West Highland Way Itineraries
One of the most common questions about the West Highland Way is: “How many days should I take to walk it?” The answer depends on your fitness level, experience, and how much time you want to savour the journey. Some walkers push themselves to complete it in four days, while others take a more relaxed eight-day approach to soak up the scenery.
If you’re looking for a challenge, a faster itinerary will test your endurance and give you a sense of achievement. If you prefer to enjoy the landscape, take in the atmosphere, and give yourself plenty of time to recover each day, a more extended schedule is your best bet.
To help you decide, we’ve compiled itineraries for 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 days, each with daily distances, difficulty ratings, and suggested overnight stops. There's a perfect plan, whether you’re aiming for speed or a more leisurely adventure. Let’s find the one that suits you best!
4-Day West Highland Way Itinerary
Challenging & Fast-Paced
Best for: Experienced long-distance walkers who want a tough but rewarding challenge.
Day 1: Milngavie to Inverarnan
🏁 Distance: 41 miles / 65.5 km
💪 Difficulty: Very tough (longest day, mixed terrain)
🏡 Overnight: Inverarnan
Day 2: Inverarnan to Kingshouse
🏁 Distance: 31 miles / 50 km
💪 Difficulty: Hard (climbing past Rannoch Moor)
🏡 Overnight: Kingshouse
Day 3: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven
🏁 Distance: 9 miles / 14.5 km
💪 Difficulty: Moderate (Devil’s Staircase ascent, tough descent)
🏡 Overnight: Kinlochleven
Day 4: Kinlochleven to Fort William
🏁 Distance: 15 miles / 24 km
💪 Difficulty: Challenging (steady climb, tiring final stretch)
🏡 Finish at Fort William 🎉
5-Day West Highland Way Itinerary
(Tough but Achievable)
Best for: Strong walkers who want a serious challenge without extreme mileage.
Day 1: Milngavie to Rowardennan
🏁 Distance: 27 miles / 43 km
💪 Difficulty: Tough (long but steady)
🏡 Overnight: Rowardennan
Day 2: Rowardennan to Crianlarich
🏁 Distance: 20 miles / 32 km
💪 Difficulty: Challenging (technical lakeside terrain)
🏡 Overnight: Crianlarich
Day 3: Crianlarich to Kingshouse
🏁 Distance: 25 miles / 40 km
💪 Difficulty: Hard (long ascent to Rannoch Moor)
🏡 Overnight: Kingshouse
Day 4: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven
🏁 Distance: 9 miles / 14.5 km
💪 Difficulty: Moderate (shorter but includes the Devil’s Staircase)
🏡 Overnight: Kinlochleven
Day 5: Kinlochleven to Fort William
🏁 Distance: 15 miles / 24 km
💪 Difficulty: Challenging (long but rewarding finish)
🏡 Finish at Fort William 🎉
6-Day West Highland Way Itinerary
Balanced & Enjoyable
Best for: Walkers who want a challenge but also time to enjoy the scenery.
Day 1: Milngavie to Balmaha
🏁 Distance: 20 miles / 32
💪 Difficulty: Moderate (Conic Hill climb)
🏡 Overnight: Balmaha
Day 2: Balmaha to Inverarnan
🏁 Distance: 21 miles / 33 km
💪 Difficulty: Hard (Loch Lomond’s rugged path)
🏡 Overnight: Inverarnan
Day 3: Inverarnan to Bridge of Orchy
🏁 Distance: 19 miles / 30.5km
💪 Difficulty: Moderate (gentler section)
🏡 Overnight: Bridge of Orchy
Day 4: Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse
🏁 Distance: 12 miles / 19.5 km
💪 Difficulty: Moderate (moorland stretch, exposed)
🏡 Overnight: Kingshouse
Day 5: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven
🏁 Distance: 9 miles / 14.5 km
💪 Difficulty: Moderate (Devil’s Staircase climb)
🏡 Overnight: Kinlochleven
Day 6: Kinlochleven to Fort William
🏁 Distance: 15 miles /
💪 Difficulty: Challenging (gradual climb, long descent)
🏡 Finish at Fort William 🎉
7-Day West Highland Way Itinerary
Most Popular & Enjoyable
Best for: Walkers who want to savour the journey without excessive daily mileage.
Day 1: Milngavie to Drymen
🏁 Distance: 12 miles / 19 km
💪 Difficulty: Easy (gentle start)
🏡 Overnight: Drymen
Day 2: Drymen to Rowardennan
🏁 Distance: 15 miles / 24 km
💪 Difficulty: Moderate (Conic Hill, Loch Lomond views)
🏡 Overnight: Rowardennan
Day 3: Rowardennan to Inverarnan
🏁 Distance: 14 miles / 22.5 km
💪 Difficulty: Hard (rugged terrain)
🏡 Overnight: Inverarnan
Day 4: Inverarnan to Tyndrum
🏁 Distance: 12 miles / 19.5 km
💪 Difficulty: Moderate (rolling hills, easier paths)
🏡 Overnight: Tyndrum
Day 5: Tyndrum to Kingshouse
🏁 Distance: 19 miles / 30.5 km
💪 Difficulty: Moderate (beautiful open landscapes)
🏡 Overnight: Kingshouse
Day 6: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven
🏁 Distance: 9 miles / 14.5 km
💪 Difficulty: Moderate (Devil’s Staircase)
🏡 Overnight: Kinlochleven
Day 7: Kinlochleven to Fort William
🏁 Distance: 15 miles / 24 km
💪 Difficulty: Challenging (gradual climb, stunning finish)
🏡 Finish at Fort William 🎉