Misty Scottish glen with heather slopes and emerald ridges

3 day highlights of the 7-day route · Scotland

West Highland Way

Lochs, mist and emerald ridges — a walk that softens the chest.

Day by day Free GPX Save to library

Heather-purple summit of Conic Hill with Loch Lomond and islands below

Zigzag stone path of the Devil's Staircase climbing emerald Glencoe pass

Broad green Glen Nevis valley with river and mountains beyond

Real photographs of these places, from open archives. No renders, no borrowed scenery, no illustrations dressed up as trail.

Trip facts

Days here: 3
Distance: 17.9 km
Ascent: 361 m
Difficulty: Strenuous
Soul Signature: 90 / 100
GPX: Ready

Soul90
Serenity90
Regenerative72
Family-friendly99
Joy & beauty90

A quiet welcome

Scotland's first long-distance path — 154 km from lowland Milngavie into the highland grandeur of Fort William. Three carefully chosen day-stages distill its whole soul: the mirror of a loch, the honest climb of a pass, the wide green shoulder of a mountain that has watched over Gaelic walking for centuries.

The walking

Day by day.

Every distance and ascent below is measured from the same stored foot line the GPX contains — page and file always agree. These are the 3 days we have walked and verified on a trail normally walked in 7. We publish what we can stand behind, never a day we have not measured.

