Scotland

5-day West Highland Way itinerary

West Highland Way in five long days — bag transfer on.

  • 5 Walking days
  • 154 km 95.7 mi On trail
  • 34.8 km 21.6 mi Longest day
  • 4 Nights on trail

Plan this itinerary Compare 5–9 day itineraries

Who this 5-day split is for

  • Fit walkers — four days around 30 km, then a shorter finish into Fort William.
  • Official shortest — this is the trail body’s five-day plan (WHW1), not a squeezed 7-day.
  • Not a first long trail — start on the 7-day if this is your first multi-day walk.
  • Walking days — some operators sell “6 days / 5 nights”; they count travel. This page is five days on trail.

Coloured days match the stage list below.

Most people walk this way

Milngavie to Fort William

South to north, starting near Glasgow. On-trail distances from our geometry — the walk from the path to the door is not included.

5-day stages, Milngavie to Fort William
Day Stage Distance Overnight
Day 1 Milngavie → Balmaha 30.5 km · 19.0 mi Oak Tree Inn (opens in a new tab)
Day 2 Longest Balmaha → Inverarnan 34.8 km · 21.6 mi The Drovers Inn (opens in a new tab)
Day 3 Inverarnan → Bridge of Orchy 30.2 km · 18.8 mi Bridge of Orchy Hotel (opens in a new tab)
Day 4 Bridge of Orchy → Kinlochleven 33.5 km · 20.8 mi Tailrace Inn (opens in a new tab)
Day 5 Kinlochleven → Fort William 24.2 km · 15.0 mi West Highland Way Finish

  1. Day 1

    Milngavie to Balmaha

    8–9 h 30.5 km · 19.0 mi ↑ 720 m · 2,350 ft ↓ 760 m · 2,500 ft

    The official first section plus Conic Hill in one day. Easy tracks to Drymen, then the first real climb and the first view of Loch Lomond. Drop into Balmaha for the night — do not add extra miles after the hill.

    Overnight Oak Tree Inn (opens in a new tab)

  2. Day 2 Longest

    Balmaha to Inverarnan

    10–11 h 34.8 km · 21.6 mi ↑ 1,100 m · 3,600 ft ↓ 1,100 m · 3,600 ft

    The hard north shore of Loch Lomond in one go — roots, rock, and slow miles, not a big climb. Do not add Conic Hill to this day. Inversnaid is lunch if you can get it; Beinglas or the Drovers is the night.

    Overnight The Drovers Inn (opens in a new tab)

  3. Day 3

    Inverarnan to Bridge of Orchy

    8–9 h 30.2 km · 18.8 mi ↑ 750 m · 2,450 ft ↓ 600 m · 1,950 ft

    Loch behind you, then the Tyndrum corridor without stopping the night. Lunch in Tyndrum (shop, cafés), then the old road to Bridge of Orchy. A long day if you treated the morning as easy.

    Overnight Bridge of Orchy Hotel (opens in a new tab)

  4. Day 4

    Bridge of Orchy to Kinlochleven

    9–10 h 33.5 km · 20.8 mi ↑ 930 m · 3,050 ft ↓ 1,070 m · 3,500 ft

    Rannoch Moor and the Devil’s Staircase in one day. Inveroran and Kingshouse are pauses, not nights. The staircase is the Way’s high point — short, steep, and a long drop into Kinlochleven. Start early.

    Overnight Tailrace Inn (opens in a new tab)

  5. Day 5

    Kinlochleven to Fort William

    7–8 h 24.2 km · 15.0 mi ↑ 710 m · 2,350 ft ↓ 710 m · 2,350 ft

    A long last day on the Lairig Mor — forest climb, then the old military road under the Mamores. Ben Nevis comes into view before the town. The walking day ends at the finish statue, not a Glen Nevis hotel. Train or bus the same afternoon if you want; stay if you want slack or the Ben.

    Overnight West Highland Way Finish

Cross-check: official suggested itineraries (WHW1) . We use their settlement names as a cross-check. Distances are from our trail geometry, not their mile table.

Opposite direction

Fort William to Milngavie

Same days, starting in the Highlands. Most first-timers use the cards above. The last walking day ends at the Milngavie obelisk.

5-day stages, Fort William to Milngavie
Day Stage Distance Overnight
Day 1 Fort William → Kinlochleven 24.2 km · 15.0 mi Tailrace Inn (opens in a new tab)
Day 2 Kinlochleven → Bridge of Orchy 33.5 km · 20.8 mi Bridge of Orchy Hotel (opens in a new tab)
Day 3 Bridge of Orchy → Inverarnan 30.2 km · 18.8 mi The Drovers Inn (opens in a new tab)
Day 4 Longest Inverarnan → Balmaha 34.8 km · 21.6 mi Oak Tree Inn (opens in a new tab)
Day 5 Balmaha → Milngavie 30.5 km · 19.0 mi Milngavie

  1. Day 1

    Fort William to Kinlochleven

    7–8 h 24.2 km · 15.0 mi ↑ 710 m · 2,350 ft ↓ 710 m · 2,350 ft

    Day one from Fort William is the Lairig Mor the other way. The statue is behind you by mid-morning; the climb toward the Mamores is the work. Kinlochleven is a full village night — easier to land in than Kingshouse.

    Overnight Tailrace Inn (opens in a new tab)

  2. Day 2

    Kinlochleven to Bridge of Orchy

    10–11 h 33.5 km · 20.8 mi ↑ 1,070 m · 3,500 ft ↓ 930 m · 3,050 ft

    The climb out of Kinlochleven is the hard hour, then down the staircase and across the moor. You will meet most people coming the other way. Bridge of Orchy is a quiet night after a big day.

    Overnight Bridge of Orchy Hotel (opens in a new tab)

  3. Day 3

    Bridge of Orchy to Inverarnan

    8–9 h 30.2 km · 18.8 mi ↑ 600 m · 1,950 ft ↓ 750 m · 2,450 ft

    Old road to Tyndrum for lunch, then down the glen to the loch-head inns. You skip a Tyndrum night — book the Drovers or Beinglas early. The last hour is gentler than the morning.

    Overnight The Drovers Inn (opens in a new tab)

  4. Day 4 Longest

    Inverarnan to Balmaha

    10–11 h 34.8 km · 21.6 mi ↑ 1,100 m · 3,600 ft ↓ 1,100 m · 3,600 ft

    You walk the same rocky north shore toward Balmaha. It is still the slowest underfoot day — start early. The south loch after Inversnaid feels easier; Balmaha is a proper village finish.

    Overnight Oak Tree Inn (opens in a new tab)

  5. Day 5

    Balmaha to Milngavie

    8–9 h 30.5 km · 19.0 mi ↑ 760 m · 2,500 ft ↓ 720 m · 2,350 ft

    Conic Hill is a climb out of Balmaha, then a long easy finish into Milngavie. The obelisk is a quieter end than Fort William; budget the hill for the morning while legs are fresh.

    Overnight Milngavie

Plan Fort William to Milngavie

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