Scotland

7-day West Highland Way itinerary

West Highland Way at the standard pace — first long walk, bag transfer on.

  • 7 Walking days
  • 154 km 95.7 mi On trail
  • 30.3 km 18.9 mi Longest day
  • 6 Nights on trail

Plan this itinerary Compare 5–9 day itineraries

Who this 7-day split is for

  • Default pace — official suggested itineraries, Lonely Planet, and the big operators treat seven walking days as standard.
  • First long trail — start here if this is your first multi-day walk.
  • Walking days — some operators sell “8 days / 7 nights”; they count travel. This page is seven 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.

7-day stages, Milngavie to Fort William
Day Stage Distance Overnight
Day 1 Milngavie → Drymen 19.3 km · 12.0 mi The Drymen Inn (opens in a new tab)
Day 2 Drymen → Rowardennan 23.8 km · 14.8 mi Rowardennan Hotel (opens in a new tab)
Day 3 Rowardennan → Inverarnan 22.3 km · 13.9 mi The Drovers Inn (opens in a new tab)
Day 4 Inverarnan → Tyndrum 19.1 km · 11.9 mi Tyndrum Lodges (opens in a new tab)
Day 5 Longest Tyndrum → Kingshouse 30.3 km · 18.9 mi Kingshouse Hotel (opens in a new tab)
Day 6 Kingshouse → Kinlochleven 14.2 km · 8.8 mi Tailrace Inn (opens in a new tab)
Day 7 Kinlochleven → Fort William 24.2 km · 15.0 mi West Highland Way Finish

  1. Day 1

    Milngavie to Drymen

    5–6 h 19.3 km · 12.0 mi ↑ 320 m · 1,050 ft ↓ 300 m · 1,000 ft

    A gentle warm-up on footpaths, tracks, and lanes. Mugdock Country Park and a string of small lochs ease you out of the Glasgow fringe. Drymen is just off the Way — most people leave the path for the night and a shop.

    Overnight The Drymen Inn (opens in a new tab)

  2. Day 2

    Drymen to Rowardennan

    7–8 h 23.8 km · 14.8 mi ↑ 770 m · 2,550 ft ↓ 810 m · 2,650 ft

    Conic Hill is the first proper climb, then the east shore of Loch Lomond. Balmaha is the natural lunch. The afternoon along the loch is longer than it looks — save something for Rowardennan.

    Overnight Rowardennan Hotel (opens in a new tab)

  3. Day 3

    Rowardennan to Inverarnan

    6–7 h 22.3 km · 13.9 mi ↑ 740 m · 2,450 ft ↓ 750 m · 2,450 ft

    The hardest walking day for most people. The east shore north of Rowardennan is boulder and root; miles take longer than the map. Inversnaid Hotel is the halfway pause. Beinglas or the Drovers after you leave the loch.

    Overnight The Drovers Inn (opens in a new tab)

  4. Day 4

    Inverarnan to Tyndrum

    5–6 h 19.1 km · 11.9 mi ↑ 590 m · 1,950 ft ↓ 370 m · 1,200 ft

    You leave the loch and walk into the Highlands on old military and drove roads. Crianlarich is a mid-day rail and shop stop if you detour. Tyndrum has two hotels, a store, and the Green Welly — a real resupply night.

    Overnight Tyndrum Lodges (opens in a new tab)

  5. Day 5 Longest

    Tyndrum to Kingshouse

    8–9 h 30.3 km · 18.9 mi ↑ 650 m · 2,150 ft ↓ 640 m · 2,100 ft

    The longest day on the standard split — about 30 km. Bridge of Orchy and Inveroran are lunch, not the night. Then Rannoch Moor: exposed, magnificent, and a poor place to be late. Start early and treat Kingshouse as a one-night bunkhouse stop.

    Overnight Kingshouse Hotel (opens in a new tab)

  6. Day 6

    Kingshouse to Kinlochleven

    4–5 h 14.2 km · 8.8 mi ↑ 430 m · 1,400 ft ↓ 670 m · 2,200 ft

    The shortest classic day and the most famous climb. The Devil’s Staircase is steep, not long; the name is from soldiers hauling kit, not from the grade. Then a long descent into Kinlochleven — shops, pub, and a proper village night.

    Overnight Tailrace Inn (opens in a new tab)

  7. Day 7

    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 (WHW4) . 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.

7-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 → Kingshouse 14.2 km · 8.8 mi Kingshouse Hotel (opens in a new tab)
Day 3 Longest Kingshouse → Tyndrum 30.3 km · 18.9 mi Tyndrum Lodges (opens in a new tab)
Day 4 Tyndrum → Inverarnan 19.1 km · 11.9 mi The Drovers Inn (opens in a new tab)
Day 5 Inverarnan → Rowardennan 22.3 km · 13.9 mi Rowardennan Hotel (opens in a new tab)
Day 6 Rowardennan → Drymen 23.8 km · 14.8 mi The Drymen Inn (opens in a new tab)
Day 7 Drymen → Milngavie 19.3 km · 12.0 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 Kingshouse

    4–5 h 14.2 km · 8.8 mi ↑ 670 m · 2,200 ft ↓ 430 m · 1,400 ft

    You climb out of Kinlochleven first — that is the work — then down the staircase to Kingshouse. A short day on the map, still a weather day on the ridge. The hotel is isolated; book it.

    Overnight Kingshouse Hotel (opens in a new tab)

  3. Day 3 Longest

    Kingshouse to Tyndrum

    8–9 h 30.3 km · 18.9 mi ↑ 640 m · 2,100 ft ↓ 650 m · 2,150 ft

    Rannoch first, then the road into Tyndrum. The moor is still the weather day — wind in your face more often this way. Tyndrum is a softer landing than Kingshouse: shops, choice of beds, and a road out if you need it.

    Overnight Tyndrum Lodges (opens in a new tab)

  4. Day 4

    Tyndrum to Inverarnan

    5–6 h 19.1 km · 11.9 mi ↑ 370 m · 1,200 ft ↓ 590 m · 1,950 ft

    Open glen back toward the loch. Crianlarich is the useful pause. The Drovers or Beinglas is a busier night than Tyndrum; you are heading toward trees and water again.

    Overnight The Drovers Inn (opens in a new tab)

  5. Day 5

    Inverarnan to Rowardennan

    6–7 h 22.3 km · 13.9 mi ↑ 750 m · 2,450 ft ↓ 740 m · 2,450 ft

    Same north-shore rock, walking south. Inversnaid is still the middle. Progress is slow either way — this is not the day to chase a bus. Rowardennan is a quiet loch-foot night.

    Overnight Rowardennan Hotel (opens in a new tab)

  6. Day 6

    Rowardennan to Drymen

    7–8 h 23.8 km · 14.8 mi ↑ 810 m · 2,650 ft ↓ 770 m · 2,550 ft

    Loch shore first, then Conic Hill as a climb toward Drymen. Balmaha is still the lunch stop. The hill is steeper this way in the morning; the forestry tracks after it are a relief.

    Overnight The Drymen Inn (opens in a new tab)

  7. Day 7

    Drymen to Milngavie

    5–6 h 19.3 km · 12.0 mi ↑ 300 m · 1,000 ft ↓ 320 m · 1,050 ft

    The last miles into Milngavie are the softest on the trail — parkland and suburb after the hills. Finish at the obelisk in the town centre; the train to Glasgow is a few minutes’ walk.

    Overnight Milngavie

Plan Fort William to Milngavie

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