Day 01
Balmaha · Loch Lomond
Conic Hill above Loch Lomond
↔ 4.9 km↑ +123 m◔ 4 hGPX ready
A short heather climb to a panoramic perch above Loch Lomond and its scatter of green islands. One of the great gentle views in Britain.
Serenity88Regenerative74Family-friendly82Joy & beauty89
Getting there
Bus 309 from Balloch railway station to Balmaha (40 min). Balloch is a direct train from Glasgow Queen Street.
Stays
Oak Tree Inn at Balmaha for a Scottish-pub night. Wild camping is allowed under the Loch Lomond byelaws — check zones.
Family notes
Short, well-marked, and one of the most rewarding ratios of effort to view in Scotland. Carry midge repellent in summer.
88
Xymove · terrain map
LiveRolling
4.9 km123 m58 mSerenity 88
Unfolding the mapTerrain, contours and the trail ribbon are settling into place.
Soul Signature4.9 km↑123↓58
Map key
Hiking trail
Start
Finish
Parking
Trail field guide
Water
Food
Shelter / hut
Viewpoint
Trailhead
Rest / picnic
Stay
Tap any pin for hours, water & food details.
N
Elevation cross-section · metres↑ 123 m↓ 58 m6–61 m · 4.9 km~3.7% avg
Soul & Serenity · how this path is felt
A grounded, regenerative walk. Move gently and it will meet you halfway.
Walked, sat with, scored honestly — strongest in nature.
88soul
Presence
90/100
How easily the mind quiets here
Nature
92/100
Wildness, water, light, living silence
Regeneration
86/100
What the body & nervous system bring home
Solitude
82/100
Space from crowds, kindly shared with locals
Distance4.9 km
Elevation↑ 123 · ↓ 58 m
TerrainRolling
Start · Balmaha pierFinish · Milarrochy Bay
Take the path with you — full GPX track & offline map tiles for the whole route.
Verifying GPX accuracy…Garmin · Strava · Komoot · AllTrails
Preparing routed GPX for Conic Hill above Loch Lomond.
How to use offline · a soul-aware guide›
Tap Download GPX & Offline Maps on Wi-Fi — your route, waypoints, elevation and soul notes are saved together.
Import the .gpx into Garmin Connect, Komoot, Strava, AllTrails or Gaia GPS — same file works everywhere.
Open this page once before you leave signal. The map will replay from the cache, even on a plane.
On the trail, breathe before you check the screen. The Emerald Guardian is already with you.
Day 02
Glencoe · Lochaber
Devil's Staircase to Kinlochleven
↔ 6.9 km↑ +23 m / −492 m◔ 5 hGPX ready
Climb the old military zigzag over the Aonach Eagach shoulder, then drop slowly into the village of Kinlochleven beside its loch.
Serenity89Regenerative75Family-friendly78Joy & beauty91
Getting there
Citylink 914/915 from Glasgow stops at Altnafeadh on the A82. Returns from Kinlochleven.
Stays
Blackwater Hostel and Macdonald Hotel in Kinlochleven — both walker-loved, with drying rooms and big breakfasts.
Family notes
The climb is sustained but never technical. Bring waterproofs — weather changes fast on the pass.
89
Xymove · terrain map
LiveGentle
6.9 km23 m492 mSerenity 89
Unfolding the mapTerrain, contours and the trail ribbon are settling into place.
Soul Signature6.9 km↑23↓492
Map key
Hiking trail
Start
Finish
Parking
Trail field guide
Water
Food
Shelter / hut
Viewpoint
Trailhead
Rest / picnic
Stay
Tap any pin for hours, water & food details.
N
Elevation cross-section · metres↑ 23 m↓ 492 m15–496 m · 6.9 km~7.5% avg
Soul & Serenity · how this path is felt
A grounded, regenerative walk. Move gently and it will meet you halfway.
Walked, sat with, scored honestly — strongest in nature.
89soul
Presence
91/100
How easily the mind quiets here
Nature
93/100
Wildness, water, light, living silence
Regeneration
87/100
What the body & nervous system bring home
Solitude
83/100
Space from crowds, kindly shared with locals
Distance6.9 km
Elevation↑ 23 · ↓ 492 m
TerrainGentle
Start · Altnafeadh car parkFinish · Kinlochleven
Take the path with you — full GPX track & offline map tiles for the whole route.
Verifying GPX accuracy…Garmin · Strava · Komoot · AllTrails
Preparing routed GPX for Devil's Staircase to Kinlochleven.
How to use offline · a soul-aware guide›
Tap Download GPX & Offline Maps on Wi-Fi — your route, waypoints, elevation and soul notes are saved together.
Import the .gpx into Garmin Connect, Komoot, Strava, AllTrails or Gaia GPS — same file works everywhere.
Open this page once before you leave signal. The map will replay from the cache, even on a plane.
On the trail, breathe before you check the screen. The Emerald Guardian is already with you.
Day 03
Fort William
Glen Nevis valley walk
↔ 6.1 km↑ +215 m◔ 3 hGPX ready
A soft, broad valley beneath the bulk of Ben Nevis. River pools for tired feet, a hidden waterfall at the end, and no real climbing.
Serenity93Regenerative76Family-friendly82Joy & beauty90
Getting there
Fort William is the trailhead. Bus N42 runs up Glen Nevis hourly in summer.
Stays
Glen Nevis Holidays cabins, or Achintee Farm guest house at the foot of Ben Nevis itself.
Family notes
Perfect first-day-of-trip walk. The wire bridge near Steall is optional — the viewpoint comes well before it.
93
Xymove · terrain map
LiveRolling
6.1 km215 m52 mSerenity 93
Unfolding the mapTerrain, contours and the trail ribbon are settling into place.
Soul Signature6.1 km↑215↓52
Map key
Hiking trail
Start
Finish
Parking
Trail field guide
Water
Food
Shelter / hut
Viewpoint
Trailhead
Rest / picnic
Stay
Tap any pin for hours, water & food details.
N
Elevation cross-section · metres↑ 215 m↓ 52 m171–335 m · 6.1 km~4.4% avg
Soul & Serenity · how this path is felt
A path that returns you to yourself — slowly, kindly, completely.
Walked, sat with, scored honestly — strongest in nature.
93soul
Presence
95/100
How easily the mind quiets here
Nature
97/100
Wildness, water, light, living silence
Regeneration
91/100
What the body & nervous system bring home
Solitude
87/100
Space from crowds, kindly shared with locals
Distance6.1 km
Elevation↑ 215 · ↓ 52 m
TerrainRolling
Start · Visitor CentreFinish · Steall Falls viewpoint
Take the path with you — full GPX track & offline map tiles for the whole route.
Verifying GPX accuracy…Garmin · Strava · Komoot · AllTrails
Preparing routed GPX for Glen Nevis valley walk.
How to use offline · a soul-aware guide›
Tap Download GPX & Offline Maps on Wi-Fi — your route, waypoints, elevation and soul notes are saved together.
Import the .gpx into Garmin Connect, Komoot, Strava, AllTrails or Gaia GPS — same file works everywhere.
Open this page once before you leave signal. The map will replay from the cache, even on a plane.
On the trail, breathe before you check the screen. The Emerald Guardian is already with you.

Where to sleep

Stays, place by place.

Only places that exist on this trail, listed by the village you stop in. Some booking links earn us a small commission at no cost to you — they never change what we list or in what order.

Where to sleep

Stays in Milngavie

Trail-close and calm — for walkers, friends, and families where the trail allows. Along West Highland Way.

Hotels

Premier Inn Glasgow Bearsden

Start · night before Milngavie → Drymen

Quiet, reliable rooms a short taxi from the Milngavie obelisk — a calm, family-friendly bed for the eve of Day 1.

