You’ve probably heard of The West Highland Way: a 150km long-distance hike from Glasgow to Fort William (the gateway to The Scottish Highlands).

Well, we don’t lead this route in the summer due to the shear number of people doing it (it’s often referred to as The West Highland Highway).

We like to do things a little differently at City Mountaineering!

We are leading this trip when the route is quiet: In the middle of Winter!

The shorter days and often slippery under-foot conditions means that this is likely to be a tough week, often with some hiking in the dark. But that’s why we love adventure 🙂

Lead by a highly qualified and experienced Mountain Leader, you will hike from accommodation to accommodation whilst your luggage is transferred and ready for you when you arrive!

You will then have access to a warm shower, bed and comfortable clothes each night/day.

This is a simply breath-taking hike, however you will be hiking long distances for 7-days in a row potentially in the dark and on slippery terrain, so a good level of fitness is required!

As always, we’ll sort out the road and baggage transfers, accommodation and guided hiking so you just need to join your guide at the meeting point and leave the rest to us.

Reserve your place now with a £450 deposit and we’ll be in contact with final payment arrangements (instalments available).

Itinerary

  • Optional: Meet outside Euston train station and board The Caledonian Sleeper train for an overnight journey to Glasgow (bed in a twin-share, single-sex room)

  • Meet you guide in Glasgow at 8am before being transferred to the trail head to begin your journey
  • Starting in Milngavie, you will leave the urban environment as you hike north along the river, passing lochs and woodland and through the lowland landscapes of the trail

  • After breakfast, you will climb through the forests and to the summit of Conic Hill giving you you first site of the magnificent Loch Lomond
  • After drinking in the views you will descend to the shores of Loch Lomond and follow the forestry trail north to Rowardennan where you will be reunited with your kit bags for a well earned shower, rest and pub dinner

  • Today you hike through the most remote area of Loch Lomond as you pass it’s most northerly sections. You will then be rewarded with the spectacular ‘Inversnaid Waterfall’ before checking in to your accommodation for the night at the famous Drovers Inn

  • Leaving Loch Lomond behind, you will follow the river Falloch through the glen. You have now reached the beginnings of The Scottish Highlands. Continuing up the valley, you will reach your hotel in Tyndrum, your next rest point on the trail.

  • Leaving relative civilisation for a couple of days, you will continue north up the valley. Following the West Highland Railway Line to Bridge of Orchy
  • From here you will hike one the of classic sections of the trail: Rannoch Moor – A vast wilderness of heather and boggy moorland surrounded by huge mountains
  • You will end this long day at The Kingshouse Hotel for a well earned dinner before a great nights sleep to help those weary legs recover

  • Hiking over the top of the Glen Coe valley is the where the mountains really impress. You will get sight of probably the most photographed and most striking mountains in The UK: Buachaille Etive Mor.
  • This day includes the steepest section of the trip as you hike over the zig-zag track of The Devils Staircase and down in to Kinlochleven

  • Leaving the town through Lairigmor (the great pass), you will soon be in an isolated valley, surrounded by huge mountains that, as the day unfolds, will include Ben Nevis – The highest mountain in The UK!
  • The town of Fort William will welcome you at the end of the trail for the obligatory ‘trail completion photos’ and maybe a celebratory drink, or two.
  • Optional: Board The Caledonian Sleeper train at 7pm for a relaxing journey to London/Birmingham/Crewe. The train is scheduled to arrive at London Euston around 8am on Saturday
  • Optional: Stay in Fort William over the weekend and join us for a Winter Ascent of Ben Nevis!

7-nights hostel/bunkhouse/B&B/Hotel accommodation
Baggage transfers and logistical support
7-days guided hiking by a highly experienced and qualified guide
Breakfast each morning
All lunches when hiking (unless in a café/restaurant/pub)
Optional: Return Travel on The Caledonian Sleeper Train between London/Birmingham/Crewe and Fort William
Optional: Winter ascent of Ben Nevis after completing the trail 

Personal hiking kit
Dinner and drinks each night
Personal travel insurance
Travel between home and Glasgow/Fort William (unless that option is chosen)

Note:  The weather and ground conditions will not be known until closer to the date and full winter conditions, whilst expected at this time of year, cannot be guaranteed.  The trip will go ahead regardless of conditions (The only exception being if the prevailing weather is too dangerous e.g. Thunderstorms)

Clicking the ‘Add To Cart’ button is taken as confirmation that you have read and understood the Participation Statement.

Trip Highlights

  • Hike the world famous West Highland Way, without the crowds (and midges) that plague the trail in summer
  • incredible views of Loch Lomond and its many islands from the summit of Conic Hill
  • Hike the vast, hauntingly beautiful, and remote wilderness of Rannoch Moor
  • Highly experience and qualified guide
  • All logistics and baggage transfers taken care of, so just turn up and enjoy
  • Optional: Add to the adventure with a guided hike to the summit of Ben Nevis and/or a return travel on The Caledonian Sleeper Train!

Our Hike Grading System

A simple 1–5 difficulty rating, built on real feedback from asking over 1,000 participants who’ve joined more than one City Mountaineering trip.

This grading system gives you an honest idea of how each trip feels — physically, technically, and mentally — based on the experiences of people who’ve actually done it.