West Highland Way Walking Holidays

Walk Scotland’s best-known long-distance trail from Milngavie to Fort William through classic Highland scenery of lochs, glens and mountain passes.

Nights: 4 to 10 Nights
Distance: 43 to 96 miles
Location: West Scotland
Difficulty: Moderate – Challenging
Season: Mar to Oct
Price from: £615

From £615 per person

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Highlights

Scotland’s Flagship Walking Trail: A Journey Through Dramatic Scenery

Conic Hill: Panoramic views across Loch Lomond and its scattered islands.
Loch Lomond Shoreline: Wooded paths and open stretches along Scotland’s largest loch.
Rannoch Moor: A wide and remote expanse of Highland moorland.
Buachaille Etive Mòr: Towering above the trail near Glencoe, this striking Highland peak is one of Scotland’s most recognisable mountains.
Devil’s Staircase: Climb to 550 metres, the highest point on the route.
Highland Hospitality: Share the trail with fellow walkers and welcoming Highland communities.

Walking the West Highland Way

The West Highland Way is Scotland’s most established long-distance walking route, stretching 96 miles from Milngavie near Glasgow to Fort William beneath Ben Nevis. It offers a gradual journey north into increasingly dramatic Highland landscapes, from wooded lowlands to open moor and mountain passes.

The trail combines varied terrain with a strong sense of progression and achievement. It is regarded as one of Britain’s classic long-distance walks, suitable for regular walkers seeking a sustained and rewarding challenge.

A hiker poses next to a West Highland Way signpost with a large mountain in the background

Your Journey Along the West Highland Way

From Milngavie, the route passes through farmland before climbing Conic Hill, where wide views open across Loch Lomond. The path then follows the loch’s eastern shoreline, with wooded stretches, rocky sections and quieter bays marking the transition into more rugged terrain.

Beyond Loch Lomond, the landscape broadens across Rannoch Moor, one of Scotland’s most remote and atmospheric settings. The route continues beneath the striking form of Buachaille Etive Mor and climbs the Devil’s Staircase to 550 metres, the highest point of the trail, before descending through forest towards Fort William.

The West Highland Way may be walked in full or in shorter sections, and in either direction.

Walking holiday map of the the West Highland Way

History and Character of the Route

The West Highland Way follows historic drovers’ roads and sections of military road constructed in the 18th century after the Jacobite Risings. These routes once linked Highland communities with markets in the south and formed part of the government’s efforts to control the region.

Today, traces of that history remain visible in the landscape and in the character of the inns and settlements along the way. Walking the West Highland Way offers not only varied scenery, but also a clear sense of Scotland’s past and its enduring Highland culture.

Whitewashed Highland cottage at Blackrock beneath Buachaille Etive Mòr on the West Highland Way.

“I began walking the West Highland Way regularly in the late 1950s, only it wasn’t the West Highland Way then; it was my route from home to school, 5 miles each way, there and back. Little could I imagine the WHW would be today one of the most popular walking trails in Europe.”

Angus Cunningham

Founder, Celtic Trails

Choose Your Walk

Our West Highland Way Itineraries

Milngavie to Fort William

96 miles (154.5 km)

7 Nights Challenging
WHW0
From £1,020 Per Person
8 Nights Moderate to Challenging
WHW1
From £1,155 Per Person
9 Nights Moderate
WHW2
From £1,320 Per Person
10 Nights Moderate
WHW3
From £1,450 Per Person

Tyndrum to Fort William

44 miles (70.8 km)

5 Nights Moderate
WHW4
From £790 Per Person
4 Nights Moderate to Challenging
WHW5
From £615 Per Person

Milngavie to Tyndrum

53 miles (85.3 km)

6 Nights Moderate
WHW6
From £810 Per Person
5 Nights Moderate to Challenging
WHW7
From £680 Per Person

Key Information

Good standard accommodation at a mixture of guesthouses, farmhouses, local inns and B&Bs with en-suite or private facilities
Breakfast
Luggage transfers
Personal transfer between accommodation and path that form a part of our standard package
Route planning
Walk pack including Trail Guide and mapping, itinerary, accommodation directions and route notes, lunch and dinner information, restaurant recommendations and holiday planning details

Customise your trip?