Booking.com · Milngavie Google

Hostels & Budget

West View Guest House

Budget B&B · start of the Way

Small walker-run guest house five minutes from the trailhead — hearty Scottish breakfast and boot storage.

Booking.com · Milngavie Hostelworld Google

Camping

Bankell Farm Campsite

Campsite · start of the Way

Quiet farm pitches with hot showers and a short walk to the Milngavie start — the calmest first night on the trail.

Booking.com · Milngavie Google Campsite

Quiet, trail-close places to rest. Always check current availability and conditions. Where we have no page for a specific house, the Booking.com button opens a search for that overnight town — labelled as such, never dressed up as a booked bed. Booking links may earn us a small commission at no cost to you.

Where to sleep

Stays in Drymen

Trail-close and calm — for walkers, friends, and families where the trail allows. Along West Highland Way.

Hotels

Winnock Hotel

End of Day 1 · Milngavie → Drymen

A warm old coaching inn on Drymen's green — log fires, hearty breakfasts and a five-minute walk back to the Way.

Booking.com · Drymen Google

Hostels & Budget

Clachan Inn (budget rooms)

Budget base · Drymen village

Scotland's oldest licensed pub with simple upstairs rooms — cosy, walker-friendly and steps from the square.

Booking.com · Drymen Hostelworld Google

Camping

Drymen Camping

Campsite · Drymen village

Small, family-run pitches on the edge of the village — a clean, quiet stop after a gentle first day.

Booking.com · Drymen Google Campsite

Where to sleep

Stays in Balmaha

Trail-close and calm — for walkers, friends, and families where the trail allows. Along West Highland Way.

Hotels

Oak Tree Inn

Loch Lomond gateway · after Conic Hill

Slate-roofed inn beside the loch — driftwood snug, local ales and a bench to watch the water quieten at dusk.

Booking.com · Balmaha Google

Hostels & Budget

Balmaha Bunkhouse

Budget base · Loch Lomond shore

Small bunkhouse behind the Oak Tree — clean four-bunk rooms, drying room and easy access back to the trail.

Booking.com · Balmaha Hostelworld Google

Camping

Cashel Forest Campsite

Campsite · Loch Lomond east shore

Forest-and-shore pitches run by Forestry Scotland just north of Balmaha — swim from the beach at sunrise.

Booking.com · Balmaha Google Campsite

Where to sleep

Stays in Rowardennan

Trail-close and calm — for walkers, friends, and families where the trail allows. Along West Highland Way.

Hotels

Rowardennan Hotel

Loch-side base · foot of Ben Lomond

Classic loch-front hotel with a beer garden on the shingle — perfect for a slow supper after a shore-walking day.

Booking.com · Rowardennan Google

Hostels & Budget

Rowardennan Youth Hostel

Loch Lomond shore · after Conic Hill

Loch-front SYHA lodge with a huge fireplace and a jetty — swim, dry your boots, watch the light move on Ben Lomond.

Booking.com · Rowardennan Hostelworld Google

Camping

Sallochy Bay Campsite

Permit camp · Loch Lomond east shore

Forestry-managed lochside pitches (permit) just south of Rowardennan — the quietest wild-feel night on the loch.

Booking.com · Rowardennan Google Campsite

Where to sleep

Stays in Inverarnan

Trail-close and calm — for walkers, friends, and families where the trail allows. Along West Highland Way.

Hotels

Drovers Inn

Historic inn · Loch Lomond north end

Storied 1705 coaching inn with tartan snugs and stag heads — pure Highland folklore after a long shore day.

Booking.com · Inverarnan Google

Hostels & Budget

Beinglas Farm Wigwams

Budget cabins · trailside farm

Warm wooden wigwams on the WHW at Beinglas — showers, drying room and a short stroll to the Drovers.

Booking.com · Inverarnan Hostelworld Google

Camping

Beinglas Farm Campsite

Campsite · Loch Lomond north end

Legendary trailside farm — pitches, wooden wigwams and the Drovers Inn next door for a stew and a dram.

Booking.com · Inverarnan Google Campsite

Where to sleep

Stays in Crianlarich

Trail-close and calm — for walkers, friends, and families where the trail allows. Along West Highland Way.

Hotels

The Crianlarich Hotel

Rail-junction base · mid-Way

Warm village hotel at the West Highland Line junction — kind staff, hearty menu and easy shuttle back to the trail.

Booking.com · Crianlarich Google

Hostels & Budget

Crianlarich Hostel (SYHA)

Budget base · village centre

Family-friendly SYHA hostel with private rooms and a drying room — a good mid-Way rest before Tyndrum.

