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West Highland Way

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The West Highland Way is a long distance footpath in Scotland. It is 152 km (95 mi) long, running from Milngavie north of Glasgow to 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 50,000 people use the path every year.

Approach to Glen Coe

The Route

WHW route marker

The path uses many ancient roads, including drovers' roads, 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 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 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.

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 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 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 undertake 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.

West Highland Way Race

Jez Bragg setting a new West Highland Way Race record of 15:44:50 on 24th June 2006

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 1am on a Saturday in the middle of June. The runners proceed non-stop along the 95-mile route from Milngavie to Fort William. The current male record holder is Jez Bragg from Solihull with a time of 15:44:50 set on 24th June 2006. The female record holder is Kate Jenkins from West Linton, near Edinburgh with a time of 17:37:48 set in 2000.

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:

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