Great walking holidays: the West Highland Way

Not only is travelling on foot a great way to delve deep into your chosen destination, it also scores points for sustainability. And sustainably-minded travellers will find a wealth of walking holiday routes in Scotland; one of the most popular being the 96-mile-long West Highland Way. Traversing some of Scotland’s most sublime scenery, the route opened in 1980, allowing hikers to travel on foot from the serenity of Loch Lomond to the wild southern Glens.

Take it at your own pace – whether that’s in two weeks or one – but be sure to appreciate the highlights of this remote route, according to global travellers.*

Tranquility in Rowardennan

A quiet village on the shores of Loch Lomond, Rowardennan is a relaxing pit stop for weary hikers. Loch Lomond is the largest body of water in the UK, with its silvery surface stretching for 21 square miles and surrounded by serene national parkland. For the most hypnotic views, take a detour and spend the morning hiking up from Rowardennan to the summit of Ben Lomond, Scotland’s most southerly munro (a munro is a mountain in Scotland that’s over 3000 feet high). Spend the night at Rowardennan Hotel and wake up to views of the Loch from your bedroom window.

Friendly people in Drymen

Among weather-beaten cottages and moss-coated stone walls, there are several warm and welcoming inns in the tiny village of Drymen, filled with friendly locals. The village has been providing hospitality to travellers since it was a stopover for Highland cattle drovers in the 18th and 19th centuries; the local Clachan Inn has been licensed since 1734 and claims to be Scotland’s oldest pub. Stay at the Kilmaronock Manse B&B, a listed Georgian property complete with views of Loch Lomond, a log fire and tartan furnishings.

Mountains in Tyndrum

The name Tyndrum is ‘Taigh an Druim’ in Gaelic, which translates to ‘house on the ridge’ because the village sits in the shadow of the twin ridges of Ben Lui, a magnificent munro whose summit is often cloaked in cloud. This mountain is a serious climb recommended for experienced climbers only but the surrounding mountainous scenery is some of Scotland’s finest. Spend a day walking through the forests of Glen Lochy (in Scotland, a ‘glen’ is a valley) and climb up either side to look down upon the palette of rich greens. Rest up at Clifton Cottage, the most highly rated accommodation in Tyndrum.

Waterfalls in Kinlochleven

At the eastern end of Loch Leven, the village of Kinlochleven has several waterfalls that make a pleasant diversion along the West Highland Way. There’s a short but steep walk from the village up to Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall, a slender line of white water plunging 60 metres down the Moffat Water Valley. It’s also close to Steall Waterfall, Scotland’s second highest waterfall with a single drop of 120 metres (though because of a winding route, hiking there is actually quicker from Fort William, the next stop on the West Highland Way). Allengrange B&B is only 7km from Steall Waterfall and serves up a hearty, cooked breakfast for hikers in the morning.

Scenery in Fort William

Reaching the end of this tremendous journey, you’ll realise that some of the best scenery has been saved till last. The town of Fort William is the self-proclaimed ‘outdoor capital of the UK’ and it boasts proximity to some of Scotland’s greatest natural landmarks; Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak, and Glen Nevis, a striking valley. Hike along rocky paths through woodland and lime-green ferns, past crystal clear streams and meadows or – if your feet need a rest – catch the Nevis Range Mountain Gondola. The gondola ski lift takes about ten minutes to travel 650 metres up the mountain of Aonach Mòr, gently swaying above the treetops as you ascend. Reward yourself for your hiking efforts by staying at Inverlochy Castle Hotel, a grand hotel akin to a stately home.

**Destinations featured were chosen as a selection of all the major destinations along the West Highland Way. Then the most popular feature of each destination was calculated using internal endorsement data.