitment to responsible activity in Scotland s wild lands, as enshrined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC). We are also proud to be a John Muir Trust Peak Partner. Thanks in part to the generosity of our clients though our Conservation Contribution scheme the John Muir Trust can rely on our investment to go towards conservation projects that have a deep connection to Wilderness Scotland and the areas we adventure in. You can learn more about the work we re doing with the John Muir Trust and the other ways we care for the wild places we love here.

12 Equipment List Check out our guide on what to wear when adventuring in Scotland. wildernessscotland.com/blog/hiking-in-scotland-what-to-wear Eat Stay See Looking for accommodation for before or after your adventure with us? Check out our list of where to stay and what to do Eat Stay See Glasgow.pdf Eat Stay See Fort William.pdf General Info Scotland From food and drink to the Loch Ness Monster, our General Info for Scotland guide has got you covered for all your need to know facts. General-Info-Scotland.pdf

13 Travel Insurance It is your responsibility to take out appropriate travel insurance to cover you during your trip. This should include cover for cancellation prior to the trip, the activities undertaken (i.e hiking), curtailment, and adequate medical insurance for sickness/ injury and medical repatriation. We also strongly recommend you have cover for your other travel arrangements such as flights, and your personal possessions. We suggest you do your own research to find the best insurance cover for you however the follow companies offer suitable policies. Campbell Irvine Direct campbellirvinedirect.com Journeyman Insurance Services journeyman-services.com/travelinsurance If you cancel your holiday charges will apply. Please see section 2 of our terms and conditions for a breakdown: wildernessscotland.com/make-a-booking/booking-conditions Travel With Confidence You can book with us in complete confidence that all trip payments made to us are fully protected. Wilderness Scotland Ltd is a licensed and bonded tour operator. Your financial security is guaranteed through our membership and bonding with ABTA.

14 FAQs Looking for more information? Check out our frequently asked questions page. wildernessscotland.com/selfguided/faq Questions To Ask? Ready to Book? If you want to get in touch please send us an or give us a call. We accept bookings online, by , or over the phone. A deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking to secure the trip with the balance payable 8 weeks (56 days) before departure. If booking less than 56 days before the trip start date, full payment of the trip price is required immediately. We accept payment by credit or debit card, or bank transfer. info@wildernessscotland.com Tel (UK and Europe): +44(0) Tel (US and Canada): View Trip Dates Book Now