West Highland Way

[Donnie]

Man, I hadn't realized how long it had been since I checked in here! Anyway, right to the point. Has anyone here hiked the West Highland Way? My wife and I have been making tentative plans to do it (so I can check it off my bucket list) in May of 2015. That will be a double whammy. We will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary, and my 65th birthday (a year early) all at the same time. Any advice is more than welcome.
We will be staying in shelters, B&B's as much as possible, and make use of one of the baggage moving services (so we don't have to actually carry that much every day)
I am really excited about the trip.

[tulloch]

I was lucky to be in Glasgow this summer and intended to get to part of the Way but was waay too busy. Get to know someone local for useful information. Kiltfitz - Niall Fitzer - was very helpful and is a great guy. I will be going to visit him again and will walk the Way.

[cessna152towser]

I have only walked some sections of the West Highland Way, but I would recommend if you want to do the whole route you should set aside at least a week. There are basic bunkhouses and hostels where you can stop overnight along the way. I walked the first section from the railway station at Milngavie on the suburbs of Glasgow with a group, we set off around 9 in the morning and would have reached Balmaha comfortably within the first day, but for the fact that a heavy snow blizzard started late afternoon so we diverted back to Drymen and caught a bus back to Glasgow.

[midgeybite]

Hello Donnie, and to everyone else on this forum i'm a newbee. To anwser your question regarding the West Highland Way, Yes i have done it twice Donnie and would be happy to answer any questions. Firstly i would consider when you would like to walk? Summer which is more popular with others i would suggest booking in advance any stay overs you intend to take.
The Norm now is to have your bags - rucksack etc sent on in advance by courrier to your next Bothy, bunkhouse or B&B depending on the distance you wish to cover. You can also camp some sections also wild camping but be advised Midgies could wreck a good idea if you dont have midgie nets and during the summer months they make a grown man cry.
On both trips i did winter and summer and 20 years apart i humped my own stuff and enjoyed every wet, cold painful minute of it... I suggest you read some accounts like the link below, Also Donnie i would purchase a guide or read online they are most usefull now having new listings of accomodation along the route. I hope this has been of some use Donnie.

whttp://www.johndarm.clara.net/whw/whw.html

Mitch

[Woot22]

I walked the entire length back in 2001. I used this guide and it was easy to use as well as very accurate;

http://www.amazon.com/The-West-Highl...y+Mercat+Press.

I agree that you would be better off if you planned out in advance when you would be entering towns and having lodging already set up. Me and my old Army buddy that walked it back in '01 did not do that and it made life a bit interesting at times when looking for a place to stay. But we also brought a tent and camped out every other night we walked. The midgies were relentless at times but I used some locally purchased bug spray that sort of "helped". But the best protection against them was to finish our walk before dusk and be at the bar drinking before the swarms were at their worst, also just walking and keep moving seemed to keep them at bay most of the time. Walking the West Highland Way is my favorite vacation I have taken so far. I would love to walk it again and continue on the Great Glen Way. I loved the Climbers Bar in Glencoe and The Drovers Inn as far as great places to tip back a few after a good days walk. Have fun and best of luck.

[robthehiker]

Donnie, my wife and I used Bespoke Highland Tours when we hiked Skye in 2001. They offer West Highland Way tours too.

Cheers,
Rob