Many of the small details of planning your West Highland Way walk can end up being the biggest challenges. You probably know that climbing the Devil’s Staircase will be difficult, but you might not be thinking as much about how you’ll get back to Glasgow when you finish your walk. We’ve put together the following post to help you tackle all of those tricky logistical items that are sure to arise when you’re planning your own West Highland Way adventure. Enjoy!
What’s in this post?
- Getting to Milngavie from Glasgow
- Getting to Milngavie from Edinburgh
- Getting from Fort William to Glasgow
- Where to stay before and after your walk
- Luggage storage and transfer
- Rest day options
- Public Transportation on the West Highland Way
Everything you need to to plan your West Highland Way – all in one place.
Simplify your West Highland Way camping trip by getting the resource specifically designed for camping along the route. From custom itineraries to maps created specifically for campers we can help you plan your perfect West Highland Way adventure!
Our downloadable Guide to Camping on the West Highland Way is ultimate resource to help you plan your perfect trip.
When you purchase a guide, you’ll get instant access to all the information you need to plan your trip in our planning portal as well as in a downloadable PDF eGuide
Your in-depth guide contains resources you won’t find anywhere else, including:
- Instant access to our online trip planning portal
- Downloadable eGuide to Camping on the West Highland Way
- Complete 7-day, 8-day, and 9-day West Highland Way itineraries with video fly throughs
- Detailed maps for every stage
- Custom GPS data for each itinerary
- The ultimate packing list
- Information about getting to and from the trail
- 15-week training plan
- Video tutorials on how to use your GPS files to navigate on the trail.
We truly believe this is the best resource available for planning your West Highland Way. Pick up your guide below and if your not satisfied for any reason we’ll give you a full refund!
Getting to Milngavie from Glasgow
Milngavie and the start of the West Highland Way are easily reached from Glasgow. Most international travelers will arrive at the Glasgow Airport prior to starting their walk, while those from the UK will likely arrive at the Glasgow Queen Street Station or Glasgow Central Station (the two main train stations).
For those arriving at the airport there is frequent and convenient bus service from the Glasgow Airport to central Glasgow via the Glasgow Airport Express. The service runs 24 hours per day and takes approximately 25 minutes to get from the airport to central Glasgow. If you have a contactless credit/debit card, you can pay your fare right on the bus. Otherwise, you can pay with cash on the bus or purchase a ticket online beforehand. If you’re spending the night in central Glasgow after your flight or planning to head to Milngavie from Queen Street Station, you’ll want to get off the bus at the ‘Dundas Street’ stop.
There is frequent train service to Milngavie from Glasgow’s Queen Street Station. The ride takes approximately 25 minutes and will drop you at the Milngavie train station, located just a short walk from the start of the West Highland Way. There is also frequent service to Milngavie from Glasgow Central Station. The ScotRail website contains schedule information and allows you to purchase tickets ahead of time.
To get to the official start of the West Highland Way from the Milngavie train station, walk through the pedestrian underpass and onto Station Road. Keep straight on Station Road until you reach the pedestrian-only town square in Milngavie. The obelisk marks the start of your West Highland Way adventure!
Getting to Milngavie from Edinburgh
Many walkers may not think of Edinburgh as an option prior to starting the West Highland Way, but we’re here to tell you that it makes a great stop before starting your walk! We flew into Edinburgh and enjoyed a few days in this beautiful city. We can tell you firsthand that it’s a breeze to get to Milngavie from Edinburgh.
There are several daily trains from the Edinburgh Waverley Station (the main train station) to Milngavie. The faster option bypasses many of the small towns in between the two cities but involves a transfer at Glasgow Queen Street Station. There is also a direct train between Edinburgh and Milngavie that takes slightly longer, due to making many stops along the way. The benefit of this train is that you won’t have to worry about switching trains with your heavy bags.
Tickets are easily purchased for either option at the Edinburgh Waverley Station. We opted for the longer, direct option leaving Edinburgh around 8:30am and arriving in Milngavie by 10am – plenty of time for the first day’s walk to Drymen!
Getting from Fort William to Glasgow
The West Highland Way finishes in the town of Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. Fort William makes for a nice spot to spend the night after completing your walk, and the pedestrian-only main street has plenty of restaurants and pubs where you can celebrate your accomplishment. However, come the next morning you’ll most likely be ready to head back to Glasgow and conclude your West Highland Way walk. Luckily, there are several options for transport back to Glasgow.
