West Highland Way

West Highland Way

A walking holiday along the iconic long-distance route between Milngavie and Fort William.

4 to 10 nights
47-95 miles
Moderate to Strenuous

From £505 per person

Find your holiday

About the trail

From its jagged mountains to its glittering lochs, the Scottish Highlands offer up truly epic countryside – and the West Highland Way clambers right through it. Although the trail begins in wooded lowlands and along pebbled lochsides, it soon rises past dramatic cascades and over windswept moorland onto rugged mountainsides.

With mighty peaks as a constant staggering backdrop, the West Highland Way clambers ascents such as the Devil’s Staircase to win breath-taking views across the Scottish Highlands. This is a gorgeous and immersive route, supported by the villages dotted along its length that provide warm, cosy places to rest up.

We offer multiple holiday options along this trail. If you wish to experience the entire trail, simply select the first option from the list below.

Choose your route

  • West Highland Way
  • West Highland Way - South Section
  • West Highland Way - North Section

About this route

4 to 6 nights
49 miles
Moderate to Demanding
23rd March to 19th October

From £505 per person

West Highland Way - North Section

On old military and drovers’ roads, the north section of the West Highland Way departs Crianlarich and strikes into the mountainous heart of the Highlands. It tours over desolate Rannoch Moor, up through the Aonach Eagach mountains on the Devil’s Staircase, and through the Lairigmor pass to Glen Nevis and Fort William.

This shortened version of the West Highland Way is the perfect way to ensconce yourself in Scottish mountain scenery.

This route can be walked in the opposite direction upon request. Please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
WHWN1 From Crianlarich to Fort William 4 nights, 3 days walking Demanding £505
WHWN2 From Crianlarich to Fort William 5 nights, 4 days walking Moderate / Demanding £620
WHWN3 From Crianlarich to Fort William 6 nights, 5 days walking Moderate £745

West Highland Way - Northern section 4 nights, 3 days walking

£NNN per person
  • Itinerary
  • What's included?
  • Extra nights?
  • Tour facts
  • Route profile
  • Travel info
  • Weather
  • Holiday Highlights

Important information

Please note that accommodation along the West Highland Way is in extremely high demand, so be sure to await confirmation of your booking before making firm travel plans. We would advise to book a year in advance for his trail.

Please note that  MAY 2024 is fully booked for this trail and early JUNE 2024 limited availability.  If you have flexibility with your start date please advise this when booking.

As an additional side-effect of this high demand, accommodation providers at the Kingshouse and Bridge of Orchy overnight stops have limited availability for their standard rooms year-round. If these rooms are not available transfers to nearby accommodation will be provided.  Kingshouse also usually have a two night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.  If you are happy to pay an upgrade supplement to stay at these two locations please advise this on your booking form. An upgrade supplement may still apply for a two night stay.  NB: We will request payment for Kingshouse room bookings upfront, including any upgrade supplements. These will go towards your balance payment.

Start

Travel to Crianlarich where your first night's accommodation will be booked

Day 1

Crianlarich to Inveroran(L). 16 miles (25.5km) / 1926 ft (587 m) ascent

Day 2

Inveroran(L) to Kinlochleven. 19 miles (30km) / 2365 ft (721 m) ascent

Day 3

Kinlochleven to Fort William. 14.5 miles (23km) / 1998 ft (609 m) ascent

Finish

Depart from Fort William after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.

Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Traveller Supplement
£55.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£50.00 per person / per night


You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays West Highland Way - North Section map
Crianlarich to Fort William
49 miles (79 km)
23rd March to 19th October

Holiday highlights

Climbing the challenging highland section of the West Highland Way.

Admiring the breath-taking pinnacles of the Aonach Eagach mountains.

Looking out over beautiful Loch Leven at the end of your walk in Fort William.

What's included?

  • 4 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
  • Breakfast each day.
  • Door to door luggage transfer.
  • Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
  • An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
  • Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

Rest days provide the opportunity to explore some of the fascinating little towns along trail. Whether you spend your time exploring the sights and sounds of Scotland or simply rest your weary feet, an extra night is a wonderful way to extend your holiday.

Many people take an extra night in Fort William at the end of the trail to climb Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 49 miles (78.5 km)
Duration: 4 nights, 3 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 14.5 miles (23 km)
Maximum daily distance: 19 miles (30 km)
Code: WHWN1 Grade: Demanding
Season: 23rd March - 19th October
Start of holiday: Crianlarich
End of holiday: Fort William

Route Profile

West Highland Way - Northern section Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are Glasgow and Glasgow Prestwick.

By Rail - There is a rail station at the start of the trail (Crianlarich) and also at the end of the trail (Fort William).

By Bus - Various bus/coach services run to Crianlarich and from Fort William.

From London - Trains run from London Euston & London Kings Cross stations to Glasgow (some via Edinburgh). From there take the train or Citylink coach to Crianlarich. The best option varies depending on the time and day - check Traveline & National Rail Enquiries for the best option for the day and time you are travelling..

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail, is to catch the train or Citylink coach from Fort William to Crianlarich.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

  • MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
  • Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
  • Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.

Customer reviews from the West Highland Way - North Section

“Thank you for your hard work in booking this walkers holiday for us. We had a wonderful walk over 5 days of glorious sunshine. Much enjoyed & all went well.”
Mr Williams, UK
“The delivered package was very helpful. The West Highland Way booklet, directions etc. etc. helped in the total great experience. Apart from the perfect arrangements the weather was perfect. Five days of Scotland and not one drop of rain! If this is the standard, we'll be back.”
Mr Buurman, Netherlands
“The hike is awesome and highly recommended for fit travellers. Had a great time and met many wonderful people.”
Mr Osmus, USA
“The scenery was incomparable.”
Mr Hart, USA
“It was one of the best walks we have done - we loved it. We were so lucky with the weather - blue skies, sunshine, warmth - and this was the Scottish Highlands!”
Mr Hamon, UK
“Smooth sailing! We had an excellent trip! Just perfect itinerary for our group.”
Ms Kampmann, UK
“Walking across Rannoch Moor - an otter crossed the path in front of me.”
Mr Hadfield, UK
“Well organised & it all went to plan. It was a hard walk on very unforgiving ground.”
Dr Wood, UK
“Scotland's West Highland Way was wonderful. We did it North to South (half way) and thought that this way was preferable to the other more common one. Our lodging was great. Contours staff over and over and over again were so helpful in making this trip happen. Thank you for the help. Contours even gave me detailed help for trains to get from one area of Scotland to the starting area as well as from the ending city to another city. Being very unfamiliar with the train/bus systems in the UK, it is hard to figure out from afar. Again, thank you.”
Mrs Woodward, USA
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