Key Features: Craigallian Fire memorial, Mugdock Country Park, Dumgoyne distillery views

The journey begins in suburban Milngavie, quickly giving way to gentle countryside as the path follows the remains of a Victorian railway line. This stage offers an easy introduction to the trail with well-maintained paths through mixed woodland and pastureland. You'll pass the Craigallian Fire memorial, a tribute to unemployed Glasgow hikers of the 1930s who pioneered outdoor recreation in Scotland.

The route skirts the impressive Campsie Fells, with the distinctive volcanic plug of Dumgoyne visible to the west, home to the Glengoyne whisky distillery. Approaching Drymen, the landscape opens to reveal your first views of Loch Lomond shimmering in the distance, with the Highland Boundary Fault visible as a dramatic change in the landscape ahead – your first glimpse of the Highland terrain to come.

Drymen offers several accommodation options, including the historic Drymen Inn dating to 1734. Water is plentiful along this section with several streams crossing the path. The Beech Tree Inn near the trailhead makes an excellent lunch stop with its garden offering views toward your afternoon's journey.

Key Features: Conic Hill summit, Highland Boundary Fault, eastern shore of Loch Lomond, oak woodlands

This stage marks your entry into the Highlands proper as you cross the Highland Boundary Fault – a geological feature marking the division between Lowland and Highland Scotland. The trail climbs gradually through Garadhban Forest before ascending Conic Hill (361m), offering spectacular panoramic views over Loch Lomond and its scattered islands. The descent to Balmaha brings you to the shores of Britain's largest inland body of water.

From Balmaha, the path follows the eastern shoreline of Loch Lomond through ancient oak woodlands that form part of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. These woodlands, protected as a Special Area of Conservation, represent one of the finest examples of native upland oak habitat in Scotland, home to pine martens, red squirrels, and over 200 species of lichen.

The trail alternates between lakeshore sections and climbs through forested headlands, offering continuously changing perspectives of the loch and the imposing Ben Lomond (974m) dominating the skyline. Water is abundant, with multiple streams crossing the path and access to the loch itself. Rowardennan pier has historic significance as a crossing point for cattle drovers bringing herds from the Highlands to lowland markets. The Rowardennan Hotel provides accommodation, with alternatives at the SYHA youth hostel.

Key Features: Northern Loch Lomond, Rob Roy's Cave, challenging shoreline path, Falls of Falloch

Often considered the most technically challenging day of the Way, this stage follows the increasingly wild northern shores of Loch Lomond. From Rowardennan, the path becomes progressively more rugged, with sections requiring careful footwork over rocks and exposed tree roots. The trail alternates between elevated paths through native woodlands and rocky shoreline stretches with minimal elevation gain but demanding terrain.

Approximately halfway, you'll pass Rob Roy's Cave, a historic hideout of the famous Highland outlaw. The cave is accessible only from the water or via a challenging scramble from the path. The route passes through the remote settlement of Inversnaid, with its RSPB nature reserve protecting rare black grouse and golden eagles.

Beyond Inversnaid, the path navigates some of the most technically difficult terrain of the entire route, with boulder fields and narrow ledges requiring careful attention. This remote section offers exceptional opportunities to spot wildlife including otters and osprey. The day concludes at the Beinglas Farm camping area near Inverarnan, where the historic Drovers Inn, established in 1705, offers traditional Scottish hospitality and hearty meals. The inn's walls are adorned with memorabilia from centuries of Highland travelers, including items belonging to Rob Roy MacGregor himself.

Key Features: Glen Falloch, River Falloch waterfalls, views of Ben More and Stob Binnein, old lead mining sites

Leaving Loch Lomond behind, this stage marks a transition to Highland glens as you follow the River Falloch upstream through Glen Falloch. The trail initially parallels the river, offering views of several impressive waterfalls before gradually climbing out of the glen. The route passes beneath the impressive railway viaduct at Falls of Falloch, an engineering marvel from the West Highland Railway built in 1894.

After Crianlarich (a potential stopping point for those preferring shorter days), the path climbs through conifer plantations before emerging into more open ground with expansive views of Ben More (1,174m) and Stob Binnein (1,165m). The trail follows an ancient military road built by General Wade following the Jacobite uprising of 1715 – part of the British government's efforts to control the Highlands.

As you approach Tyndrum, you'll pass the remains of lead mines that operated from the 18th-19th centuries, with interpretive signs explaining their historical significance. The mining activity here dates back to medieval times when the lead was used for the roof of Iona Abbey. Tyndrum, despite its small size, offers several accommodation options and well-stocked stores for resupply. The name Tyndrum means "house on the ridge" in Gaelic, and the village's strategic location made it an important crossroads for Highland cattle drovers heading to southern markets.

Key Features: Bridge of Orchy, Rannoch Moor wilderness, Black Mount mountains, ancient drove roads

This demanding stage covers the most remote section of the entire trail, traversing the haunting wilderness of Rannoch Moor. From Tyndrum, the trail follows the River Fillan along a relatively flat section with views of the conical peak of Beinn Dorain (1,076m) dominating the horizon. Passing the Bridge of Orchy Hotel (a potential overnight stop to break this long section), the route climbs over a small hill offering the first views of the vast expanse of Rannoch Moor ahead.

