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The West Highland Way

Scottish Great Trail - Milngavie (Glasgow) to Fort William

ISBN

9781786311771

Availability

Published

27 May 2024

Edition

Fifth

Pages

136

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x .90cm

Weight

290g

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Guidebook to walking the West Highland Way National Trail, a 96 mile Scottish Great Trail route from Milngavie near Glasgow to Fort William, passing Loch Lomond and crossing Rannoch Moor. Suggested itineraries over 6 to 9 days. Includes accommodation guide and pull-out 1:25K OS map booklet.

Seasons

May-June and September-October avoid the worst of the midges, but suitably experienced backpackers can do this walk at any time of year.

Centres

The walk traditionally starts in Milngavie, on the outskirts of Glasgow (accessible by rail), and concludes at Fort William (likewise). There are few towns or villages en route where supplies can be had: Drymen, Crianlarich, Tyndrum and Kinlochleven.

Difficulty

The walking is not difficult for anyone accustomed to regular walks longer than 10 miles, although there is ample scope to shorten almost all of the days, and to offload the pack carrying onto an independent service that will transport your baggage for you.

Must See

The West Highland Way embraces diversity, from the urbanity of Milngavie to the days in the company of Loch Lomond, and then the striding splendour of Rannoch Moor. The haul from Glencoe, under the gaze of Buachaille Etive Mòr, up the Devil's Staircase, then into the hidden valley of Lairig Mòr, are stages to be savoured.

ISBN

9781786311771

Availability

Published

27 May 2024

Edition

Fifth

Pages

136

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x .90cm

Weight

290g

Overview

A guidebook to walking the West Highland Way, one of Scotland’s Great Trails. Covering 156km (96 miles) from Milngavie to Fort William, the route is suitable for walkers of most abilities and takes around a week to complete.

The trail is described from south to north in 7 stages of between 14 and 33km (9–20 miles).

Contains step-by-step description of the route alongside 1:100,000 maps
GPX files available to download
Includes a separate map booklet containing OS 1:25,000 mapping with the route line
A handy trek planner highlights the availability of facilities and public transport along the route
Accommodation table provided

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

West Highland Way trek planner

Route summary table

Preface

Introduction

From the Lowlands to the Highlands

How hard and how remote?

Planning your trip

Suggested itineraries

When to go

Getting there and back

Transport along the route

First nights and last nights

Accommodation en route

Facilities en route

Pack-carrying services

Cash management

Preparation and what to take

Planning day by day

Using this guide

Digital and printed maps

Waymarking

Emergencies

Weather forecasts

Phones and internet

All about the Highlands

Geography

Geology

Plants and wildlife

History and culture

Food and drink

The West Highland Way

Stage 1 Milngavie to Drymen

Stage 2 Drymen to Rowardennan

Stage 3 Rowardennan to Crianlarich

Stage 4 Crianlarich to Bridge of Orchy

Stage 5 Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse

Stage 6 Kingshouse to Kinlochleven

Stage 7 Kinlochleven to Fort William

Appendix A Useful addresses and information

Appendix B Accommodation

Appendix C Further reading

Updates

May 2024

Wild camping

The reference to 'Wild camping' requires clarification, and should read:

Wild camping is permitted in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/practical-guide-all/camping), which says:

Access rights extend to wild camping. This type of camping is lightweight, done in small numbers and only for two or three nights in any one place. You can camp in this way wherever access rights apply, but help to avoid causing problems for local people and land managers by not camping in enclosed fields of crops or farm animals and by keeping well away from buildings, roads or historic structures. Take extra care to avoid disturbing deer stalking or grouse shooting. If you wish to camp close to a house or building, seek the owner's permission. Leave no trace by:

· taking away all your litter

· removing all traces of your tent pitch and of any open fire (follow the guidance for lighting fires, which says ‘wherever possible, use a stove rather than light an open fire.’)

· not causing any pollution

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Downloads

The West Highland Way - GPX File

By Terry Marsh

Lancashire-born writer and photographer Dr Terry Marsh specialises in the outdoors and travel. He is the author or revision author/editor of over 100 guidebooks, including the award-winning Cicerone guides to the Coast to Coast Walk (first published in 1993), The Shropshire Way (1999) and Great Mountain Days in the Pennines (2013). Terry has a PhD in Historical Geography and is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), a Life Member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (FSA (Scot)).

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