The West Highland Way stretches 154 km (96 miles) from Milngavie to Fort William, and it’s rightly one of the UK’s classic long-distance walks. Over the course of the route you’ll move from easy southern paths and woodland into lochside trail, open moorland, and higher mountain passes.
Most people walk south to north because the early days are gentler and give you time to find your rhythm before the more demanding northern stages. And it’s those northern stages that catch people out: the rough lochside path at the top end of Loch Lomond is slow-going, while the moor and pass sections are exposed and feel bigger when the weather turns.
Below are four walking-day itineraries that use the same camping stops where they naturally fit, then adjust the distances to suit different fitness levels:
- 9 days: easiest pacing, best if you want time for photos, cafes, and less pressure
- 8 days: the most common balance of comfort and progress
- 6 days: fit walkers, consistently longer days
- 5 days: fast & light, only if long days are normal for you
Key campsites used
These are the main camping stops referenced below. Some itineraries skip a stop to make a longer day, but the recommendations stay consistent.
- Drymen Camping (Drymen)
- Milarrochy Bay (Balmaha)
- Sallochy Campsite (Loch Lomond)
- Beinglas Campsite (Inverarnan)
- Tyndrum Holiday Park (Tyndrum)
- Bridge of Orchy Picnic Grounds Wildcamp (Bridge of Orchy)
- Glencoe Mountain Resort Campsite (Kingshouse area)
- Blackwater Hostel & Campsite (Kinlochleven)
Itineraries
9 days (Easiest)Best first-time option, splits Loch Lomond sensibly
9 days (Easiest)
Best first-time option, splits Loch Lomond sensibly
Day 1 — Milngavie → Drymen
19 kmStay: Drymen Camping
Effort
EasyTerrain
Easy-going paths, old railway lines, woodland trails, and a few short stretches on quiet lanes.
Notes
- Gentle farmland and woodland out of Milngavie
- A relaxed warm-up day to settle into the walk
- Can be busy near the start on weekends
- After rain, some woodland paths can be muddy
Day 2 — Drymen → Balmaha
12 kmStay: Milarrochy Bay
Short day, but Conic Hill adds effort.
Effort
ModerateTerrain
Forest tracks and hillside paths, including the climb and descent over Conic Hill.
Notes
- Conic Hill viewpoint over Loch Lomond
- First real “wow” views as the Highlands begin to feel closer
- Conic Hill descent can be slippery when wet
- Wind exposure on the ridge
Day 3 — Balmaha → Sallochy
12 kmStay: Sallochy Campsite
Start of slower Loch Lomond terrain.
Effort
ModerateTerrain
Lochside trails with some roots and rougher underfoot sections as the Loch Lomond terrain starts.
Notes
- Loch Lomond shore walking
- Woodland and bays along the east shore
- Underfoot gets slower and more uneven than earlier days
- Midgies can be intense in calm weather
Day 4 — Sallochy → Inverarnan
14 kmStay: Beinglas Campsite
Effort
HardTerrain
Continuation of the lochside “bottleneck”: rocky, rooty paths with constant micro-climbs and descents.
Notes
- Remote feeling lochside sections
- Long stretches away from roads and services
- Slow progress; start early
- In wet conditions, footing and traction matter
Day 5 — Inverarnan → Tyndrum
19 kmStay: Tyndrum Holiday Park
Effort
ModerateTerrain
Easier going again: a mix of tracks and paths through glens with a few steady climbs.
Notes
- More open landscapes as you move north
- A sense of “making miles” again
- Still a full day, fatigue accumulates
- Weather can change quickly
Day 6 — Tyndrum → Bridge of Orchy
11 kmStay: Bridge of Orchy Picnic Grounds Wildcamp
Effort
EasyTerrain
Shorter day on good tracks and paths; generally straightforward underfoot.
Notes
- Wide glen views
- A good recovery day before more exposed sections
- If it’s sunny, exposure can still be tiring despite the shorter distance
Day 7 — Bridge of Orchy → Glencoe (Kingshouse)
19 kmStay: Glencoe Mountain Resort Campsite
Effort
ModerateTerrain
Exposed sections and open ground; good paths but can feel tougher in bad weather.
Notes
- Open, expansive scenery
- Approach into the Glencoe / Kingshouse area
- Wind and weather exposure
- Energy drain from “constant” exposure even on good paths
Day 8 — Glencoe → Kinlochleven
14 kmStay: Blackwater Hostel & Campsite
Effort
ModerateTerrain
A notable climb followed by a long descent; good trail but the elevation change is felt.
Notes
- High viewpoints before dropping into Kinlochleven
- Mountain scenery and big skies
- Descent can be hard on knees
- In wet conditions, take care on steeper sections
Day 9 — Kinlochleven → Fort William
24 kmEffort
ModerateTerrain
Steady final day with mixed paths and tracks; long rather than technical.
Notes
- A satisfying finish day with changing scenery
- The “home straight” feeling toward Fort William
- It’s long, so pace and fueling matter
- Save some energy for the final few hours
8 days (Most Common)Balanced and realistic for most walkers
8 days (Most Common)
Balanced and realistic for most walkers
Day 1 — Milngavie → Drymen
19 kmStay: Drymen Camping
Effort
EasyTerrain
Easy-going paths, old railway lines, woodland trails, and a few short stretches on quiet lanes.
Notes
- Gentle farmland and woodland out of Milngavie
- A relaxed warm-up day to settle into the walk
- Can be busy near the start on weekends
- After rain, some woodland paths can be muddy
Day 2 — Drymen → Balmaha
12 kmStay: Milarrochy Bay
Effort
ModerateTerrain
Forest tracks and hillside paths, including the climb and descent over Conic Hill.
