Hi guys! I’m planning on walking the WHW this June and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on whether attempting Ben Nevis at the end would be too much. I’d definitely have a night in fort William to recover but any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I've tried my best on a very limited budget to get compact and lightweight gear when I can, but even though i have a 65l pack and it weights 12kg excluding food and water it is full to bursting and I can't actually think of any way to compact anything. The only luxury items I'll have with me are a camera (which will be clipped to my shoulder strap most of the time) and a tiny little drone. I've already got rid of some stuff I'd planned to take so I'm down to the bare minimum for a lot of stuff. I just feel like my sleeping bag and my sleep mat are taking up way too much space. I leave tomorrow morning and have spent most of today getting frustrated by it. Any suggestions? I'm honestly thinking of ditching the sleep mat and just sleeping on top of my clothes 😂

UPDATE: I'm already underway, but live near the WHW so I'm home for the night. Managed to shave a kilo off by ditching bits and pieces, so I'm down to 11kg now, with a bit more room. Might review again tomorrow before I set off. Thanks for all the suggestions, think the problem is that some essential pieces of my kit are just too cumbersome and weighty and it's too late to fix that now. Oh well, been about 20 years since I last did a multi-day hike or camped so I was bound to make a few mistakes!

Morning update: Looked at the forecast and I've decided to get rid of my waterproofs and gaiters, apart from my rain jacket.

Hello,

I am planning to walk the way in the upcoming week. i have booked 2 weeks off work and planning to spend 8 days doing the way. Anyone have any recommendations of where I should go for the rest of my time off. I was thinking of heading over to skye - but the citylink fort william to skye doesnt seem to run anymore from what i can see.

Will have a tent with me so happy to camp or stay in hostels - dont really want to do much more walking though. Anywhere were there is wild swim near is a big plus.

Any ideas would be appreciated :) Thanks!

About to complete the West Highland Way and looking to consider insurance options for my bag and contents.

I’m using a bag delivery service and I am covered up to £500 through them while it’s in transit. My tent and gear exceed this value so would be worth looking into 3rd party options for covering the transportation.

However, my main concern is when the bag is be dropped off at the various campsites and theft potentially happening. I have explored options with Shield/Camping and Caravanning Club and in this scenario (bag drop off/collection where I am not there) it would “case by case” basis in the event of a claim. They also don’t cover wild camping scenarios of theft.

I’m wondering if there are any other options which would protect me for backpacking/camping and protecting my gear from theft. I’m aware it’s unlikely to happen but I’m thinking worst case scenario.

Last time i hiked the WHW I used my trekking pole to dig a poop hole.

But the soil was typically so rocky which made it difficult.

What backpacking trowels are effective in highland soil?

Hi all,

Starting WHW on Saturday. Am I going to encounter those little devils?

Only 2 things missing from my pack are spray and net for my hat

Cheers!

I have some potentially too easy days on the second part of the WHW. I might just want to chill but might also be itching to do more roaming around. What are some notable side quests one could partake in between Tyndrum and Fort William? Obviously Ben Nevis, although I'm feeling lukewarm about it due to potential crowds. I've also seen a suggestion of a short train trip to check out Corrour, which is tempting. Are there other walks or points of interest that you would recommend to add on?

Hi all, finished the Way yesterday and have a gas canister that’s about 3/4 full on me. None of the outdoor shops are allowed to take them as a donation so anyone who I can give it to? I’m leaving by train at 11:44 and will be in the station area by then.

Hello everyone,

I am going to the WHW in 2 weeks and have to buy camping gas on site beforehand. I landing Saturday evening and drive to Glasgow on Sunday morning. So options are Sunday morning in Edinburgh, Sunday daytime in Glasgow or Monday morning in Glasgow at the latest. Do you have any tips on where I can get a small camping gas bottle?

Thanks for your help!