Booking.com · Crianlarich Hostelworld Google

Camping

Strathfillan Wigwam Village

Camp & wigwams · Auchtertyre farm

Working farm between Crianlarich and Tyndrum with pitches, wigwams and a tiny farm shop — kids love the sheep.

Booking.com · Crianlarich Google Campsite

Where to sleep

Stays in Tyndrum

Trail-close and calm — for walkers, friends, and families where the trail allows. Along West Highland Way.

Hotels

Real Food Café Rooms

Mid-way base · Tyndrum

Small, sustainable rooms above Scotland's most-loved trail café — perfect resupply, laundry and a huge plate of haddock.

Booking.com · Tyndrum Google

Hostels & Budget

By The Way Hostel

Budget base · Tyndrum

Cheerful walker-run hostel with wooden trekker huts and a drying room — the calmest mid-Way bed for families on a budget.

Booking.com · Tyndrum Hostelworld Google

Camping

Pine Trees Leisure Park

Campsite · Tyndrum village

Tidy pitches and simple pods beside the burn — steps from the Real Food Café for breakfast on the way out.

Booking.com · Tyndrum Google Campsite

Where to sleep

Stays in Bridge of Orchy

Trail-close and calm — for walkers, friends, and families where the trail allows. Along West Highland Way.

Hotels

Bridge of Orchy Hotel

Quiet Highland base · midway to Rannoch

Handsome white-washed inn beside the River Orchy — walker-friendly bar, warm dining room and a station on the doorstep.

Booking.com · Bridge of Orchy Google

Hostels & Budget

Bridge of Orchy Bunkhouse

Budget bunks · behind the hotel

Compact bunkhouse with a shared kitchen — a clean, quiet budget option before the Rannoch crossing.

Booking.com · Bridge of Orchy Hostelworld Google

Camping

Bridge of Orchy Camping

Free-camp field · beside the station

Simple pitches beside the hotel and station — a quiet Highland night with the West Highland Line rumbling gently by.

Booking.com · Bridge of Orchy Google Campsite

Where to sleep

Stays in Glencoe

Trail-close and calm — for walkers, friends, and families where the trail allows. Along West Highland Way.

Hotels

Kingshouse Hotel

Iconic stop · foot of Rannoch Moor / Devil's Staircase

Restored trailside hotel under the Buachaille — dark-wood snug, red deer in the field, the most emotional bed on the Way.

Booking.com · Glencoe Google

Hostels & Budget

Kingshouse Bunkhouse

Budget bunks · attached to the hotel

Warm modern bunkrooms sharing the hotel's bar and drying room — the most soulful budget bed on the trail.

Booking.com · Glencoe Hostelworld Google

Camping

Kingshouse Wild Camping Area

Free camp · beside the hotel

Signposted free camping meadow across the burn — basic toilets, incredible sunsets on the Buachaille.

Booking.com · Glencoe Google Campsite

Where to sleep

Stays in Kinlochleven

Trail-close and calm — for walkers, friends, and families where the trail allows. Along West Highland Way.

Hotels

MacDonald Hotel

After the Devil's Staircase · loch-head base

Family-run loch-head hotel with a warm restaurant and mountain views — a soft landing after the day's biggest descent.

Booking.com · Kinlochleven Google

Hostels & Budget

Blackwater Hostel

After the Devil's Staircase · Kinlochleven

Small riverside hostel with private family rooms and campsite pitches — hot showers waiting after the hardest descent.

Booking.com · Kinlochleven Hostelworld Google

Camping

MacDonald Hotel Campsite

Campsite · loch-side, next to the hotel

Grassy loch-side pitches with modern facilities and a short walk to the bar — a kind end to Day 6.

Booking.com · Kinlochleven Google Campsite

Where to sleep

Stays in Fort William

Trail-close and calm — for walkers, friends, and families where the trail allows. Along West Highland Way.

Hotels

Cruachan Hotel

Journey's end · Fort William

Family-run guesthouse a short walk from the finish cairn — hot bath, whisky nightcap and easy transfers home.

Booking.com · Fort William Google

Hostels & Budget

Fort William Backpackers

Budget base · finish town

Old-town backpackers with a wood-burning stove and a huge kitchen — the classic celebratory bed at the finish.

Booking.com · Fort William Hostelworld Google

Camping

Glen Nevis Caravan & Camping Park

Trail-end camp · Fort William / Glen Nevis

Wide grassy pitches under Ben Nevis with a warm shower block — the softest finish before the Ben or the train home.