Inveroran marks the last settlement before entering the true wilderness. From here, the trail follows the ancient drove road across Rannoch Moor, one of the last great wilderness areas in Britain. This elevated plateau of peat bogs, scattered lochans (small lakes), and exposed rock was formed by glacial action during the last ice age. In bad weather, this exposed crossing can be challenging, with few landmarks and rapidly changing conditions.

The path maintains a steady elevation as it crosses the moor, with the distinctive peaks of the Black Mount range to the west. The isolated Forest Lodge, once used by deer stalkers, marks the halfway point across the moor. The sense of remoteness is profound, with only the occasional passing train on the parallel West Highland Railway breaking the silence.

Approaching Kings House, the dramatic peaks of Buachaille Etive Mor (1,022m) come into view – one of Scotland's most photographed mountains. Kings House Hotel, dating from the 17th century, has provided shelter to travelers for over 400 years, including troops during the Jacobite risings. The hotel has a dedicated bunkhouse for hikers, while its historic bar displays a collection of climbing memorabilia from pioneers of Scottish mountaineering.

Key Features: Glencoe valley, Devil's Staircase mountain pass, views to Ben Nevis, descent to Kinlochleven

This stage encompasses some of the most dramatic mountain scenery of the entire route. From Kings House, the trail skirts the head of Glencoe, a valley steeped in dark history as the site of the 1692 Glencoe Massacre where 38 members of the MacDonald clan were murdered by government troops. The path provides spectacular views of the Buachaille Etive Mor and the Three Sisters of Glencoe, iconic Scottish mountain formations.

The main challenge of the day is the climb up the Devil's Staircase, a zigzagging path constructed by military road builders in the 18th century. At 550m, this marks the highest point of the entire West Highland Way. Despite its intimidating name, the ascent is steady rather than steep. From the summit, on clear days, hikers are rewarded with their first views of Ben Nevis, Scotland's highest mountain and the final destination of the trail.

The long descent to Kinlochleven follows the Allt a' Choire Odhair Bhig stream through increasingly verdant landscape as you drop from the exposed mountain terrain into the sheltered valley. Kinlochleven itself has a fascinating industrial heritage as the site of an aluminum smelter powered by hydroelectricity from the surrounding mountains. The former smelter now houses the Ice Factor, the world's largest indoor ice climbing facility.

The descent offers excellent birdwatching opportunities, with golden eagles sometimes visible soaring above the ridges. Kinlochleven offers good accommodation options, including the Blackwater Hostel housed in the former smelter workers' lodgings. The town's position at sea level makes it noticeably warmer than the exposed heights you've traversed during the day.

Key Features: Old military road, Mamores mountain range, Lairigmor pass, Glen Nevis, Ben Nevis views

The final stage of the West Highland Way begins with a steady climb out of Kinlochleven through pleasant woodland before emerging onto open hillside. The path follows another historic military road through the Lairigmor ('the great pass'), a wide glen flanked by the imposing peaks of the Mamores to the south.

This remote valley offers a sense of solitude as the path gradually ascends to approximately 330m, with views extending back to Kinlochleven and forward towards your final destination. The route passes the ruins of abandoned settlements, stark reminders of the Highland Clearances of the 18th and 19th centuries when traditional communities were displaced to make way for sheep farming.

As you begin the descent towards Glen Nevis, the imposing mass of Ben Nevis (1,345m) dominates the skyline ahead. The trail enters woodland again, primarily conifer plantation initially before transitioning to native woodland as you approach the glen floor. The path crosses the River Nevis and follows its course into the outskirts of Fort William.

The official end of the West Highland Way is marked by the "sore feet" statue in the center of Fort William – a bronze sculpture of a hiker resting tired feet. Many hikers choose to extend their journey with an ascent of Ben Nevis the following day, adding another 15km and 1,300m of elevation gain to their accomplishment. Glen Nevis contains several significant ecological habitats, including Atlantic oak woodland and alpine flora on the higher slopes of Ben Nevis itself. The visitor center at Glen Nevis provides excellent information about the natural and cultural heritage of the area.

Key Features: Mountain Trail Center, Ben Nevis summit plateau, mountain lake, historic observatory ruins

For many trekkers, the natural extension to the West Highland Way is conquering Scotland's highest peak. The standard "Mountain Track" (formerly called the Tourist Path) begins at the Glen Nevis Visitor Center, climbing steadily through increasingly barren mountain terrain. The lower sections pass through dwarf woodland before emerging onto open hillside with expanding views back over Glen Nevis and Loch Linnhe.

At approximately 570m elevation, the path crosses the Red Burn stream, which provides the last reliable water source on the ascent. The middle section features well-constructed switchbacks as the trail climbs the northwestern flank of the mountain. At around 1,000m, the environment transitions to true alpine terrain, with only mosses and lichens surviving the harsh conditions.

The final approach crosses the boulder-strewn summit plateau, which contains the ruins of the meteorological observatory that operated from 1883 to 1904, gathering some of Britain's most important early climate data. The summit itself features a shelter, trig point, and memorial to fallen climbers. On clear days (relatively rare, occurring only about 60 days annually), hikers are rewarded with views extending across much of Scotland, from the Cairngorms to the Inner Hebrides, and sometimes as far as Northern Ireland.

This extension requires proper mountain equipment regardless of season, including navigation tools, warm clothing, and emergency gear. The summit area contains dangerous cliff edges obscured in poor visibility, making navigation crucial. For many, summiting Ben Nevis provides the perfect capstone to the West Highland Way journey, connecting the walker to Scotland's highest point after traversing its most famous long-distance trail.