The most scenic and most popular option is to take the West Highland Railway line which links Fort William with Glasgow’s Queen Street Station in just under 4 hours. This route is popular with tourists and locals alike, so we recommend booking your tickets on the ScotRail website as far in advance as you can. There are several trains per day, allowing for lots of flexibility in your departure and arrival times. The train ride is especially enjoyable for West Highland Way walkers as you will retrace much of the route you’ve just walked. It was quite enjoyable to look out the windows of the train and see walkers and familiar stops from the journey!
The other option for your return transport is to take the Scottish Citylink bus service between Fort William and Glasgow’s Buchanan Bus Station. This is the faster (just over 3 hours) and more budget friendly of the two options. While you won’t enjoy the same atmosphere of a Highlands train journey, the bus is efficient and still takes in much of the stunning scenery of the region.
Get The FREE West Highland Way Essentials Handbook
Our free PDF guide covers all the basics – when to hike, accommodation, typical costs, and more!
Where to Stay Before and After the West Highland Way
There are several options for where to stay before starting the West Highland Way. Many walkers choose to stay in Glasgow or Milngavie given the proximity to the start of the West Highland Way. However, Edinburgh offers easy train connections to Milngavie, and therefore also makes a great option prior to starting the walk. Here are our top picks for where to stay in each town before beginning the WHW:
Milngavie
Milngavie is certainly the most convenient place to spend the night prior to starting the WHW. However, it has the smallest number of accommodation options. Here are your best bets for where to stay in Milngavie:
West Highland Way Apartments – The aptly named West Highland Way Apartments provide an extremely convenient and highly reviewed place to rest up before starting your walk.
Premier Inn Milngavie – The Premier Inn is a great budget hotel in Milngavie. You’ll be close to the start of the walk and can fuel up for your first day with their free breakfast.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the most popular place to spend the night before and after the West Highland Way, and for good reason. Glasgow provides easy transportation access to Milngavie, and is also a great city to experience on its own. Glasgow has plenty of grocery stores and outdoor supply stores to stock up on any last-minute items needed for your trek. Our lodging recommendations for Glasgow are below:
Point A Glasgow – We stayed at the Point A after hiking the West Highland Way and would highly recommend it. This is a great budget option with well-designed rooms and a price that can’t be beat! We’d recommend opting for a room with a window.
Motel One Glagow – The Motel One Glasgow gets great reviews for its central location, comfortable beds, and friendly service.
You can check out all the places to stay in Glasgow here:
Booking.comEdinburgh
As mentioned above, Edinburgh makes for a great city to stay in both before and after the West Highland Way. Steeped in history and beautiful architecture, Edinburgh was our favorite city in Scotland. Here are our recommendations for lodging:
The Lane Hotel – Located just over a mile from the city center, the Lane Hotel gets great reviews for its cleanliness and comfort.
Haymarket Apartments – For those looking to stay in Edinburgh’s stylish West End and close to all the major attractions, Haymarket Apartments is a great option. The extra space and fully-equipped kitchens are an added bonus.
Fort William
Fort William makes for a nice final destination on the West Highland Way. Despite its slightly touristy façade, Fort William is a lovely town with an exciting vibe given all the walkers who finish the West Highland Way here. Here are our lodging recommendations:
Nevis Bank Inn – You’ll find the Nevis Bank Inn at the entrance to Fort William. This 4-star hotel is known for the friendly staff and excellent breakfast.
Fort William Backpackers – Fort William’s best hostel is located near the train station and has a variety of room options. The best budget choice in town.
Myrtle Bank Guest House– Everything about this guest house is truly magical. Set inside an 1890’s Victorian on the banks of Loch Linnhe, there’s no shortage of great views and ambiance. The service is top-notch and the price is right.
Camping in Fort William is also and option given there are several campgrounds in the area.
You can check out all the options in Fort William here:
Booking.comEverything you need to to plan your West Highland Way – all in one place.
Simplify your West Highland Way camping trip by getting the resource specifically designed for camping along the route. From custom itineraries to maps created specifically for campers we can help you plan your perfect West Highland Way adventure!
Our downloadable Guide to Camping on the West Highland Way is ultimate resource to help you plan your perfect trip.
When you purchase a guide, you’ll get instant access to all the information you need to plan your trip in our planning portal as well as in a downloadable PDF eGuide
Your in-depth guide contains resources you won’t find anywhere else, including:
- Instant access to our online trip planning portal
- Downloadable eGuide to Camping on the West Highland Way
- Complete 7-day, 8-day, and 9-day West Highland Way itineraries with video fly throughs
- Detailed maps for every stage
- Custom GPS data for each itinerary
- The ultimate packing list
- Information about getting to and from the trail
- 15-week training plan
- Video tutorials on how to use your GPS files to navigate on the trail.
