Introduction
This is Scotland’s first and most popular national trail. It is 152km/95 miles long and links Britain’s largest lake, Loch Lomond, with its highest mountain, Ben Nevis. It starts on the outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland’s greatest city. After crossing the ‘Highland Boundary’ the trail follows the steep shores (or ‘bonnie banks’) of Loch Lomond for 2 days past the foot of Ben Lomond.

For the next 2 days you follow deep glaciated glens to reach the open wilderness of Rannoch Moor. After traversing the Moor the final 2 days are spent crossing two mountain ridges, separated by the deep gash of Loch Leven, to reach journey’s end at Fort William, close to the foot of Ben Nevis.

Much of the route traces the 'military roads' built by General Wade in the 18th century as part of the English campaign to subdue the Highlanders.

Season & dates
Mid-May to mid-September, start any day. Better avoid starting from Milngavie on a Friday or Saturday because of the pressure on accommodation throughout the tour.

Duration
Full tour L9: 9 nights/8 walking days. Really fit hikers may prefer to reduce the number of nights. If so, please ask us about this before booking. Alternatively, you can opt to start the tour at Drymen rather than Milngavie, which reduces the length of the tour by one night. Half tours L5S (south) and L5N(north): 5 nights/4 walking days. Please note that the half tours are NOT easier options. If anything you need to be even more fit at the start of a half-tour, as the most people find the first few days of a tour the hardest, and require several days to get into the rhythm.

Grade of difficulty
Moderate to strenuous hiking. Routefinding mostly easy as the trail is well-waymarked and well-trodden. Very few awkward or vertigo-inducing sections. For more details see section 'QUALIFICATIONS' of the factsheet for this tour (FSL), available by e-mail.

Summary programmes
L9 (full tour)
Day 1 Arrive Milngavie (outskirts of Glasgow)
Day 2 Walk Milngavie to Drymen (19km/12 miles)
Day 3 Walk Drymen to Rowardennan (24km/15 miles)
Day 4 Walk Rowardennan to Inverarnan (22.5km/14 miles)
Day 5 Walk Inverarnan to Tyndrum (20km/12 miles)
Day 6 Walk Tyndrum to Inveroran (16km/10 miles)
Day 7 Walk Inveroran to Kingshouse (16km/10 miles)
Day 8 Walk Kingshouse to Kinlochleven (14.5km/9 miles)
Day 9 Walk Kinlochleven to Glen Nevis/Fort William (22km/14 miles) (2km less to Glen Nevis)
Day 10 Depart Glen Nevis/Fort William
L5S (half tour south)
Days 1 to 5 as L9
Day 6 Depart Tyndrum
LFN (half tour north)
Day 1 Arrive Tyndrum
Days 2 to 5 as L9 Days 6 to 9
Day 6 Depart Glen Nevis/Fort William

For more details of the itinerary see section ‘DETAILED PROGRAMME' of the factsheet for this tour (FSL), available by e-mail.

Rail stations and train service. The rail station for the starting point of the West Highland Way (for full tour L9 and half tour L5S) is Milngavie, reached by frequent suburban trains from central Glasgow. The rail station for the end of the half tour L5S and the start of the half tour L5N is Tyndrum**. Tyndrum is linked with Glasgow by 3 trains per day. The rail station for the end point of the West Highland Way (for full tour L9 and half tour LN) is Fort William, which is linked with Glasgow by 3 trains per day. On Sundays train services may be slower and less frequent.
There is also an overnight sleeper train service linking London with Tyndrum and Fort William in both directions 6 times per week (not Saturday nights). Advance booking essential.
**There are actually 2 rail stations at Tyndrum, one on the Glasgow-Fort William line and the other on the Glasgow-Oban line.
Airports. The airports with international flights best placed for the West Highland Way are Glasgow, Prestwick and Edinburgh. From the end of the trail at Fort William Inverness is also a possible departure airport.
Accommodation. Small hotels, inns, and guest houses (B&Bs); generally with en-suite (ES) or private (PB) bathroom facilities, which can be guaranteed throughout the tour on payment of a supplement.
Baggage transfers. Are included throughout the tour. One piece of baggage per person, max 20kg.
Meals included. Breakfast each morning; other meals can be obtained locally without pre-booking.
Extra nights. These can be included at any point on the tour at the time of booking the holiday. For suggestions see the Factsheet FSL. For prices see below.
Factsheets. These are more detailed information sheets, which should be obtained from The Discerning Traveller before booking. The Factsheet code for this tour is FSL. See Enquiry form

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West Highland Way - tour prices 2010

• L9 (9 nights tour, ES or PB most nights): £660. SRS*: £170. STS**: £210.
• L5S or L5N (5 nights tour, ES or PB most nights): £480. SRS*: £90. STS**: £110.
• Extra nights £55 per person per night. Single rooms may cost more.
• SRS* = single room supplement (applicable when 3 or 5 persons book together).
• STS** = single traveller supplement (applicable when booking is for one person only)
• Note 1. Normally a maximum of 1 single room per booking.
• Note 2. Extra night prices may be higher for single rooms.
• Basic prices quoted are per person on basis of two people in double or twin-bedded rooms. Included in the price are bed and breakfast each night, with baggage transfers, maps and route directions. 'ES' (en suite) facilities means that there is a private bathroom with shower or tub and toilet within the main door of your room. 'PB' means that the private bathroom may be outside the main door of your room. When the booking is made for a party of 3 or 5 customers, a single room supplement is payable for one person.

Other tours which may be of interest. Also located in the magnificent landscapes of the Central Highlands is our more leisurely tour Highland Wilderness. Or you can explore the remote north-west coast of Scotland and its spectacular mountain scenery on our tour Far North-west.

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