Distant Journeys

Day 2: We begin our journey through Scotland at the official start of the West Highland Way located the center of Milnegavie. It begins as a gentle valley walk along the Blane and Endrick Rivers with views of the distant hills to come. Following old jeep tracks, country lanes, and abandoned railway lines we will cross the plains of East Dumbartonshire and southern Stirlingshire through woodlands and pastoral countryside.

As we pass Craigallian Loch we’ll have views of the rugged Campsie Fells, a range of hills in Central Scotland. If we choose, perhaps we’ll stop for visit and tour at the Glengoyne Distillery and learn about about Scotch. We will end the day at our hotel in the pleasant village of Dryman with its village green and one of the oldest registered pubs in Scotland, established in 1734.

Day 3: Leaving Dryman we rejoin the “Way” just outside of the village. Walking on a wide track we ascend gradually through the Garadhban Forest, as we appraoch our first major climb of the route, Conic Hill (1184’). From the top we’ll have great views of Loch Lomond and the mountainous Scottish countryside. After a steep descent we arrive in the small village of Balmaha on the shore of Loch Lomond. Britain’s largest body of water, 23 miles long, Loch Lomond was formed by a glacier about 10,000 years ago.

Day 4: A shorter day today leads from Balmaha to Rowardennan. We will follow along the “bonnie banks” of Loch Lomand, with its native woodlands, rocky coves and small beaches, arriving in Rowardennan and our night’s accommodation.

Day 5: Hike to Ben Lomond. In 1891, Sir Hugo Munro published the first list of all Scotland’s peaks over 3,000’. Until that time there had been much debate as to exactly how many 3,000’peaks there actually were in Scotland. Since then these peaks have been referred to as “The Munros”. Ben Lomond, (3,195’) is the most southerly of Scotland’s Munro’s. It stands high above Loch Lomond and is the first real mountain we will pass on the West Highland Way. Weather permitting and for those so inclined, we will spend this day hiking up Ben Lomond. From the summit, we will have superb views of both the Highlands and the Lowlands. Overnight in Rowardennan.

Day 6: Leaving the Rowardennan, we begin our hike along Loch Lomond. Considered by many to be the most arduous section of the “Way”, the trail hugs the shore crossing sections encumbered by boulders and tree roots. The scenery, however, is spectacular as we hike among an oak forests with views across the Loch, including the landmark of the “Cobbler”, a rugged mountain rising on the opposite side of the Loch. Continuing alongside the lake we will pass by Rob Roy’s Cave, the hideaway of the Scottish hero Rob Roy MacGregor, known as the Robin Hood of the Highlands. Reaching the end of the Loch, we take a short ferry ride to our hotel in Ardlui.

Day 7: We cross back across the loch to rejoin the “Way”. Our trail leads over a hill to Invararnan, where we will have time for a coffee or an early lunch at the historic Drover’s Inn, the oldest pub in Scotland. After our break, we will hike through Glen Falloch following an old military road and alongside the River Falloch. We will have views of gorges, mountains, rapids and falls, Grey Mares Tail Falls and the Falls of Falloch. Today is the halfway point of the “Way”. Overnight in Crianlarich.

Day 8: Crianlarich to Inveroran. After a short transfer we begin our walk in Tyndrum. Today’s route will include moderate ascents and descents and of course fine mountain views, as we follow some of the old drove roads. These drove roads were created during the 17th and 18th century in order to get the cattle to market in the Lowlands. Some villages along the “Way” saw almost 100,000 sheep and 10,000 cattle pass through each year. We will then hike along the foot of the picturesque cone of Beinn Odhar, and then the more imposing Beinn Dorian before reaching Bridge of Orchy. From here, one last climb and descent will lead us our hotel in Inveroran.

Day 9: Today we will hike through some of the most exposed and isolated section of the “Way”. Though a challenging day, we will be rewarded with the beautiful landscape of the Highlands. Crossing the Black Mount, a high moorland plateau, we climb gradually to the summit at 1,500’ and then begin our long descent into Kingshouse and our stop for the night.

Day 10: We will have a shorter hike today, though still demanding, as we cross over the highest point of the “Way” at 1,850 feet. The climb begins with the “Devil’s Staircase”. Not as bad as the name may suggest, the route follows an old military road built in 1750 by about 450 soldiers. The nickname comes from the switchback section near the summit. With views of the Glen Coe Mountains behind us, we begin our long descent to Kinlochleven, while at the same time enjoying the new scenery in front of us, the ridges of the Mamores with the massif of Ben Nevis behind.

Day 11: Our last day on the “Way” begins with a climb of 900′ arriving at the Lairigmor, the “great pass”, situated between high hills on our left and the even higher Mamores to our right. There are 11 Munros in this section of the West Highland Way. As we descend to Fort Williams, our stop for the night, the route travels through the Nevis Forest with distant views of our destination, Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. One of Scotland’s main attractions at 4,406′, “The Ben”, with its rocky summit and 2,000′ cliffs on the North Face, often has snow on its peak even in summer. With a great sense of accomplishment we arrive in Fort Williams and will end our trip with a farewell dinner.

Day 12: The trip will end after one last Scottish breakfast. Individual travel to Glasgow. Normally participants take the train from Fort Williams to Glasgow, about 4 hours (no advance reservations needed). There are two trains per day from Fort Williams to the Glasgow train station: 8:00 and 12:00 noon. Once at the train station there are frequent shuttle buses to the airport, about 15 minutes away. Unless your flight departs in the later afternoon (15:00 or later) or you have other travel plans, you should plan on spending the night in Glasgow.