West Highland Way

[BroxburnHibee]

Anyone on here done it?

I'm booked up to attempt it in September over 7 days with the Missus. She's done it twice before but will be my first.

Not camping booked accommodation along the route and using a bag transfer company

Would love to hear about other experiences of it.

[hibsbollah]

The second half is a lot more impressive; highlights were Tyndrum-Bridge of Orchy-Rannoch-Glencoe, the last day kinlochrannoch was impressive but the final few hours to fort william was a total drag-walking along a busy road wasnt exactly the way i would have chosen to finish.

The highlight accommodation wise was the old Kingshouse on Glencoe, beautiful and affordable rickety old pubs dating back many hundreds of years, but sadly this has been replaced by a new modern fancy establishment costing many hundreds of pounds a night. The bridge of orchy hotel was pretty good, we stayed in bunkhouses.

Advice would be all the standard long distance walking stuff; bring loads of dry socks, blister plasters a must and lots of thin layers. Midgies arent as much of a problem as they are on a normal holiday because youre always moving! Great experience.

[Moulin Yarns]

I tried it a long time ago, me,rucksack and tried to do accommodation the day before, however I hadn't reckoned on it being at the same time as the WHW Race!!! 🤣

Got as far as Inversnaid hotel, no accommodation and had to phone my father in law to pick me up.


Definitely have backup and transfer of gear.

[Speedy]

I've not done it all at once, but done all the sections apart from the first bit which I've heard it a bit crap so any time I've started it has been from Balmaha.

[danhibees1875]

Many years ago now!

Done the northern ("better") half first. We went the "wrong" way and Fort William down, to Crianlarich. That took just over 2 days: day 1 travel to FW, climbed half of Ben Nevis (not sure why), then ventured 2/3 miles down WHW to camp for the night. It was somewhere between 20-25 miles per day we were doing after that. I remember the second day was in the swelteringly hot day when Andy Murray first won Wimbledon. That was some trek with a large sack, tent, and sleeping bag on my back.

My friend sprained his ankle around Crianlarich and we got a train home earlier than planned. Returned the following summer to complete the southern half. Another 2 day trek which we decided to use a b&b for the night rather than camp (and never camped again once we realised how much easier it was to stay in B&B's!).

You'll be doing c.13-14 miles a day. Given the terrain that's a good walk but very manageable and you can enjoy it a lot more than I did fot stretches of my attempt!

As others have said, the southern half is nice along Loch lomond, but once you get up to Crianlarich/Tyndrum the route really turns up the wow factor.

Good luck and enjoy! :aok:

[Pretty Boy]

I've walked it 3 times, all in different ways.

First time was over 5 days, wild camping and with bags on back. Hard going and not really possible now because camping on the east shores of Loch Lomond is no longer permitted for a large chunk of the year. 2nd time was a mix of camping and B&Bs but still carrying bags over 6 days. Then finally over 7 days, using a transport service and staying exclusively in B&Bs, hostels etc. By far the most pleasant way to do it.

If doing it over 7 days the first day is a nice intro imo. Pleasant enough walk through the country park, all very flat but pleasant and Drymen is a nice little village/town to finish the day in. Day 2 is the first real climb with Conic Hill but if it's clear the view is stunning, you can quite literally see the lowlands become the highlands here. Just be aware there is a final small climb before reaching the path to Rowardennan and then a sign that say '2km'. It's a fair bit further than that so don't down tools too early. Day 3 is probably my favourite. A pretty challenging walk loch side then opening up into some pretty woodland and open spaces with nice views. Look out for 'Dario's post' a waymarker with a tribute to Dario Melaragni who was race director of the WHW race for many years. Day 4 sees the start of some of the most spectacular scenery as you spend a lot of time in glens between mountains before a pleasant riverside walk into Tyndrum. Use Tyndrum as a place to stock up, it's expensive because they know they have a captive market but it's the last chance to do a real shop for a while. Day 5 is probably the most challenging as it's a long day and you are tired. Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy is pleasant and Beinn Dorain is a stunner of a mountain from roadside. The winding road from Bridge of Orchy to Inveroran is another favourite part of the walk for me then you enter Rannoch Moor which is simply beautiful in a bleak Scottish sort of way. Kingshouse appears miles out but never seems to get any closer for a long while. The view of Buachaille Etive Mòr both on appraoch and then from Kinghouse is one I could look at forever and never get bored. Sadly as said above the old Climbers Bar at the hotel is no more. It was spit and sawdust but what a place it was. Day 6 is a blessedly short day albeit you have the Devils Staircase and the high point of the entire route. Turn around at the top and get your last view of Glencoe, it's literally breathtaking. A nice downhill wander to Kinclochleven albeit the last couple of miles drags on a path with loads of switchbacks and is a bit uninspiring with a lot of the old industry obvious. The final day is underrated imo. A very steep climb to start the day, the Lairigmor is a beautiful section and you feel tiny compared to the mountains all around. For 8-10 miles it's as pleasant as anywhere on the route. The last few miles are a track through a forestry plantation which isn't all that exciting but Ben Nevis getting ever closer keeps you going then it's onto the roadside for a mile or so. You'll pass the sign for the old end of the way before a quick jaunt through town brings you to the official end a bit further on.

