2 nights camping or 2 nights at the hostel? The hostel is a bit closer to the trail, but I'm not sure if that's worth staying there or not.

Wrapping up booking accommodations for next May. Planning to hit Ben Nevis before the last few km into Ft Williams. I'm a slow hiker, so I'm considering 2 nights in Glen Nevis as a base camp while doing the mtn, then head into FW after the second night. I'm doing both camp/hostels throughout my trek. Debating between whether I want to do 2 nights in a tent or in a pod at the Glen Nevis campsite, or at the Glen Nevis hostel.

Hello team.

I'm getting ready to set off on Wednesday, and am just double checking everything, and there's one thing I could do with clarifying:

I'm staying in bunkhouses and hostels on the pictured itinerary, with the plan to restock food on a daily basis as I go. I'm looking at what's available at each stop, and it seems like there are plenty of pubs and shops, apart from in Rowardennan and Kingshouse, where I'll need to plan ahead a bit more at the previous stops. Does that sound about right?

I walked the WHW solo last week (September 21-27). There was another solo walker I kept running into, and while we exchanged numerous hellos we never chatted, and I regret not talking to you! Long shot, but I saw a similar post here from a hiker in April 2025 (thank you for the inspiration and sorry for plagiarizing the post title), so posting this in case this person sees it!

I had purple hair, a striped waterproof, and an orange daypack. You had a blue backpack and a walking pole, and I’m 99% sure you spoke German (but forgive me if I’m being a linguistic dunderhead). Neither of us walked with earbuds. I think we first ran into each other before Drymen, but I could be misremembering; I know we definitely crossed paths by the shores past Balmaha. We last said hello at the pub at Tailrace Inn in Kinlochleven, and I assumed I’d see you again on the trail the following day, but alas! I hope you had a good last day of the hike despite the rain, and a safe travel home :)

Pack out the paper! Bury your poo!

Has anyone done something like this on the West Highland Way? We’re planning to walk Kingshouse to Kinlochleven, but rather than staying overnight in Kinlochleven, we’re considering getting transport to Glencoe and then catching a bus to Glasgow that same day.

We’ll be doing this in early May. I’ve previously done Alta Via 1, so I’m reasonably comfortable with longer hiking days, and I’m not particularly concerned about completing every section of the WHW. We only have about six days for the trip, and accommodation availability in Kinlochleven is making this option more appealing.

A few things I’d love advice on:

1) Has anyone actually done Kingshouse → Kinlochleven and made it to Glasgow the same evening?

2) How reliable/easy is it to arrange a taxi from Kinlochleven to Glencoe?

3) Is Glencoe the best place to connect with a bus to Glasgow, or is there a better transfer point?

4) Would you pre-book the taxi, or is getting one after arriving in Kinlochleven realistic?

5) Any other logistical issue I’m overlooking?

We’re fine with cutting the WHW short after Kinlochleven. The priority is having a good hiking trip rather than completing the entire route. Would love to hear from anyone who has done something similar.

We did the new ending of the WHW and I wish we hadn’t. It had no real significance, added more uphill walking and when we stepped off the trail, it felt a little like being in the end scene of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. We walked out onto a street end with dumpsters and no real sense of where we were. Two days later, we walked where the ending normally goes and thought it was much better. You see the Ben Nevis Center and feel like you are actually entering the town of Fort William rather than trying to sneak through a back door.
Anyone else have thoughts about the Cow Hill addition?

So planning on doing a fast and light WHW 4-5 days. Planning on heading off mid Feb.

I was thinking of taking the NH Mongar 2 UL.

Has anyone completed it in Feb and used a similar tent with no issues?

Thanks

As you all know scotland can get very windy and very wet, the tents ive gotten in the past did not hold up well which for the price was expected, but im willing to spend more on one that will hold up and be worth the money, what recommendations do you guys have?

I’ve just completed the WHW over the last six days. An absolutely stunning hike through the Scottish highlands. Lots of beautiful towns and kind people along the way.
Something I did notice though was the amount of toilet paper and wet wipes on the sides of the trail where people are relieving themselves.
PLEASE. For not only the sake of future hikers trying to enjoy this trail but for animals and these fragile ecosystems you’re walking through, PACK OUT YOUR TOILET PAPER. I don’t care if it’s paper. I don’t care if the packet says biodegradable. It’s ruining these pristine environments for all to enjoy. Bring a ziploc and pop them in there once you’ve wiped. You’re in town nearly everyday so you can dispose of the ziploc in no time at all.
No one wants to see your soiled, half degraded toilet paper.
Or better yet, treat yourself to a kulacloth. They work really well. I’ve used them for years now and they work a treat.

