West Highland Way
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{{Infobox Hiking trail
|Name=West Highland Way
|Photo=WHW Rannoch-Moor.jpg
|Caption=The sun breaks partially through the clouds in a rainy day on the outskirt of Rannoch Moor in late April 2008 on West Highland Way on the way from Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse.
|Location=[[Scotland]]
|Designation=Scottish LDR
|Length_km=152
|Start/End Points=[[Milngavie]]<br>[[Fort William, Scotland|Fort William]]
|Use=[[Hiking]]
|ElevChange=
|HighPoint=
|LowPoint=
|Difficulty=Moderate
|Season=All year
|Sights=
|Hazards=[[Weather]]
}}
The '''West Highland Way''' is a linear [[Long-distance trail|long distance footpath]] in [[Scotland]], with the official status of [[Long Distance Routes|Long Distance Route]]. It is 152 kilometres (95 mi) long, running from [[Milngavie]] north of [[Glasgow]] to [[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]] in the [[Scottish Highlands]], with an element of [[hill walking]] in the route. It is managed jointly by [[West Dunbartonshire]] Council, [[Stirling Council]], [[Argyll & Bute]] Council and [[Highland Council]] and [[Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park]] Authority. About 85,000 people use the path every year.
== History ==
The trail was the first officially designated long distance footpath in Scotland. The trail was approved for development in 1974 and was completed and opened on [[October 6]] [[1980]] by [[William Murray, 8th Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield|Lord Mansfield]].<ref>The West Highland Way, Terry Marsh 2003 ISBN 1 85284 369 1 Cicerone</ref>
== The route ==
[[Image:West-highland-way.jpg|thumb|100px|left|<center>WHW route marker</center>]]
The path uses many ancient roads, including [[Drovers' road]]s, military roads and old coaching roads and is traditionally walked from south to north. As well as increasing the sense of adventure, taking the route in this direction keeps the sun from one's eyes.
The route is traditionally walked in seven to eight days, although fitter and more experienced walkers do it in five or six. The route can be covered in considerably less time than this, but less hurried progress is the choice of the majority of walkers, allowing for appreciation of the countryside along the Way. Indeed, enjoyment of the natural surroundings of the walk are the primary motivating factor for many people following the route.
The path officially starts in [[Milngavie]] town centre, where a [[granite]] [[obelisk]] is located. Most walkers arrive at the [[Milngavie railway station|railway station]] located close by. Milngavie is a town located on the northern fringe of the conurbation of Glasgow, and the path rapidly emerges into open countryside. It proceeds by way of country roads, an abandoned railway, the [[Queen Elizabeth Forest Park]] and scenic [[Conic Hill]] on the [[Highland Boundary Fault]], to reach [[Balmaha]] on [[Loch Lomond]]. From here, the route follows the isolated, wooded, eastern shores of the loch via [[Rowardennan]] and [[Inversnaid]] to [[Inverarnan]]. [[Rowardennan]] is the furthest north road access is available on the east shore of the loch from the south. Road access to [[Inversnaid]] is from the east, via [[Aberfoyle, Scotland|Aberfoyle]].
[[Image:West Highland Way 2005 Coe.jpg|thumb|right|The Devil's Staircase]]
The Way follows [[Glen Falloch]] northward to [[Crianlarich]] then north west along Strathfillan to [[Tyndrum]]. North of [[Tyndrum]] the Way enters [[Glen Orchy]] before crossing the desolate yet beautiful [[Rannoch Moor]] and descending into [[Glen Coe]]. From here, the route climbs the ''[[Devil's Staircase]]'' before a great descent into [[Kinlochleven]] at sea level. The final stage skirts the [[Mamores|Mamore Mountains]] on an old military road and descends into [[Glen Nevis]]. From there, it proceeds into Fort William.
The last stage passes the foot of [[Ben Nevis]], and many walkers crown their achievement by climbing the highest mountain in [[United Kingdom|Britain]].
Due to the large number of walkers being constrained to a single track, some parts of the Way have become badly eroded. However a considerable amount of work is undertaken to maintain the route so where sections of the way appear to have been eroded into tracks wide enough to drive a vehicle along, these are where the route is following sections of old military road, as with all well documented long distance paths.
Walkers seeking solitude should consider starting their journey away from the weekends.
When deciding the time of year to attempt the Way, it is good to know that midges (biting flies) and mosquitos begin swarming in May and last well into August, some years even September. Also, Scottish weather can be particularly rugged and must be respected with proper forecasting and gear.