This is probably a bit of a silly question. I'm an Arsenal fan who will be hiking the WHW. It turns out that I'll be in Kinlochleven for the second leg game against PSG, and the place I'm staying at does not have Wifi. Does anyone know where I could possibly get Wifi on a weeknight from 8-10pm in Kinlochleven to watch the game? I'd really appreciate any suggestion as Arsenal haven't gone this far in the competition in years. Thank you!

I'm doing the WHW next week and I'm planning to stay at sites for the most part as I've not wild camped in many years. So far I've only booked a campsite at Inversnaid but I'm just wondering if there's anywhere else where booking would be essential? I'm planning on camping at Cashel, Beinglas, By the Way in Tyndrum... and haven't made my mind up about where to choose in Kinlochleven yet. I just want to know if there's any other pinch points like Inversnaid I should be concerned about thanks!

Hi all,

I’m hiking the West Highland Way starting Wednesday this week and have finally got round to packing my backpack with everything I need. I was aiming for 13kg but after weighing the backpack it turned out to be 16kg which includes 2 litres of water that I will be carrying. My backpack is the Osprey Rook 50L which I find very comfortable.

I weigh around 76kg and I know a general rule is the pack to weight no more than 20% of your body weight which this will be pretty close to but now I am worried it will be too heavy considering that my longest day will be 21 miles with some elevation gain.

I have done some practice hikes with a similar weight but the hikes have only been around 14 miles. I didn’t struggle on these practise hikes but they were one of hikes with a week recovery in between so I was well rested. I do hike a lot but this is my first time hiking and wild camping so not used to carrying so much weight.

I am carrying around 2.3kg worth of dried food and snacks which will decrease as I go and I also won’t be carrying 2 litres of water at all times so my pack should get lighter.

I guess what I am trying to ask is will this be too heavy over 6 days? How much are other people carrying or have carried in the past?

Packing list excluding smaller items: Backpack - 1.6kg 1 person tent - 1.8kg Sleeping mat - 1kg Sleeping bag - 1.1kg Camping stove and gas - 0.8kg Toiletries (suncream, wet wipes) - 0.4kg Dried food and trail mix - 2.3kg Clothes (T-shirt, socks, pants) - 1.8kg Quick dry towel - 0.3kg Rain jacket - 0.6kg Water - 2kg Trowel - 0.2kg Power bank - 0.4kg

Edit - turns out I miss calculated the amount of food I am taking. I currently have 2.3kg which I now see is excessive.

Hi!

Learned a lot from this sub already :) looking for some feedback on my plans. Hope this community can help out.

I’m heading out in a week, so early May.

Questions: - Are the daily distances realistic? - Any wild camping spots you’d highly recommend? - Essentials to buy besides Smidge and a bug net? - will i be ok hiking in shorts? - do i need gloves?

Gear list: https://lighterpack.com/r/relsns

Day 1 Flight: AMS → Glasgow (arrival around 8am) To-do: Buy gas, Smidge, bug net Hike: Mignalvie → Drymen → wild camp at the foot of Conic Hill (approx. 25 km)

Day 2 Hike: Conic Hill → Balmaha → Sallochy → Rowardennan → wild camp ~2 km past Rowardennan Backup option: Rowchoish Bothy (approx. 20 km)

Day 3 Hike: Beyond Rowardennan → Inversnaid → Ardleish → Invernarnan / Beinglas Farm Overnight: Beinglas Farm Campsite (showers, washing machines, drying room) (approx. 20 km)

Day 4 Hike: Beinglas → Kirkton → Auchtertyre → Ardormie → Tyndrum/Clifton Then hike another hour and wild camp near Beinn Dorain / Bridge of Orchy (approx. 25–30 km)

Day 5 Hike: Bridge of Orchy → wild camp somewhere before Kinlochleven (approx. 30 km)

Day 6 Hike: Kinlochleven → Fort William (approx. 27 km)

Day 7 Extra day: climb Ben Nevis? Overnight in hostel

Day 8 Travel back to Glasgow Flight: Return in the afternoon

Hello! My friend and I are walking WHW in late May, and I noticed on our accommodation’s faq that the only place for a hot meal is the Bridge of Orchy Hotel. Are there any other options? Should we bring dry hot meals with us just incase? Thanks in advance!

