How Much it Cost Us to Hike the West Highland Way

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If you’re planning a West Highland Way adventure, you’ve got a lot to think about.  You’ll need to pack the right gear, get in shape for the long days of walking, make an itinerary, and figure out your travel logistics.  Before you start all of that, however, you may be a little anxious about how much it’s all going to cost.

Traveling in the United Kingdom has the reputation for being very expensive, and that’s generally true, but it is still very possible to have an amazing West Highland Way trek without going broke doing it.

One of the best parts about the West Highland Way for walkers on a tighter budget is that there are camping options on every stage of the trek, a few of them even being free. True, some of the campgrounds charge a rather steep fee for the ability to pitch your tent on their midgy, bumpy plot of grass, but relative to other accommodation options, camping is by far the best option and will allow you to keep your overall costs quite low.

And, to be fair, the campgrounds are quite lovely; many offer hot showers, nice restaurants, wifi, drying rooms, and other amenities. If camping, you can also stay within a small budget by cooking most of your meals. If sleeping indoors in a bed is more your style, the West Highland Way offers a wide range of accommodation for budgets of all sizes.  The same goes for food and other services.

Below we’ve outlined what we spent on our West Highland Way adventure (updated for 2023 prices). We hope that by sharing this information, our fellow hikers will be able to plan and budget more accurately for their own trip. Additionally, you might find that a trip like the WHW is more within reach than you originally thought if you just make a few intentional decisions when planning your travel. So grab your boots and get out there!

 

Looking to plan your West Highland Way Itinerary? Check out our Itinerary & GPS package below:

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Accommodation

We chose to camp every night of the West Highland Way and highly recommend it for the cost-savings, flexibility, and experience. However, you’ll find wonderful accommodation in bothies, B&Bs, and hotels all along the route. Our WHW accommodation guide details all of the best places to stay at every stage. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to pay for each accommodation type:

  • Average campsite: £10 (per person)
  • Bed in a bunkhouse or hostel: £25 (per person)
  • Private room in a guesthouse & breakfast: £60 (per person)
  • Hotel room: £130 (per night)
West Highland Way lodging
Lodging options abound on the West Highland Way

 

Transit

It’s a quick and easy trip to get from Edinburgh or Glasgow to the start of the walk in Milngavie. Upon finishing in Fort William, if you’d like to return to Glasgow, you can either take a bus or a train. The bus is cheaper, but the train is very scenic, as it follows the West Highland Way for much of the way. Additionally, you can use inexpensive local transit to shortcut or detour along the trail.

  • Train from Edinburgh to Milngavie: £15-30
  • Train from Glasgow to Milngavie: £5
  • Bus from Glasgow to Milngavie: £3
  • Train from Fort William to Glasgow: £50 ( purchased in advance)
  • Bus from Fort William to Glasgow:£20
  • Local buses or trains along the route: £2-10

Get The FREE West Highland Way Essentials Handbook

Cover of West Highland Way Essentials handbook.

Our free PDF guide covers all the basics – when to hike, accommodation, typical costs, and more!

Food and Drink

If you plan to stay in B&Bs’s and hotels, you’ll typically get a hearty breakfast included in the price of your stay. Many accommodation providers will also offer a packed lunch for an additional fee. Budget travelers can easily self-cater, as there are frequent shops located along the route.

  • Sandwich: £4
  • Packed lunch purchased from a B&B or hotel: £10
  • Meal at a local pub: £15-20
  • Coffee/Tea: £3
  • Pint of Beer: £5 – £7
Many of the campsites have lovely bar/restaurants

 

Miscellaneous

  • Stove Fuel: £7
  • Laundry: £4 (for wash and dry)
  • Luggage Storage (in Glasgow): £7.50/day

Plan Your Perfect West Highland Way Itinerary

  • Offline GPS Maps for 5-, 6, 7, & 8-day West Highland Way itineraries.
  • Itinerary tables with start/finish location & daily distances.
  • Step-by-step instructions on how to use your GPS files for offline navigation.
Get Your Itinerary Package

What’s next?

Ready to keep planning your West Highland Way adventure? Be sure to read our entire series on the West Highland Way to learn everything you’ll need to know to prepare for this incredible adventure!

Get The FREE West Highland Way Essentials Handbook

Cover of West Highland Way Essentials handbook.

Our free PDF guide covers all the basics – when to hike, accommodation, typical costs, and more!

6 thoughts on “How Much it Cost Us to Hike the West Highland Way”

  2. Would you share the name of the AirBnB that you stayed in at Fort William? There are a lot of places listed, but I’m not sure the proximity to the WHW. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Hi Laura,
      The AirBnB was called, “Comfortable en-suite bedroom very near town centre.” It was about a 10-minute walk from the official end of the WHW. Here is a link to the listing. It was a room in a shared home, but it had a private ensuite bathroom and the host, Lynn, was lovely and served a delicious breakfast. We hope you have a great trip!

      Reply

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