The West Highland Way
Introduction
"How do you fancy guiding on The West Highland Way Dave?". This was the question posed to me by Dean the owner of North West Walks during a phone call to discuss my guiding jobs for 2022. You see I normally just guide on Wainwright's Coast to Coast however the company wondered if I would be free to do a West Highland Way in 2022. Never one to miss a walking opportunity I immediately said yes. There was only one small problem with my agreement to guide the route - I hadn't done it myself!! No matter, I informed Dean that during the winter of 2021 I would walk the route and get myself acquainted with it. After all, before setting off I would look pretty daft admitting to the group I was guiding that I was just as inexperienced in walking the route as they were.
When it was formally opened in October 1980, the West Highland Way became the first officially designated long distance path in Scotland. It was the brainchild of the late Tom Hunter and was approved for development in 1974 and opened 6 years later. The walk uses many ancient paths including drovers roads, military roads and old rail and coaching routes. At a length of 96 miles give or take, it is a route full of interest and diversity of terrain. From the start at Milngavie just north of Glasgow, the route enters woodland and open countryside, transits along the eastern shoreline of Loch Lomond to reach Glen Falloch and on to Crianlarich & Tyndrum and it is from here that the scenery really does deliver. From Bridge of Orchy the route passes over the desolate yet beautiful Rannoch Moor to reach the hotel outpost of Kingshouse and the spectacular view of Buachille Etive Mor. Leaving Kingshouse the route continues along old military roads to climb the Devil's Staircase to reach Kinlochleven. The final leg continues along the old military road to reach Fort William and journey's end.
Read on to see how we got on in both the planning stages and the walk itself.
Read on to see how we got on in both the planning stages and the walk itself.
Leaving Kingshouse on Day 6
(Links to each individual day are below, however just click on "Itinerary, Planning & Preparation" below to start the story of the walk)
West Highland Way Itinerary, Planning & Preparation
West Highland Way Day 1 - Milngavie to Drymen
West Highland Way Day 2 - Drymen to Rowardennan
West Highland Way Day 3 - Rowardennan to Inverarnan
West Highland Way Day 4 - Inverarnan to Bridge of Orchy
West Highland Way Day 5 - Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse
West Highland Way Day 6 - Kingshouse to Kinlochleven
West Highland Way Day 7 - Kinlochleven to Fort William
West Highland Way - Thoughts in Conclusion
West Highland Way Day 1 - Milngavie to Drymen
West Highland Way Day 2 - Drymen to Rowardennan
West Highland Way Day 3 - Rowardennan to Inverarnan
West Highland Way Day 4 - Inverarnan to Bridge of Orchy
West Highland Way Day 5 - Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse
West Highland Way Day 6 - Kingshouse to Kinlochleven
West Highland Way Day 7 - Kinlochleven to Fort William
West Highland Way - Thoughts in Conclusion
|
|