PART 1: PLANNING YOUR WALK

About the West Highland Way
History 9 – How difficult is the West Highland Way? 9 – How long do you need? 10

Practical information for the walker
Accommodation 10 – Food and drink 14 – Money 16 – Other services 16 – Information for foreign visitors 17 – Walking companies 17

Budgeting 19

When to go
Seasons 20 – Temperature and rainfall 21 – Daylight hours 22 – Annual events 22 – Highlights 23

Itineraries
Which direction? 24 – Village and town facilities 25 – Suggested itineraries 26 – Walking with dogs 27 – Hillwalking side trips 27 – Mountain biking 28

What to take
Keep it light 29 – How to carry it 29 – Footwear 30 – Clothes 30 – Toiletries 31 – First-aid kit 32 – General items 32 – Sleeping bag 33 – Camping gear 33 – Money 33 – Maps 33 – Recommended reading 34 – Sources of further information 34

Getting to and from the West Highland Way
Getting to Britain 36 – National transport 37 – Local transport 39 – Public transport table 38 – Public transport map 40


PART 2: MINIMUM IMPACT AND OUTDOOR SAFETY

Minimum impact walking
Economic impact 43 – Environmental impact 44 – Access 46

PART 3: THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURE

Conserving Scotland’s nature
Scottish Natural Heritage 55 – Campaigning & conservation organizations 56

Fauna and flora
Mammals 58 – Reptiles 61 – Birds 61 – Flowers 64 – Trees 66

PART 4: GLASGOW

City guide
Orientation 71 – Arrival and departure 72 – Getting around & to Milngavie 72 – Services 73 – Where to stay 73 – Where to eat and drink 78 – What to see 81

Walking from Glasgow to Milngavie
Route overview 84

PART 5: ROUTE GUIDE & MAPS

Using this guide 88

Milngavie to Fort William
Milngavie 90

Milngavie to Drymen 93 (Blanefield 96, Strathblane 96, Dumgoyne 96, Killearn 100, Gartness 100, East Drumquhassle 100, Croftamie 101, Drymen 102)

Drymen to Balmaha 104 (Milton of Buchanan 108, Balmaha 108)

Balmaha to Rowardennan 110 (Cashel 112, Rowardennan 115, Ascent of Ben Lomond 116)

Rowardennan to Inversnaid 118 (Inversnaid 122)

Inversnaid to Inverarnan 122 (Ardlui 126, Inverarnan 126)

Inverarnan to Crianlarich 128 (Crianlarich 129)

Crianlarich to Tyndrum 132 (Strathfillan 134, Tyndrum 134)

Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy 138 (Bridge of Orchy 142)

Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse 143 (Inveroran 143, Kingshouse 150)

Glen Coe 150 (Day walks around Glen Coe 154)

Kingshouse to Kinlochleven 156 (Kinlochleven 156)

Kinlochleven to Fort William 162 (Glen Nevis 167)

Ben Nevis 172

Fort William 176

APPENDIX: Gaelic 182

MAP KEYS 184

INDEX 185

Book List | West Highland Way (British Walking Guide) | Buy This Book | Table of Contents
| Introduction | About the West Highland Way | When to go | Itineraries/Direction | Minimum impact walking | Sample route |