Scottish Highlands
Scotland Hiking + Walking Tours
Hike the iconic landscapes of Scotland’s West Highland Way
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length10 days
- Prices from£3990 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Scotland’s West Highland Way hike is one of the most beautiful and magnificent walks in Europe. And magical? You would expect nothing less from the country whose national animal is the unicorn!
Remarkable, dramatic, and steeped in history, Loch Lomond, Glen Falloch, Rannoch Moor, and the highest point of the walk, the Devil’s Staircase, will enchant.
The beautiful stays in boutique hotels, full of character, charm, and elegance add to the romance, and private transfers from and to specific locations along the route at the beginning and end of each day ensure that you are always hiking in the ideal landscape.
Highlights
- Loch Lomond, Scotland's largest loch
- Devil’s Staircase
- Dramatic and varied landscapes
- Flora and fauna of the highlands
- Secluded hiking
- Lovely, boutique accommodations
Take a look at all of our hiking products.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Port of Menteith (Loch Lomond)
Day 2: Drymen - Balmaha, 12 mi. (19 km)
Day 3: Balmaha - Rowardennan, 7 mi. (11 km)
Day 4: Rowardennan - Inverarnan, 14 mi. (23 km)
Day 5: Inverarnan - Crianlarich, 7 mi. (11 km)
Day 6: Crianlarich - Bridge of Orchy, 12 mi. (19 km)
Day 7: Bridge of Orchy - Kingshouse, 12 mi. (19 km)
Day 8: Kingshouse - Kinlochleven, 9 mi. (14 km),
Day 9: Kinlochleven - Fort William, 14 mi. (23 km)
Day 10: Depart Fort WilliamDay 1: Arrive at Port of Menteith (Loch Lomond)
Upon your arrival in Port of Menteith, your host will meet you and run through your itinerary, answering any questions you may have. This tranquil village situated on the Lake of Menteith in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is the perfect place to start your tour. Spend the evening as you wish - this is your home for the next three nights.
Overnight: Loch Lomond
Accommodation: Cameron House, is situated on the banks of Loch Lomond and is the perfect place to experience Scottish hospitality at its best. The restaurants within the resort offer delicious lochside dining at The Boat House Restaurant & Bar, and casual dining at The Clubhouse at Cameron.Day 2: Drymen - Balmaha, 12 mi. (19 km)
Instead of starting out at Milngavie in the suburbs of Glasgow where the official West Highland Way begins (that can be organized if you wish to add the extra day), we suggest that you begin at Drymen, 18 miles to the north-west of Glasgow and not far from Loch Lomond. A transfer will be provided after breakfast for a day of uphill and down dale trekking. Start out with a trail through the Garadhban Forest, walking your first military road before the first of many stunning views across Loch Lomond, a National Park, "one of the most beautiful spectacles of nature" in the words of Sir Walter Scott. From the Lowlands, you ascend through the bracken up Conic Hill and into the Highlands, revealing the magnificence of Ben Lomond, Loch Lomond, and the Luss Hills. From Balmaha, ‘the village by the water’, you will be transferred back to Cameron House.Overnight: Loch Lomond
Accommodation: Cameron HouseDay 3: Balmaha - Rowardennan, 7 mi. (11 km)
Today you climb up to Craigie Fort, showcasing Loch Lomond, Conic Hill, and the Highland Boundary Fault that marks the shift from Lowland to Highland, and the change in topography and landscape. You skirt the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park with its mature woodlands of pine and oak, home to the red deer, osprey, and golden eagle. While enjoying the magnificent views of Ptarmigan and craggy Ben Lomond, the most southerly of Scotland’s two hundred and eighty-two Munros (mountains over 3,000 feet), your soundtrack will be the music of nature. If the water level is low on Loch Lomond, you can view a crannog, a type of ancient loch dwelling. You will pass your third night in the comfort of Cameron House.Overnight: Loch Lomond
Accommodation: Cameron HouseDay 4: Rowardennan - Inverarnan, 14 mi. (23 km)
Along the next two stretches of the Way, the path is demanding but rewarding. This section takes in the northern, more remote section of Loch Lomond. The sound of cascading water accompanies you as you trek the eastern shore of Loch Lomond with its intense form and color. William Wordsworth described it thus: "a very shower of beauty." You will be passing the hamlet of Inversnaid and entering the lands of the Clan MacGregor. You pass Rob Roy’s Cave, the place where the ‘Scottish Robin Hood’ detained prisoners and hostages in his fight against the Duke of Montrose over land, cattle, and homes. You hike through the woodlands of oak, birch, and pine, home to redstarts and wood warblers. At the end of the day, you will be transferred to Balquhidder for the first of two nights at the tranquil Monachyle Mhor on the shores of Loch Voil.Overnight: Balquhidder
Accommodation: Monachyle Mhor Hotel, a boutique lochside hotel located at the foot of stunning Scottish mountains. Features an award-winning restaurant.Day 5: Inverarnan - Crianlarich, 7 mi. (11 km)