Booking.com · Fort William Google Campsite

Logistics

Getting there & back

Both ends of the Way are reachable without a car. We link the official operators and the national journey planner rather than copying timetables that change with the season — always check the day you walk.

To the start · Milngavie

Milngavie station is a short walk from the obelisk that marks the start, with frequent trains from Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central.

Official travel guidance

From the finish · Fort William

Fort William has trains south to Glasgow and the Caledonian Sleeper to London, plus long-distance coaches. Book ahead in high summer.

Scottish Citylink coaches

Buses along the Way

Most stage ends — Drymen, Balmaha, Rowardennan, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Bridge of Orchy, Kinlochleven — are served by local or long-distance buses. Plan each hop on the national journey planner.

Traveline Scotland journey planner

Baggage transfer

Independent walkers commonly move their pack between stage ends and walk with a daypack. We list operators only where they publish their own service pages; prices and pick-up windows are theirs, not ours.

Travel-Lite baggage transfer

Links go to the operators and journey planners themselves. Times, prices and seasonal gaps are theirs to publish and yours to check — we keep no timetable copies.

West Highland Way · 3 days combined

One .gpx · 3 numbered day tracks (D01…D03) · elevation on every point.

puresoul-west-highland-way-full-trip-3-days-YYYY-MM-DD.gpx

D01 · 4.9 km · +123 m
Conic Hill above Loch Lomond
puresoul-west-highland-way-segment-d01-conic-hill-above-loch-lomond-YYYY-MM-DD.gpx
Google Maps Apple Maps Walk route (Apple)
D02 · 6.9 km · +23 m / −492 m
Devil's Staircase to Kinlochleven
puresoul-west-highland-way-segment-d02-devil-s-staircase-to-kinlochleven-YYYY-MM-DD.gpx
Google Maps Apple Maps Walk route (Apple)
D03 · 6.1 km · +215 m
Glen Nevis valley walk
puresoul-west-highland-way-segment-d03-glen-nevis-valley-walk-YYYY-MM-DD.gpx
Google Maps Apple Maps Walk route (Apple)

Every file mirrors the emerald ribbon on the map with zero drift · Garmin · Strava · Komoot · AllTrails · Gaia · OsmAnd. For offline map tiles, open a day-route below and tap Download GPX & Offline Maps.

Open offline mode

What this page is

Free forever · and the honest edges.

Free, always

Foot-routed GPX — full trip and every single day.
Measured distance, ascent and elevation from the same line.
Maps, waypoints and offline day packs.
Soul Signature for every day, with its reasoning shown.
No account, no paywall, no download limit.

Optional edges

Booking links for the stays above may pay a small commission.
We sell no tours, no flights, no rental cars and no packages — transport and beds stay yours to choose.
A day whose line is not yet verified shows no download at all, rather than a file you might trust in the field.
Live conditions, closures and weather stay with the local trail authority — this is a planning page, not a rescue service.

See the full route page

West Highland Way

Day by day.

Conic Hill above Loch Lomond

Map key

Devil's Staircase to Kinlochleven

Map key

Glen Nevis valley walk

Map key

Stays, place by place.

Stays in Milngavie

Premier Inn Glasgow Bearsden

West View Guest House

Bankell Farm Campsite

Stays in Drymen

Winnock Hotel

Clachan Inn (budget rooms)

Drymen Camping

Stays in Balmaha

Oak Tree Inn

Balmaha Bunkhouse

Cashel Forest Campsite

Stays in Rowardennan

Rowardennan Hotel

Rowardennan Youth Hostel

Sallochy Bay Campsite

Stays in Inverarnan

Drovers Inn

Beinglas Farm Wigwams

Beinglas Farm Campsite

Stays in Crianlarich

The Crianlarich Hotel

Crianlarich Hostel (SYHA)

Strathfillan Wigwam Village

Stays in Tyndrum

Real Food Café Rooms

By The Way Hostel

Pine Trees Leisure Park

Stays in Bridge of Orchy

Bridge of Orchy Hotel

Bridge of Orchy Bunkhouse

Bridge of Orchy Camping

Stays in Glencoe

Kingshouse Hotel

Kingshouse Bunkhouse

Kingshouse Wild Camping Area

Stays in Kinlochleven

MacDonald Hotel

Blackwater Hostel

MacDonald Hotel Campsite

Stays in Fort William

Cruachan Hotel

Fort William Backpackers

Glen Nevis Caravan & Camping Park

Getting there & back

GPX, Google Maps & Apple Maps · one calm place.

Free forever · and the honest edges.