===Stage 1: Milngavie to Drymen ===
The path officially starts in [[Milngavie]] town centre, where a [[granite]] [[obelisk]] is located. Most walkers arrive at the [[Milngavie railway station|railway station]] located close by. Milngavie is a town located on the northern fringe of the conurbation of [[Glasgow]]. The path passes [[Mugdock Castle]] and [[Mugdock Country Park]] before emerging into open [[countryside]] and finally reaching he village of [[Drymen]].
This stage is approximately {{convert|19|km}} in length.<ref>The West Highland Way, Terry Marsh</ref>
===Stage 2: Drymen to Balmaha ===
After leaving [[Drymen]] the path enters [[Garadhban Forest]] before reaching the first major summit of the route, [[Conic Hill]] (a site of [[List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Stirling|special scientific interest]]{{Fact|date=June 2008}}) at {{convert|358|m}}. The village of [[Balmaha]] on the eastern shore of [[Loch Lomond]] is the next settlement reached.
This stage is approximately {{convert|11|km|0}} in length.
===Stage 3: Balmaha to Rowardennan ===
The path heads in a northerly direction alongside the eastern shore of [[Loch Lomond]] passing through [[Rowardennan Forest]] before reaching the village [[Rowardennan]].
This stage is approximately {{convert|12|km|0}} in length.
===Stage 4: Rowardennnan to Crianlarich ===
The path leaves [[Rowardennan]] and heads in a northerly direction alongside the eastern shore of [[Loch Lomond]], passing a cavern known as [[Robert Roy MacGregor|Rob Roy]]'s cave , before reaching the village of [[Crianlarich]].
This stage is approximately {{convert|33|km}} in length.
===Stage 5: Crianlarich to Tyndrum ===
===Stage 6: Tyndrum to Glencoe ===
===Stage 7: Glencoe to Kinlochleven ===
===Stage 8: Kinlochleven to Fort William ===
== West Highland Way Race ==
[[Image:JezBragg.jpg|thumb|200px|right|<center>Jez Bragg setting a new West Highland Way Race record of 15:44:50 on 24 June 2006</center>]]
An annual race along the full south–north distance of the West Highland Way has been run in its current form since 1991. The race starts at 1 am on a Saturday in the middle of June. The runners proceed non-stop along the {{convert|95|mi|adj=on}} route from [[Milngavie]] to [[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]]. The current male record holder is Jez Bragg from [[Solihull]] with a time of 15:44:50 set on 24 June 2006. The female record holder is Lucy Colquhoun with a time of 17:16:20 set in 2007.
== Towns, villages or hotels along the Way ==
Listed south to north, with approximate distances from Milngavie, the West Highland Way passes the following towns, villages or hotels:
*[[Milngavie]]
*Beech Tree Inn, [[Glengoyne]]
*[[Drymen]]
*[[Balmaha]], [[Loch Lomond]]; 30 km (19 mi)
*[[Rowardennan]], Loch Lomond; 44 km (27 mi)
*[[Inversnaid]], 54 km (34 mi)
*[[Inverarnan]], 64 km (40 mi)
*[[Crianlarich]], 75 km (47 mi)
*[[Tyndrum]], 85 km (53 mi)
*[[Bridge of Orchy]], 95 km (59 mi)
*[[Inveroran]], 99 km (62 mi)
*[[Kings House Hotel]], 115 km (71 mi)
*[[Kinlochleven]], 130 km (81 mi)
*[[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]], 152 km (95 mi)
==References==
{{reflist|1}}
== External links ==
[[Image:West Highland Way 2005 b.jpg|thumb|left|<center>Approach to [[Glen Coe]]</center>]]
*[http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/ West Highland Way official website]
*[http://www.westhighlandwayrace.org/ West Highland Way Race]
*[http://purebound.com/trails/whw/west_highland_way.htm West Highland Way Walk Thru]
*[http://www.roomsinscotland.com/Walks/westhighlandway.htm West Highland Way Information]
*[http://www.walkinginscotland.org/ The West Highland Way by Walking in Scotland]
*[http://www.adventurejournal.com/ A personal account of walking and camping The West Highland Way] Including a summit camp on Ben Nevis at the end!
*[http://home.freiepresse.de/uwdel/whw.html A trekkers account of following the Way]
*[http://www.vocabulary-blog.com/?p=113 Along the West Highland Way :: Video and Images]
[[Category:Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Scotland]]
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