Today's trek highlights one of the old military roads built in the eighteenth century by General Wade and Major Caulfield after the revolt against the English monarchy in 1715, the Jacobite Rising. Over one thousand miles were built to provide the English army's access to remote parts of Scotland. You will walk along the banks of the River Falloch, passing the beautiful Falls of Falloch which Dorothy Wordsworth (William Woodsworth's sister) described as follows, 'The noise of waters did not appear to come this way or that, from any particular quarter: it was everywhere, almost, one might say, as if "exhaled" through the whole surface of the green earth.' At times you will cross the imaginary British Watershed where waters falling on the west side drain into the Irish Sea and those on the east side flow into the North Sea. At Crianlarich, the ‘tree by the pass’, under the steady gaze of Ben More, Cruach Ardrain and An Caisteal, you will be transferred to Monachyle Mhor for a second night.Overnight: Balquhidder
Accommodation: Monachyle Mhor HotelDay 6: Crianlarich - Bridge of Orchy, 12 mi. (19 km)
A beautiful balcony walk high above the sweeping glens along old military roads, undulating paths, and the River Fillan to the Priory and Holy Pool dedicated to St. Fillan, an Irish monk stretches before you .The Priory lies near the battlefield of Dalrigh, the King's Field, where Robert the Bruce was defeated in 1306, casting his sword into the Lochan of the Legend of the Last Sword. St. Fillan redeemed himself eight years later by offering Robert the Bruce a portentous sign, the Mayne or arm-bone before his great victory over King Edward II of England at Bannockburn in 1314. Pass through Tyndrum, ‘the house on the ridge’, a cattle drover service station in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and on into a landscape of grass and heather. Tonight, and the next two nights, you will stay at Glencoe House in Glencoe, a beautiful mansion set in private ten-acre gardens.Overnight: Glencoe
Accommodation: Glencoe HouseDay 7: Bridge of Orchy - Kingshouse, 12 mi. (19 km)
You will stride out on one of the most beautiful stretches of the West Highland Way on the Old Glen Coe road across Rannoch Moor, Britain’s highest, with its sparkling black to blue lochs and lochans, a magnificent cloister of mountains in the distance. With views over salmon-filled Loch Tulla, you hike a magical and fantastic upland plateau of sweeping moorlands, rivers, burns, and lochs. At breeding time, you may see the black-throated divers and greenshanks, the dangerous wild bears and brown bears of the past are long gone. The route leads past the historic and legendary King’s House Hotel, today a welcome respite from any Highlands adventure. Tonight you pass your evening in comfort once again at the Glencoe House.Overnight: Glencoe
Accommodation: Glencoe House, offering elegant accommodation located on 10 acres of private gardens in the heart of Scotland’s Highland. Glencoe House offers a range of food and beverages to suit your mood based on locally sourced ingredients.Day 8: Kingshouse - Kinlochleven, 9 mi. (14 km)
Following a morning ascent of the Devil’s Staircase to the highest point on the West Highland Way (1,850 feet or 548 m), you can admire the 'glen of weeping', the land that witnessed the Massacre of Glencoe. This event in history is an interesting read so if you have time, we encourage you to do so. Stunning views of one of the most loved of Munro peaks, Buachaille Etive Mòr, ascending in patches of light grey terracotta and black stone. On a clear day, you can see Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, Carn Mor Dearg. and the Mamores. This evening you will enjoy your last night at the Glencoe House.Overnight: Glencoe
Accommodation: Glencoe HouseDay 9: Kinlochleven - Fort William, 14 mi. (23 km)
On one of the longer stages of this hike, you will walk Lairig Mor a glen with views to the summits of Mam na Gualainn and Beinn na Caillich. Make sure you take plenty of food and provisions as none is available along the way. The route leads past Mamore Lodge once used by Edward VII as a hunting lodge, and Lochan Lùnn Dà-Bhrà where Macbeth King of the Scots 1040 to 1057 once slept on a crannog, one of the 'stone age' platforms. You amble through forests of willow and birch, larch and pine before descending, into the glen and Fort Willliam. Congratulations you have arrived! You will then be transferred to the elegance of the Inverlochy Castle to celebrate your walk through the drama of Scotland's West Highlands.Overnight: Fort William
Accommodation: Inverlochy Castle, a beautiful 19th-century castle surrounded by the luscious green of the evergreen trees and the sparkling blue from the nearby loch. Dining at 'Albert and Michel Roux Jr at Inverlochy Castle' is a culinary experience to savor, with the legendary father and son taking the helm of the kitchen and offering the finest dishes using local produce.Day 10: Depart Fort William
Today is the official end of your hiking holiday in Scotland.If walking the Highlands isn't your flavor, check out our full list of walking tours or view all our featured bicycle tours, specials, and news.