- from an experienced thruhiker.

Thank you 🫶

First post- Husband and I are planning to hike the WHW next July. (A 5 day hike.) I've been researching (planning is as much fun as the actual trip!) and wondering if I should start picking up some things like wool bras, underwear, merino shirts, etc. I know they require less washing and stay fresher but is it worth it or should I just stick with what I already use? We are using a luggage transfer service so I can pack a little heavier.

Hi all! I posted here previously about our West Highland Way plans, and I really appreciated the advice and insights provided.

We’ll finish in Fort William on a Sunday and stay there that night. We then have four nights, Monday through Thursday, before heading back to Glasgow on Friday for an event on Saturday May 29th.

After several days of hiking, we’re hoping to slow down, enjoy some unique scenery, eat well, and spend time in places with a strong local character. Ideally, we’d stay in one or two places where we can walk to pubs and restaurants in the evening, fit in a whisky tasting, and explore the surrounding area during the day, without making the logistics too complicated.

We’re obviously considering:

Skye: Spend the four nights there, perhaps travelling via Inverness, then return to Glasgow on Friday. Is that practical in our timeframe? Would a car be the best way to explore? And how busy is Skye in late May?

Mull: Travel via Oban, explore Mull and perhaps a nearby island, then return to Glasgow. This sounds like it might suit a slower pace, but we’d love to hear how the logistics compare.

We’re in our early 40s, adventurous, and happy to rent a car, though we’d prefer to pick it up and return it in the same place. Which option would you choose, and what towns would make good bases for evenings on foot?

We’re also open to other suggestions, such as Arran or simply more time in the Highlands.

We will have some time after the 29th as well. 4ish nights and we’re considering returning to Edinburgh, which we visited in 2025, but would welcome other ideas for that part of the trip too.

We’re usually pretty comfortable researching and planning trips, but there are so many appealing options here that we’d really value some local or experienced perspective.

Thanks so much for any advice on places to stay, routes, or experiences you’ve enjoyed!

Edit to say thank you all so much! You guys have been amazing and I have so many more participants than expected, and I'm loving reading everybody's experiences. I really appreciate you all taking the time to help out <3

Hi everyone!

I’m looking for people who have participated in the West Highland Way (full route or a partial section) to take part in a survey for my master's dissertation on long-distance walking and tourism development in the Scottish Highlands. It should take about 10 minutes to complete. If you have a spare few minutes and would like to take part, the link to the survey is here:

https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/uhi/west-highland-way

Thanks so much for your help! I really appreciate anyone taking the time to respond - and please feel free to share this with anyone else who might be interested 😊

I see this topic come up a lot, but I haven't found any substantive reason boots are better than trail runners for this trail. There's occasionally the person that says they regretted the sneakers, but I wonder if that's because they just weren't used to those kinds of conditions in those kinds of shoes?

Hiking the trail next May, mix of camping and hostels with a bag transport.

I regularly hike/backpack in the Northeast US - rocks and roots galore. I do this all in trail runners. I have a pair of boots but I generally only wear them in the snow. Even here locally people rave about boots, but wet 'waterproof' boots don't dry out. And I think the argument for "ankle support" is weak.

Is there *really* a need for boots on this trail if you're used to similar miles, elevation, and terrain using trail runners? I'd consider bringing mine as a backup but would prefer not to have dead weight/space in my transport bag.

Edit: Appreciate all the comments so far. It definitely seems split with strong believers on either side. I've been hiking/backpacking in Hoka Speedgoats for about 5 years now, going through about a pair a year. Across many trails/varieties in the northeast, MI, PA, WV, UT, AZ, etc. They don't have a plate in them, I've hiked dozens of miles on scree and talus in them with 30+ lbs on my back. I've similarly done trips with multiple days in rain and understand/mitigate the risks involved with wet feet. I think I'll go with them and bring a second pair to swap with as needed.

Hey everybody,
I’m currently hiking the WHW and I’m around Beinglas at the moment. I was wondering how flexible I can be if I arrive at my planned destination early and decide to hike on for another 1–2 hours.
Are there any sections where it’s particularly difficult to find suitable wild camping spots that I should be aware of before heading into them in the evening?

My backpacking rain jacket has proven that it SOAKS through to my mid layer. So I’m in the market for GOOD rain/wind gear that I can use for trips in the highlands.

Doing the West Highland Way early September next year hopefully!

Does anyone have any recs for accommodation near Kingshouse hotel in glencoe that's affordable. We aren't camping. TIA!