We truly believe this is the best resource available for planning your West Highland Way. Pick up your guide below and if your not satisfied for any reason we’ll give you a full refund!
Luggage Storage and Transfer
Many walkers will be traveling with more luggage than they might like to carry for 8 days on the West Highland Way. If that’s the case for you, you’ll find several options for luggage storage or luggage transfer on your trip.
The best place to store your luggage is in Glasgow. Both Queen Street Station and Central Station have luggage storage facilities and there are also private companies who will gladly keep your bags safe and secure while you’re on your walk. The Excess Baggage Company is one of the more popular and allows you to reserve your left luggage online ahead of time.
If you’d rather have your bags transferred to each of your nightly destinations, there are plenty of companies that can help. These companies will pick up your bags in the morning and then deliver them to your destination each evening, ensuring that you’ll only ever need to carry a daypack along the Way. Travel-Lite and AMS Scotland (which have recently merged into a single company) are two of the most reputable baggage transfer providers. The other main company offering transfer service is Baggage Freedom, which provides excellent and convenient service. They will even deliver bags to most campgrounds!
The best option, of course, is to only pack what you need and avoid having to store any extra luggage!
Rest Day Options
The West Highland Way can be easily walked without taking a rest day. However, if you’ve got some extra time there are several lovely stops that make for a great day off. Here are your best options:
Tyndrum
Stopping for a day in Tyndrum will allow you to rest up before some of the best Highland walking of the West Highland Way. Tyndrum has a touristy feel, but it has plenty of restaurants and accommodation options to keep you entertained while you’re there. This will also be early enough in your walk that you’ll still have energy to explore some of the surrounding area.
Bridge of Orchy
A rest day at Bridge of Orchy will suit those who are truly looking to stay off their feet for the day. While there won’t be much to do, the beautiful hotel and grounds provide for a relaxing atmosphere before continuing your walk. The hotel bar is a great place for a couple of pints!
Glencoe Village (detour required)
Glencoe, one of the best known Highland towns, makes for a great rest day stop. If you take this detour, you’ll get the unique chance to experience a quintessential Scottish mountaineering town. However, given that it’s 9 miles from Kingshouse, you’ll have to to get their by either catching the Citylink bus, hiring a taxi, or arranging for a pick-up from your accommodation.
Public Transportation on the West Highland Way
There are lots of ways to use public transportation to shorten your hike, detour from the trail, and get around the local area. Depending on where you’re going, there are buses, trains, and even ferries to help you get to your destination. We’ve included the most useful public transit options for WHW hikers below, but we also recommend using Google Maps and/or Rome2Rio to help you find a specific connection.
Bus
Scottish Citylink is the primary bus company that services many towns along the route, including Milngavie, Drymen, Bridge of Orchy, Crianlarich, Inverarnan, Tyndrum, Glencoe, and Fort William. Firstbus also runs services between Glasgow, Mingavie, Drymen, and other towns in the area.
Train
The Scotrail train stops in Milngavie, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Bridge of Orchy, and Fort William. Tickets can be purchased advance online and on their app, or you can buy them at the station.
Ferry
There are a handful of different cruiser boats and ferries that crisscross Loch Lomond and could be of interest to some WHW hikers. While there’s no quick and direct way to shortcut the trail via water, the ferry could be used to connect to additional sights and accommodation options across the lake or to add a fun new element to your trip.
Get The FREE West Highland Way Essentials Handbook
Our free PDF guide covers all the basics – when to hike, accommodation, typical costs, and more!
But wait…there’s more!
Be sure to check out our entire series on the West Highland Way to keep planning for this incredible adventure!
- Guide to Camping on the West Highland Way – the complete guide!
- West Highland Way Packing List – Be sure you’ve got everything you need!
- 10 Essentials for the West Highland Way – The quick and dirty basics
- West Highland Way Photo Gallery – Get inspired!
- West Highland Way Trip Report – Know what to expect!
- How to Navigate on the West Highland Way – turn your smartphone into a GPS!
- How to Find All of Your Campgrounds on the West Highland Way- Downloadable GPS waypoints!
- How to Train for the West Highland Way – Get in shape for the WHW!
- How Much it Cost us to Hike the West Highland Way – All the budget info you’ll need!
Do you have to reserve the campsites?
Hey Jackson,
There are a few campsites that it would be wise to reserve. If you plan on camping at Sallochy along Loch Lomond you’ll definitely want to reserve it ahead of time. Also, if you plan to camp at the MacDonald Hotel in Kinlochleven I would reserve there as well. You can find more details on our West Highland Way Camping Guide page.
Thanks,
Ian