Notes
- Conic Hill viewpoint over Loch Lomond
- First real “wow” views as the Highlands begin to feel closer
- Conic Hill descent can be slippery when wet
- Wind exposure on the ridge
Day 3 — Balmaha → Inverarnan
26 kmStay: Beinglas Campsite
Long, slow day — toughest of the trip.
Effort
HardTerrain
The slowest section: rough, rocky lochside trails with frequent ups/downs and awkward footing.
Notes
- Classic Loch Lomond shoreline
- Quiet bays and wooded sections
- Much slower pace than the distance suggests
- Care needed on rocky steps and roots
Day 4 — Inverarnan → Tyndrum
19 kmStay: Tyndrum Holiday Park
Effort
ModerateTerrain
Easier going again: a mix of tracks and paths through glens with a few steady climbs.
Notes
- More open landscapes as you move north
- A sense of “making miles” again
- Still a full day, fatigue accumulates
- Weather can change quickly
Day 5 — Tyndrum → Bridge of Orchy
11 kmStay: Bridge of Orchy Picnic Grounds Wildcamp
Effort
EasyTerrain
Shorter day on good tracks and paths; generally straightforward underfoot.
Notes
- Wide glen views
- A good recovery day before more exposed sections
- If it’s sunny, exposure can still be tiring despite the shorter distance
Day 6 — Bridge of Orchy → Glencoe
19 kmStay: Glencoe Mountain Resort Campsite
Effort
ModerateTerrain
More exposed moor and mountain passes with good paths, but bigger-feeling landscapes and weather.
Notes
- Big views across open country
- A proper Highlands day with dramatic scenery
- Exposure to wind/rain (layers matter)
- Navigation attention in low visibility
Day 7 — Glencoe → Kinlochleven
14 kmStay: Blackwater Hostel & Campsite
Effort
ModerateTerrain
A notable climb followed by a long descent; good trail but the elevation change is felt.
Notes
- High viewpoints before dropping into Kinlochleven
- Mountain scenery and big skies
- Descent can be hard on knees
- In wet conditions, take care on steeper sections
Day 8 — Kinlochleven → Fort William
24 kmEffort
ModerateTerrain
Steady final day with mixed paths and tracks; long rather than technical.
Notes
- A satisfying finish day with changing scenery
- The “home straight” feeling toward Fort William
- It’s long, so pace and fueling matter
- Save some energy for the final few hours
6 days (Fit Walkers)Requires fitness and consistent long days
6 days (Fit Walkers)
Requires fitness and consistent long days
Day 1 — Milngavie → Balmaha
31 kmStay: Milarrochy Bay
Day 2 — Balmaha → Inverarnan
26 kmStay: Beinglas Campsite
Effort
HardTerrain
The slowest section: rough, rocky lochside trails with frequent ups/downs and awkward footing.
Notes
- Classic Loch Lomond shoreline
- Quiet bays and wooded sections
- Much slower pace than the distance suggests
- Care needed on rocky steps and roots
Day 3 — Inverarnan → Bridge of Orchy
30 kmStay: Bridge of Orchy Picnic Grounds Wildcamp
Day 4 — Bridge of Orchy → Glencoe
19 kmStay: Glencoe Mountain Resort Campsite
Effort
ModerateTerrain
More exposed moor and mountain passes with good paths, but bigger-feeling landscapes and weather.
Notes
- Big views across open country
- A proper Highlands day with dramatic scenery
- Exposure to wind/rain (layers matter)
- Navigation attention in low visibility
Day 5 — Glencoe → Kinlochleven
14 kmStay: Blackwater Hostel & Campsite
Effort
ModerateTerrain
A notable climb followed by a long descent; good trail but the elevation change is felt.
Notes
- High viewpoints before dropping into Kinlochleven
- Mountain scenery and big skies
- Descent can be hard on knees
- In wet conditions, take care on steeper sections
Day 6 — Kinlochleven → Fort William
24 kmEffort
ModerateTerrain
Steady final day with mixed paths and tracks; long rather than technical.
Notes
- A satisfying finish day with changing scenery
- The “home straight” feeling toward Fort William
- It’s long, so pace and fueling matter
- Save some energy for the final few hours
5 days (Fast & Light)Only if you’re used to long-distance hiking
5 days (Fast & Light)
Only if you’re used to long-distance hiking
Day 1 — Milngavie → Balmaha
31 kmStay: Milarrochy Bay
Day 2 — Balmaha → Inverarnan
26 kmStay: Beinglas Campsite
Effort
HardTerrain
The slowest section: rough, rocky lochside trails with frequent ups/downs and awkward footing.
Notes
- Classic Loch Lomond shoreline
- Quiet bays and wooded sections
- Much slower pace than the distance suggests
- Care needed on rocky steps and roots
Day 3 — Inverarnan → Bridge of Orchy
30 kmStay: Bridge of Orchy Picnic Grounds Wildcamp
Day 4 — Bridge of Orchy → Kinlochleven
33 kmStay: Blackwater Hostel & Campsite
Day 5 — Kinlochleven → Fort William
24 kmEffort
ModerateTerrain
Steady final day with mixed paths and tracks; long rather than technical.
Notes
- A satisfying finish day with changing scenery
- The “home straight” feeling toward Fort William
- It’s long, so pace and fueling matter
- Save some energy for the final few hours
Map
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