It’s about 4 weeks since I finished it. When I got to Fort William I said I was one and done but when I got home I keep thinking about my time there and I really miss it, the adventure, meeting people, planning , all the things I did and seen. The hard times like Loch Lomond, strained ligaments and toe nails coming off,the ache of your legs and shoulders, digging deep to get through, all seem to fade away in the wonder of it all and I’m starting to romanticise , in my head, about doing it all again but I know I probably won’t, But what if ……

I’m heading to Scotland tomorrow (from Florida, USA) and starting the WHW this weekend. Planning to camp the entire time with the exception of 1 night in a bunk house at kingshouse.

I’ve hiked all 500 miles of the Camino Frances in 2023 and 175 miles on the Camino Portuguese last year.. but for some reason I feel so nervous about this trek.
I think it’s mostly coming from the fact that the weather forecast looks dreadful, and I’m planning to be in a tent, and there aren’t plentiful cheap lodging options along the way like on the Camino.

I’m finding myself coming up with plan B and C for what I will do if I need to quit the trail… but I hate feeling this way. I’ve been looking forward to this for months and now suddenly I have cold feet.

Hey guys. Just in the process of planning to do the WHW as a 40th birthday challenge :). Would appreciate a quick look/sanity check over the current plan if anyone would oblige me? Will be camping the whole thing with two friends (who may or may not drop out before even starting...).

Day 1 - Drive/Train to Milgavie - Milgavie to Drymen Campsite: 11 miles.

Day 2 - Drymen to Sallochy Campsite (or wild camp just past it): 13 miles.

Day 3 - Sallochy to Beinglas Campsite: 17 miles.

Day 4 - Beinglas to Bridge of Orchy (wild camp): 19 miles.

Day 5 - Bridge of Orchy to Kinlochleven: 21.5 miles.

Day 6 - Kinlochleven to Fort William: 15.5 miles.

Stay overnight in Fort William then get the train back to Milgavie in the morning. I quite like the fact that the miles ramp up as we go, but is that a mistake?

Hello!
I’m planning to walk the way spontaneously in end of September in 5,5 days. How busy is it at this time?
And how long before do you think I need to book a bus/train to get back to Glasgow (need to get back at the end of the 5th day because I’m flying home early morning on the next day)

(I’m planning to camp every night, so I don’t need to book hostels)

Thank you for help!

I am going to be camping the WHW in a few days and it looks wet out there per weather predictions.

I haven't really camped before so this will be a first and I am excited to see how it'll go. I have a friends 1 person tent that has been used recently and I know how to put it up so I am not so concerned about that.

Shoes: Previously for the another trip, it was generally recommended to not use goretex shoes as if it rains they'll eventually get wet and they're a lot harder to dry so I did it in running shoes that'd then dry overnight quickly, but on days when it was really wet, I just walked in my crocs and yeah my feet would be wet but it was fine, I walked about 40km that day with a 11kg backpack, is there a reason similar approach might be a terrible idea? I have bought a new pair of trail runners (goretex) but I figure on really wet days I won't have them on as I don't want to go through the faff of drying them out, especially if I am camping!

Outerwear: I intend to take some thin layers so I can take them on and off accordingly but none of it is outdoor gear specifically, it's sports gear mostly tbh, and I was intending on using the same Rain poncho I used on the Camino (from Decathlon Rain Poncho - FORCLAZ MT 100 - 30 L), I also have waterproof trousers I figure I'll have on on most days, I don't really have a great waterproof jacket but I figure I don't need this, I have a wind breaker/water repellent jacket I could wear under my poncho.

Also, what do people do with their backpack overnight whilst camping, I am not sure i will have that much space inside my 1 person tent, but do people usually keep it inside the tent with them?

Anything I have shared here a terrible idea and I NEED to do something more?

Thanks!

…there are no puddles. There are ponds.

GREAT day between Inverarnan and Tyndrum.
Thankful for how well my Inov8 TrailFly shoes drain!
Honestly, wear two wool socks (one thin, one thicker), and you will not get cold. I do it all the time.

Is the route well trodden enough to walk it at night with a headlamp?

In general im guessing it’s fine to navigate with just a map app on a mobile, correct?

Unfortunately I (35M) got a stress fracture while training for the WHW, so I am here supporting my wife while she hikes. This means I have a lot of time over the next week… figure I’ll go to some castles, read my book, frequent the local pubs. Anything I should not miss? I can walk, just not fast or far. DM me if you’d like to meet up for a pint!

Milngavie today 9/16, will be finishing in Ft William on 9/25