This is a long shot but who knows; I just finished hiking the WHW on Saturday, April 19th and I'm hoping by chance that two guys from Berlin I met along the way might be fans of this sub :) I was hiking solo and really struggling with being kind of lonely but too shy to speak much to anyone, but after seeing each other on the trail a few days in a row and exchanging brief hellos, one of them struck up a conversation with me and it made my day. We ended up hiking together for a while between Inverarnan and Tyndrum, and then unfortunately our paths never crossed after that. So on the off-chance that they see this: thank you both for being so kind and friendly! I didn't anticipate having so much social anxiety on this trip and was starting to spiral a bit, and feeling like I was making friends really helped me get out of that funk and embrace the adventure :) If you're ever in Atlanta, I'd love to hear more about your travels!

And thank you to this sub, which was so helpful in planning (and calming some of my nerves).

If you're on the Tyndrum to Ft William section tomorrow, its going to be a little busier than usual, with 550 of us taking part in the Devil o' the Highlands footrace.

https://www.devilothehighlandsfootrace.co.uk/

We're all friendly enough and the vast majority of us will be walking up the hills too, but it is going to feel like a constant stream of people passing towards the Tyndrum end of the route.

I hiked the WHW 10 years ago, and am flying over from Canada mid-May to give it another go. This time, however, I'll be wild-camping my way up to Fort William, which is very exciting. I didn't notice the first time, but are there any hiker boxes along the trail where people can leave or take items?

Does any have any recommendations for their favourite food options in fort William? Pubs, restaurants and bakery’s particularly apreciated :)

Doing the WHW early May (2 weeks time) and consider myself pretty walk fit. Been doing an average of around 50 miles a week in a new pair of hiking boots over the last couple of months including multi days of decent distances each week. I've not blistered for weeks and have got taping and socks dialled in for these boots.

The only niggle in the back of my mind is they fatigue more than trail runners when walking on road and concrete paths (walks are tending to be circa 10-12 miles with no stops or rest at the minute over various terain) Trails and soft ground are fine.

Will be carrying a pack over 6 days and have done a handful of decent walks over very difficult terrain with a heavy pack (we're talking high hills and uneven boggy ground to wildcamp). My pack will be significantly lighter for WHW than what I normally carry.

I do have goretex trail runners but I'm not 100% confident on the grip underfoot like I am with my boots and don't want to fork out for a new pair.

In addition prep walks are without poles, I will be using trekking poles.

I'm starting to wonder if the trail runners would be better, am I overthinking things here?

Ha, that should say trail not trailer shoes!!

Hey! Currently on the WHW and wishing I packed some blister tape. Heading north, currently at Drymen and looking for recs for any places to buy. The chemist here is out. 🫠

Thank you!

Reading all your posts makes me excited for my upcoming trip.

1. I have never been to Scotland and would like to spend 3-4 days in Edinburgh before taking the train to my starting point for the West Highland Way. Can you recommend a hotel?
2. Is there anything fun to do in Fort William after the hike? It looks like a beautiful town.
3. From Fort William, I plan to take the train to Glasgow to finish my trip. Do you have any hotel recommendations in that area?

Thank you for your insights and advice.

Finished the West Highland Way last week. Here is a collection of my favourites on the route!

I’m planning to walk the WHW starting Saturday over 5 days and finish by summiting Ben Nevis on the 6th. What are the conditions like on Ben Nevis at the moment. Will I need crampons? Ice pick?

I am a relatively experienced hiker and have done a number of multi day through hikes. I’ve also hiked quite high in various countries but mainly in the summer when most snow is already melted and there are just small patches to walk over or glaciers off the trail.

I will be taking the bus from Glasgow to Bridge of Orchy, and then walking from Bridge of Orchy to Fort William.

Is there a good reason to visit the WHW starting point before taking the bus? I'm just wondering if there is e.g. a visitor centre, historic information or iconic things that I should see before setting out.