“… The grandest mountains and expansive views; Caledonian pines, silver birches, colourful heathers and mosses; clear lochs and wild seascapes; gently sheltered woodland with chattering streams; huge open skies and when the weather is on your side, the most astonishing splashes of unexpected light.”
– Julie Anne Images, Landscape of the Scottish Highlands
Wayne enjoys the view of the famous Buachaille mountain.
Scotland’s Premier Long Distance Route
The West Highland Way is Scotland’s original and most popular long distance walk. The 154 km (96 miles) Route starts at Milngavie on the outskirts of Glasgow. It then passes through Mugdock Country Park, follows the shores of Loch Lomond, passing Ben Lomond, through Glen Falloch and Strathfillan, crossing Rannoch Moor, past Buachaille Etive Mor to the head of Glencoe, climbing the Devil’s Staircase, descending to the Loch Leven before entering Lairigmor and Glen Nevis, finishing at Gordon Square in Fort William.
It makes for a wonderful week, particularly if you time it right with the weather and manage to avoid the midges! For the most part, the terrain itself is fairly easy, particularly on the first few days heading south to north, with a well- trodden trail and frequent waymarks to follow. That’s not to say that the trail doesn’t have its fair share of spectacular scenery. With each passing step, we found the views just get better, so for those wanting to embark on a first ‘long distance walk’, the West Highland Way is a good place to start.