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Not the West Highland Way: A Mountain High Way

Mountain alternatives and backpacking ideas to link with the West Highland Way

ISBN

9781786311870

Availability

Published

15 Jan 2025

Edition

Second

Pages

224

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm

Weight

260g

Delivery & Returns

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Guidebook to the best mountain alternative routes deviating from Scotland's iconic West Highland Way. Includes 14 variants/side loops plus trail extensions, with options to bag nearby Munros. For intrepid walkers with an affinity for hills.

Seasons

Spring to Autumn, with May, June and September the best months of all. A Winter Not the West Highland Way for the tough and ambitious.

Centres

Glasgow, Dumbarton, Loch Lomond, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Dalmally, Bridge of Orchy, Corrour Station, Kinlochleven, Fort William.

Difficulty

Moderately difficult diversions above the West Highland Way including several full-on mountain days (with the good low-level path as a foul-weather alternative). Challenging backpack routes of 2 days upwards.

Must See

Loch Lomond from overhead; sunrise from the summit corrie of Ben Lui; woods and waterfalls of River Leven; long, lonely Loch Etive; Glen Nevis from its bleak head down to its Himalayan-style gorge.

ISBN

9781786311870

Availability

Published

15 Jan 2025

Edition

Second

Pages

224

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm

Weight

260g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

A guidebook to the best West Highland Way (WHW) diversions and extensions. For walkers with an affinity for hills, looking to leave the iconic trail in search of intrepid mountain alternatives and Munro-bagging detours.

Describes 14 different route options (mountain variants/side loops) between Milngavie and Fort William, ranging from 10-29km with ascent gain from 650-1600m
Also describes two 2-day backpacking trips (suitable for beginners) and extended deviations
Summarises three multi-day adventures beyond the WHW: Corrour to Dalwhinnie; Fort William to Inverie; Spean Bridge to Cluanie (or Cape Wrath)
Invaluable information on access, mapping and mountain safety

Table of Contents

Route summary table
Overview map
Map key
Overview of Routes

INTRODUCTION
The High Road and the Low
When to go
Safety in the mountains
Maps
How to use this book
A Winter Not the West Highland Way

PART 1 THE HIGH ROAD AND THE LOW
Milngavie to Drymen
1 Hill Option: the Campsie Fells
Drymen to Rowardennan
Rowardennan to Inversnaid
2 Rowardennan Outing: Ben Lomond
3 Hill Crossing: Ben Lomond to Inversnaid
Inversnaid to Inverarnan
4 Hill Crossing: Beinn a’ Choin
5 Inverarnan Outing: Beinn Chabhair
Inverarnan to Tyndrum
6 Hill Crossing: Ben Lui
7 Crianlarich Outing: An Caisteal and Beinn a’ Chroin
Tyndrum to Inveroran
8 Hill Crossing: the back of Beinn Dorain
9 Inveroran Outing: Ben Inverveigh and Meall Tairbh
Inveroran to Kings House
10 Hill Crossing: Black Mount
Kings House to Kinlochleven
11 Hill Crossing: Beinn a’ Chrulaiste and the Blackwater
Kinlochleven to Fort William
12 Hill Crossing: Mamores
13 Hill Crossing: Between the Binneins
14 Fort William Outing: Ben Nevis by the CMD Arête

PART 2 BEGINNERISH BACKPACKING
The excitement is in tents
Midges are unpleasant
May is the month
Shoulder-strengthening short trips
The off-route food-fetching formula
Stuff, stuffsacks, and throwing it all away
15 A mostly gentle two-day: the back of Ben Nevis
16 A wilder two-day: Taynuilt to Bridge of Orchy

PART 3 AWAY FROM THE WAY
17 Dumbarton Start
18 Wrong side of the loch: the Arrochar Alps
19 The Etive Trek
20 Blackwater and the Lairig Leacach
21 Routes of Rannoch

PART 4 ROADS TO THE DEEP NORTH
22 Corrour to Dalwhinnie
23 Fort William to Inverie
24 Spean Bridge to Cluanie and even Cape Wrath

APPENDIX A: Access
APPENDIX B: Useful information
APPENDIX C: Further reading

Updates

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By Ronald Turnbull

Ronald Turnbull writes regularly for TGO, Lakeland Walker, Trail and Cumbria magazines. His previous books include Across Scotland on Foot, Long Days in Lakeland and Welsh 3000ft Challenges. He has written many other Cicerone guides, including Walking in the Lowther Hills, The Book of the Bivvy and Not the West Highland Way. Ronald's weekly newsletter on mountains, hillwalking and history is at https://aboutmountains.substack.com/

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