Looking for different mileages or a different number of nights? Please contact us to discuss how our itineraries can be adjusted to meet your specific needs.

Telephone: +44 (0)1291 689 774
Email: walk@celtic-trails.com

West Highland Way Client Reviews

4.8/5 based on 92 reviews

"Celtic Trails provided an excellent service. The staff were competent and friendly. Questions were always answered promptly."

Anon

August 2025

"Unique once in a lifetime challenge!"

Anon

July 2025

"They were efficient and responded promptly to queries"

Anon

July 2025

"I would recommend Celtic Trails to anyone considering a long distance walking holiday. The standard of accommodation is really good, instructions are clear, always ready to answer questions when necessary."

Paul Carroll

July 2025

"Very responsive, great service, no nasty surprises"

Sabine, Belgium

July 2025

"From the first communication I had with Penny, I was impressed with how quickly she responded and followed up with answers to our questions. The itinerary was so well-detailed that we always knew what to do. The accommodations were amazing!! We never once worried about anything. Every transfer was on time. We never once gave it thought. We would arrive at our next destination and there was our luggage. Wow! I was so, so pleased with every aspect of the service, accommodations, transfers, etc. It was truly a wonderful experience."

Michelle L.

July 2025

"Turnkey, very professional, excellent communication reliable"

Anon

June 2025

"Outstanding communication throughout the booking process and all follow-up questions. Books in the packet were detailed and highly useful."

Kathy Ryan

May 2025

"The knowledge that we were able to do such a physical task at almost 70 years of age was a great achievement and we feel stronger and more ready to do another! We also realize that pre-training is vital, so we will continue to exercise and do lengthy walks regularly. Pushing yourself to go beyond what you feared was too difficult, and succeeding through determination and the spirit of self-encouragement was rewarding and fulfilling. We also loved the comradery of the other hikers we passed and passed us as we journeyed together to achieve this undertaking. It is a special bond of like-minded support and encouragement. We never felt along. Hugs and high fives all around! Excellent accommodations, (except one host couple), great packet, very available for questions and/or concerns. I felt they really went above and beyond to make our vacation special."

Steve and Nancy Quinn

April 2025

Hand-Picked Accommodation: Comfort Along the Way

We seek out the best accommodation of its type available

Points of Interest

Ben Nevis
One of the defining moments of walking the West Highland Way is the approach to Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain at 1,345 metres. Towering above Fort William, its broad, often cloud-capped summit creates a dramatic backdrop to the final stages of the route and a strong sense of arrival in the Highlands.
On the Kinlochleven to Fort William stage, the path descends steadily through glens and forestry, with glimpses of Ben Nevis growing ever more prominent. For many, the journey culminates with the option to climb the mountain itself, a fitting challenge at the end of this iconic long-distance walk.
Loch Lomond
One of the pleasures of walking the West Highland Way is the diversity of landscape, from wooded lowlands and open moor to the vast waters of Loch Lomond. By surface area, it is the largest body of freshwater in Britain and is dotted with around thirty islands, including Inchconnachan, home to a small colony of wallabies.
On the Drymen to Rowardennan stage, far-reaching views open up from Conic Hill across the loch and its islands.

Media Gallery

Loch Lomond from Conic Hill walking west highland way

Buachaille Etive Mòr in Glencoe, Scottish Highlands

View over Loch Lomond and its islands from Conic Hill

Red deer stag in Highland glen on the West Highland Way

Smiling walker on the West Highland Way with hills in the background — Tyndrum to Inveroran, taken by one of our walkers, Patty, on the West Highland Way

Wooded island on Loch Lomond with Highland hills beyond — Loch Maoil Dhuinne, near Rowardennan

West Highland Way crossing open moorland beneath Highland mountains

West Highland Way start marker at Milngavie beside Loch Lomond — Rowardennan Statue

West Highland Way passing through a wide Highland glen — Near Tyndrum

Walkers on the West Highland Way between Bridge of Orchy and Glencoe with Loch Tulla seen beyond

Walkers crossing open moorland on the West Highland Way in the Scottish Highlands — Autumn on the West Highland Way

Customise your trip?

Looking for different mileages or a different number of nights? Please contact us to discuss how our itineraries can be adjusted to meet your specific needs.

Telephone: +44 (0)1291 689 774
Email: walk@celtic-trails.com

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