West Highland Way
We set off from Gatwick to take the short flight up to Glasgow to start the infamous West High Land Way; we had been told that this was the most popular long distance footpath in the UK.
Once in Glasgow we made our way to Milngavie by taxi to deposit our gear and start the walk.
Day 1: Milngavie to Drymen, 12 miles.
The start of the West Highland way begins at an Obelisk in the shopping centre close to the railway station.
This first stage is a rather inauspicious start to this great walk, as we left the built up area behind, the West Highland Way passes out north across country through the rolling hills and plains of the lowlands of Scotland to the Glengoyne Distillery nestled in the Campsie Fells, passing by Craigallian Loch, the wooded knoll of Drumgoyach and then on to the threshold of Loch Lomond.
This was an easy days walking along mostly flat ground with no major climbs our route followed footpaths, tracks and along old railway tracks which were largely built following the route of an old military road.
Day 2: Drymen to Rowardennan, 14 miles.
Today we leave the lowlands into the territory of the Scottish Highlands the route rises up Conic Hill 358m from here we had magnificent views of Loch Lomond, I have read that on a clear day it is possible to mark Ben Lomond 974m, Ben Vorlich 985m, Ben Vane 915m, Ben Ime 1011m and Ben Narnain 926m on an O.S map. We reached Loch Lomond at Balmaha, this section of the walk follows the Loch to Rowardennan and foot of Ben Lomond which is the most southerly of the Scottish Munro’s
Today’s walking was very mixed through fields, forests and fells and then the climb up Conic Hill but surprisingly from Balmaha to Rowardennan along the Loch’s shore it was a very up and down thus making today’s walking a little more strenuous.
Day 3: Rowardennan to Inverarnan 14 miles.
This was a hard days walking along the wooded eastern shoreline of the loch where our chosen route being a tortuous route clinging as close to the shore as we could, with steep craggy slopes leading down to Loch Lomond, once past the Inversnaid Hotel we had to have our wits about us as this section the path was very unforgiving as it was badly eroded, full of tree roots and very narrow, the route rose steeply away from the loch, looking back you had magnificent views across Loch Lomond, the walking became easier and eventually we started our decent into Glen Falloch.
A must is a visit to the Famous Drover’s Inn in Inverarnan – You have to see it to believe it.
Day 4: Inverarnan to Tyndrum 13 miles.
From Inverarnan the trail climbs away to Glen Falloch, today we leave Loch Lomond behind walking to Crianlarich and on eventually on to Tyndrum.
We travel off in a north easterly direction crossing the Glasgow - Fort William railway lines in Glen Falloch, there are scores of electricity pylons marking the way and then we ascend through forestry plantations from where we dropped down in to Crianlarich. On leaving Crianlarich the walking became relatively easier as we were travelling along the old military road we had a few small climbs but there was nothing to demanding we travelled through the forests above Strath Fillan then on to the historic ruins of St Fillans and eventually finished up in the mining village of Tyndrum.
Day 5: Tyndrum to Kingshouse 20 miles.
Travelling north from Tyndrum we followed the worn cobbled surface of the old military road to Bridge of Orchy this stretch was mainly flat and made for easy walking.
The West Highland Way then crosses the wild expanse of Rannoch Moor on the old drove road to Glen Coe, the first part of the Moor is called the Black Mount the name which it probably gets from the colour of the Peat that surrounds the way. This is a wonderful, desolate landscape and is the remotest and wildest section of the whole walk it would be exceptionally hostile in bad weather as there is no shelter for at least 10 miles from the highest point of 445m the West Highland Way descends to the isolated Kingshouse Hotel we are relived to finish today as the weather had turned and we had been walking through torrential rain all day.
Day 6: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven 9 miles.
As we leave we have some spectacular walking across inspiring mountain terrain the path goes a little way down Glen Coe before zig-zagging north over the notorious Devil's Staircase, an amazingly engineered section of the military road, this proved a hard climb after the long days walking that we had yesterday but once we had reached the top we had great views back towards Rannoch Moor, after passing the cairn marking the highest point on the West Highland Way, at 548m, you descend steeply into Kinlochleven an old aluminum town, the town now makes it’s living as a tourist destination.
Day 7: Kinlochleven to Fort William 14 miles.
The tough rewarding final day involves a sustained climb out of Kinlochleven the Way then descends from the Lairigmor pass and re-ascends through undulating forests and farmsteads this to it a very exposed section of the Way, you are walking through the range of mountains known as the Mamores, this then brings you into Glen Nevis, where all views are dominated by Ben Nevis on the glen's north side.
A short stop at the Climbers Bar at the base of Ben Nevis for a well deserved pint before walking the rest of the way to the official end of the West Highland Way is by the little roundabout at which Glen Nevis emerges onto the main A82, on the northern edge of Fort William.
Day 8: Accent of Ben Nevis - 1344m
This is the highest mountain in the country and offers some of the best climbing and walking to be had in Scotland both summer and winter, and it is highly rated by mountaineers from all over the world. It is because of this 'Highest' title that it is all the more popular, particularly with tourists and non mountaineers alike. On its NW flank an eroded track leads many people to the summit, we took the tourist route up, it was a steady climb to the top, but it was an awful day we could not see as far as our hand in front, the weather had closed in, the rain was pouring and the temperature plummeted, it was an uneventful walk up and I think the only reason we went up was so that we could say that we have conquered the route, it was an relative easy but strenuous walk to the top.
On reaching the top all we could see were clouds so we decided to make a quick exit and head for the climbers bar for a few well earned pints.
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