The path up Ben Nevis had been rougher than I remembered, and I was feeling the climb. The West Highland way is well marked on good paths and it avoids the high tops. Your email address will not be published. All I had eaten so far today was one pasty and a few chocolate chewy bars. A winter weekend wild camping trip to the Gower peninsula; Wye Valley Walk; Gear lists. The West Highland Way. It was a nice walk on an undulating foot path in the trees, with views through to the loch and the mountains beyond. You could also continue from Fort William to Inverness on the 80 miles Great Glen Way. By 7am I was on the move again. A group of youngsters were in the car park, and they asked me directions to the top of the mountain. Dover to Cape Wrath gear list; … Grab a cosy pitch and take in the view from these handy campsites near the West Highland Way. Not the smell? I'm planning on taking on the West Highland Way come monday. Forgot account? I thoroughly enjoyed it. It begins in the lovely town of Milngavie (pronounced Mill-guy) and rolling farmland, then takes you beside Loch Lomond, and onwards into the rugged Highlands. I put the tent up, filtered some water and soon a lovely couple came past and asked if I minded if they camped nearby. Everyone was super friendly though. The scenery had really changed since leaving Milngavie, and I can definitely see the attractions of the West Highland Way. Officially, no – we don’t have a campsite! Providing guided walking holidays in the UK, including West Highland Way, Independent, Self-Guided Walking Holidays Across Scotland. The route then left the loch and followed the river, until I found a campsite bar at Beinglas Farm (Inverarnan). My ankles were throbbing. After about an hour, or 2-3 miles, there were a few more options. Stopping before reaching Loch Lomond would be a better plan, or using one of the paid loch-side sites. The West Highland Way winds through the scenic countryside of Scotland. The route enters Fort William via beautiful Glen Nevis. I dived out of bed to find them, relieved that they hadn’t been washed away. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Wild Camping. There was a queue of people going out of town. It was a nice place but a bit pricey, I couldn’t charge my phone, and I didn’t feel particularly welcome. I set off by 6am with my head torch, following a good path through old woods. The start of the West Highland Way was well-surfaced, easy going but very busy. Use the designated zones there. See more of Scottish Hill Walking & Wild Camping on Facebook. Here at Scottish Hill Walking and Wild Camping we will not only help you with everything you need to know to start your adventure, but you will be part of a community of like minded people all interested in exploring everything that Scotland has to offer. You can then walk into Fort William or climb Ben Nevis with a lighter pack. We did a mixture of camping and staying in hotels and hostels during our walk. We do have some affiliate links and adverts on the site. That 5 minutes was important – it got me a cooked breakfast and coffee at the Real Food Cafe before breakfast service stopped at 11am. Camping Gear for the West Highland Way. His partner was from Scandinavia and spotted that my boots were a bit different straight away. It was a route that I have previously avoided as I thought it would be too busy, but in fact I loved it. I descended from here to the Kings House Hotel (I had passed the Glencoe Ski Centre, but I was too early for the showers and cafe). Create New Account. Between May to October, for wild camping spots along Loch Lomond, you need a camping permit. You can find out distances between various locations along the West Highland Way using the mileage chart lower down the page. The West Highland Way is 94 miles (151km) long, starting in Milngavie (on the outskirts of Glasgow) and ending at the foot of Ben Nevis in Fort William. Wild camping on the West Highland Way is possible every night of the walk, if you plan things carefully. It was a gorgeous morning with a bright red sun coming up. As I fell asleep, I was considering the mileage for the next day. Recommended guide book: Cicerone’s West Highland Way. Scotland offers idyllic wild camping, with spaces beside some of the UK’s loveliest beaches, lochs and mountains. So here are some top tips to make the most of your camping on the West Highland Way. We are trying to keep the expenses down so that we can enjoy a good earned bevy when the opportunity arrises along the way! I made it to the Loch Ba bridge and saw a good wild camp spot. Worry free walking adventures across Scotland's most beautiful and awe inspiring landscapes. Wild Camping on the West Highland Way. The Crofter was immediately welcoming, even bringing my beer to my table. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), The Weavers Way (Acle to Cromer) with children. Wild camping the West Highland Way? I had wild camped in the open by the river last night, and the breeze was good, so I had no issue with condensation. Wildwalkinguk is a blog run by myself and my wife in our spare time, and we pay for its running costs ourselves. At no point had I set the solar panel directly facing the sun, so it was never ideally placed to charge it. If you click on these adverts or links and buy what you need (it doesn’t have to be the item we’ve linked to), the company will pay a small commission to us. However, one of the classic ways is by camping on the West Highland Way. I managed to overtake a few, but I was overtaken by more! My forecast from two days ago showed light winds, so I hoped it would settle later. From all the guides and information on the route, it seems people tend to prefer hostel and B&B stays along the way. During this time camping is only permitted in campsites and designated permit areas. I found the walk busy to start with, probably because I started at peak time. Weather: We hiked the West Highland Way in mid-May and had not once bothered by mosquitoes, the weather was … Your email address will not be published. I refused to tell them, saying that they shouldn’t go up there without a map at least. Half an hour down and I passed a family just putting their crampons on for the ascent. and Wild Camping Here at Scottish Hill Walking and Wild Camping we will not only help you with everything you need to know to start your adventure, but you will be part of a community of like minded people all interested in exploring everything that Scotland has to offer. I bought new socks, three dehydrated meals and two breakfasts, so perhaps I will eat better in the mornings. It was Scotland’s first long distance path and has since become very popular with walkers. From leaving here, it was better, more level walking by the river. I reached Milngavie and waited for a cafe to open at 9am. Offering walking and hiking experiences through the Scottish Highlands. This was another very welcome break. I had walked further than I expected today, which put me in a great position for tomorrow and also left time for shopping. Scottish Hill Walking & Wild Camping. I put the tent up on the shingle, which was my only chance to wild camp. This is also a great option for hikers who aren’t interested in camping or carrying too much weight. Moving on from here was hard going on a rough stony track, but it did get nice and remote with good views. Long-distance walking and wild camping in the UK. 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