Get out walking and train for it as you'll enjoy it so much more if you aren't constantly fatigued. A couple of decent walks a week and a few back to back days will see you right. You'll get to know people on your walk as you'll see the same faces every day. Some folk love to talk and share their story, others are there for peace and solitude; you will quickly gauge who is who.

Good luck and enjoy:aok:

[Since90+2]

Has anyone experience of climbing Ben Nevis? Considering doing this during the summer.

Is the walk from Fort William to the foot fairly easy and what sort of time am I looking at for ascent and descent?

[CropleyWasGod]

Has anyone experience of climbing Ben Nevis? Considering doing this during the summer.

Is the walk from Fort William to the foot fairly easy and what sort of time am I looking at for ascent and descent?

I've done it.

It's a walking route, rather than a climbing one, if that makes sense. A bit tough in places, but okay if you're reasonably fit and dressed properly. IIRC, it took about 3.5 hours up, much the same down.

I actually found the descent more difficult. Probably due to tiredness, but using different muscles on the way down was challenging :rolleyes:

[Pretty Boy]

Has anyone experience of climbing Ben Nevis? Considering doing this during the summer.

Is the walk from Fort William to the foot fairly easy and what sort of time am I looking at for ascent and descent?

The pony track/tourist route is a fairly straightforward walk in good weather. It shouldn't be taken lightly though and you should be well prepared with waterproofs, layers (summit temperature can still drop to only 6-7 degrees even in July) and plenty hydration. In the summer it will be very busy. It's about 9-10 miles all in so I'd allow 5-7 hours.

The CMD Arete is a far more challenging and interesting route but requires a bit more skill and planning. You get two Munros for the price of one and a bit mild scrambling is needed in parts without any actual climbing. It's pretty exposed so you need a head for heights. You need a solid 8-10 hours imo.

For a first time I'd stick with the first option.

[BroxburnHibee]

If its your first time then take the tourist route. We parked in the car park there so no idea what the walk up from Fort William is like.

Its a well worn path to the top. You're pretty much stepping up all the time until you get to the 'halfway loch' which isn't half way :greengrin

Its a good spot to take a break and get ready for the top part. The path zig zags all the way up till you're near the summit.

Hopefully you'll get a clear day for the spectacular views.

It is definitely tougher coming back down, tougher on the calf muscles I mean so you should prepare well and do a few mini climbs.

[Stairway 2 7]

Has anyone experience of climbing Ben Nevis? Considering doing this during the summer.

Is the walk from Fort William to the foot fairly easy and what sort of time am I looking at for ascent and descent?

Done the 3 peaks challenge Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and snowdon in 24 hours. We did Ben nevis from the car park, think it was 4 hours but that was straight up and down. If doing it on its own I'd probably take about 6 hours and have breaks photos etc. Was a good path all the way up

[Since90+2]

Thanks all 👍

[Keith_M]

Has anyone experience of climbing Ben Nevis? Considering doing this during the summer.

Is the walk from Fort William to the foot fairly easy and what sort of time am I looking at for ascent and descent?


As others have already said, if this is your first time then take the south route, starting from the Visitor Centre in Glen Nevis.

It can be difficult to get a space in the Visitor Centre Car Park in the middle of the summer, so here's some alternatives.

https://www.nevislandscape.co.uk/visiting-the-area/travel-parking

[danhibees1875]

I've done it.

It's a walking route, rather than a climbing one, if that makes sense. A bit tough in places, but okay if you're reasonably fit and dressed properly. IIRC, it took about 3.5 hours up, much the same down.

I actually found the descent more difficult. Probably due to tiredness, but using different muscles on the way down was challenging :rolleyes:

I'd agree with all of this but highlighting the descent bit. Any stumbles, sprains, and injuries me or companions have picked up over my walks have always been on the downhill.