Map
Accommodation
On this lovely ten-day walking holiday you will be accommodated in luxury boutique hotels. Please check each day’s details for the preferred accommodation. Please take note that the hotels listed are based on availability and though they are the preferred hotels, occasionally there is a need for a hotel change. Be assured that you will be informed and that any alternative is of equal standard!
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 9 nights in luxury boutique hotels
- Breakfast
- Transfers at the beginning & end of each day to & from your hotel
- Luggage transfer
- Adventure handbook
- Route directions & maps of the area
- GPS navigation available on an app (no mobile data download). Details & instructions will be provided
- Complimentary waterproof phone holder & a power pack with charger
- Emergency service
What’s Not Included
- Lunches & dinners
- Entrance to attractions unless specified
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2022
Tour starts are available on a daily basis. The best time to hike the Highlands is May through September.
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
On request
Extra Options
We will provide airport transfer pricing on request.
Pricing is subject to change based on seasonal hotel fluctuations. Please enquire for an exact costing.
Extra Info
Skill Level — Moderate
You will enjoy 8 days of walking between 7-14 miles (11 - 22 km) per day on hilly terrain. The route is 90% traffic free.
Airport Info
Closest international airport to your tour start is Glasgow (GLA) or Edinburgh (EDI).
Local Travel
Arriving from Glasgow Airport
Public transportation & taxi: (Please note that this is complicated, but we are providing information for those of you who would be interested.)
- Bus from the terminal building to Paisley Gilmour Street
- Train to Glasgow Central
- Short but confusing walk to Glasgow Queen Street
- 20-minute train ride to Stirling Station
- Taxi from Sterling station to the hotel in Port of Mentieth, approx. 30 minutes.
Private airport transfer:
- Ask us for details and price
Arriving from city of Glasgow
Public transportation:
- 30-minute train ride from Glasgow Queen Street to Stirling station
- Onward by taxi to the hotel in Port of Menteith
Private transfer from central Glasgow
- Details and price on request
Arriving from Edinburgh Airport
Public transportation & taxi:
- Bus or tram from the airport to Edinburgh Park station (25 mins)
- Train to Sterling Station (35 minutes)
- Taxi to your first hotel in Port of Menteith.
Arriving from city of Edinburgh
Public transportation
- Train from Edinburgh station to Stirling(53 min.)
- Taxi from Sterling to hotel
Returning to Glasgow Airport
Public transportation
- Bus. There are two departures per day, at 11 am and 2 pm. It is approx. a 3-hour journey so for international flights that leave earlier in the morning, you should consider going to Glasgow first for an overnight and then in the morning travel to the airport. You can take the airport shuttle bus that departs every 15 minutes and takes 15 minutes of travel time.
Returning to Edinburgh Airport
Public transportation
- Train from Balloch to Edinburgh Park where you will transfer to the airport tram
Climate
The climate in the Scottish Highlands is generally cool, damp and cloudy, but daily weather is unpredictable. Summer has average temperatures of 55°F (13°C) during its warmest months of July and August. The highlands are at their prime between May and August and the best months to visit are May and June, which are the sunniest months, enjoying long daylight hours and less rain than the colder months on average. Don’t forget your raingear!
Important to know
DOCUMENTS
Before you travel, please check the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.
*Important note: Please check the status of the implementation of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) which will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Extra Stay
Take an additional day and night to explore Glasgow! After exploring your travel options, you may want to add a night both before and after your tour!
Tour Operator
This tour is run by The Carter Company.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
Photos
Have you been on this tour?
Please leave your feedback