|
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
Top of page
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.
Top of page
Click here for The Discerning Traveller
Home Page.
About self-led hiking and walking tours
Our postal address is The Discerning Traveller,
38 Canal Street, OXFORD OX2 6BQ, United Kingdom.
Telephone and fax 0(044)1865 515618. E-mail:info@discerningtraveller.co.uk

www.discerningtraveller.co.uk
|