I found a pub for a sit down, and realised that my Teko socks had given up. I refused to tell them, saying that they shouldn’t go up there without a map at least. However, one of the classic ways is by camping on the West Highland Way. I enjoyed a great Lamb Madras with a pint! See more of Scottish Hill Walking & Wild Camping on Facebook. The West Highland way is well marked on good paths and it avoids the high tops. The trek takes you along the West Coast of Scotland and this West Highland Way packing list will advise you on what best to … Scotland offers idyllic wild camping, with spaces beside some of the UK’s loveliest beaches, lochs and mountains. Walking and wild camping on the West Highland Way was very interesting and varied. Wild camping here is quite popular. Create New Account ... Ginger Routes for your bags and boots on the west highland way Www.gingerroutes.com. A good start to a long day. It was a steep climb and descent into Kinlochleven and Kinlochmore. Here’s what we stripped it down to: 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). The prices were way less so that was good. Many of our guests tell us it’s, “The best equipped site along the West Highland Way”. Your email address will not be published. This was another very welcome break. During this time camping is only permitted in campsites and designated permit areas. There seemed to be an equal mix of male and female groups, most fairly young but some older walkers and a few single walkers. As soon as I was out of the park I dropped immediately to the loch-side to camp at about 8pm. My ankles were throbbing. Wild camping on the West Highland Way is possible every night of the walk, if you plan things carefully. Everyone was super friendly though. It was a gorgeous morning with a bright red sun coming up. West Highland Way - Wild Camping + Food Showing 1-7 of 7 messages. I climbed it fully loaded because I was descending to Fort William a slightly different way, and didn’t want to back track to the campsite. However, there were already full when I passed them. Not the smell? Review of Rohan’s Equator shirt for summer hiking, Klymit Inertia O Zone sleeping pad review, Land’s End to John O’Groats walk, including the three peaks (short story), LEJOG Chapter 1: Land’s End to Perranporth, LEJOG Chapter 11: The Lakes and Scafell Pike, LEJOG Chapter 12: Carlisle to Crawfordjohn, LEJOG Chapter 13: Crawfordjohn to Loch Lomond, LEJOG Chapter 14: Loch Lomond to Fort William and Ben Nevis, LEJOG Chapter 15: Fort William to Inverness, LEJOG Chapter 17: Helmsdale to John O’Groats, Reflections on my 2019 Land’s End to John O’Groats and Three Peaks walk: final thoughts, Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 1: The North Downs Way, Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 2: Wey Navigations and Thames Path, Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 3: The Grand Union Canal walk, Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 4: The Oxford and Coventry Canals, Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 5: The Staffordshire Way, Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 6: The Limestone Way (ish), Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 7: The Pennine Way (Part 1/3), Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 8: The Pennine Way (Part 2/3), Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 9: The Pennine Way (Part 3/3), Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 10: The Scottish National Trail (part 1/7), Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 11: The Scottish National Trail (part 2/7), Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 12: The Scottish National Trail (part 3/7), Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 13: The Scottish National Trail (part 4/7), Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 14: The Scottish National Trail (part 5/7), Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 15: The Scottish National Trail (part 6/7), Dover to Cape Wrath Chapter 16: The Scottish National Trail (part 7/7), Wainwright’s Coast to Coast with children. The camping ground is ideally located for those with tired legs as it … I managed to overtake a few, but I was overtaken by more! There are plenty of places to stay and buy food along the way, so you don’t need to leave Milngavie with a heavy pack. It was also great to camp with a dry tent. The phone has never got below 50% on the whole trip and it has been essential for my camera, GPS and checking in with my family. I passed a few campers within half an hour of setting off, but there were very few possible camping spots initially on the trail. What’s the best footwear for hill walking and backpacking, boots or shoes. Stopping before reaching Loch Lomond would be a better plan, or using one of the paid loch-side sites. Coffee and olive bread in the dry was a treat, and it meant I could burn my rubbish in the fire. or. Killer Conic Hill. My wild camping spot last night had been idyllic, right by the shores of Loch Lomond. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Required fields are marked *. A few times we camped in the wild, once on a campsite, twice in a hobbit house (kind of garden shed) and once in a bothy. Climbing to the summit of Ben Nevis is not strictly part of the West Highland Way, but is recommended if the weather’s OK. You shouldn’t need to carry too much water either, there are numerous places to fill up or rivers to filter water from. I passed the Falls of Falloch which were pretty good. I was aiming for a pub there that I like, The Crofter, that I hoped would be better value too. As far as long-distance walks go, the 96 miles of the West Highland Way is pretty short (in the opinion of an American more familiar with the much longer Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails). The 96 miles (154 kilometers) of the trail takes you beside tranquil lochs and crystal-clear rivers, into ancient woodland, through serene glens, up awe-inspiring mountains and deep into remote moorland. Wild Camping on the West Highland Way TGF0bzpyZWd1bGFy Note that there’s a seasonal ban in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, with more details to follow. Despite being so popular it is still possible to walk for miles along the 96-mile route between Milngavie and Fort William and pass only a … I think this is a really good first long distance hike. 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. It was really dramatic here and will continue to be tomorrow, with views of Ben Nevis, dropping into Glen Nevis and ultimately Fort William. The route offers a fabulous introduction to the Scottish Highlands and it traverses a very diverse landscape. I put the tent up, filtered some water and soon a lovely couple came past and asked if I minded if they camped nearby. A proper wild camp again, … The path next to Loch Lomond was lovely, and this was a very enjoyable walk. Camping is permitted within an area 400m past the hotel. Forgot account? This meant I would either have to walk 7 miles further past Rowardennan or break the law. The snow was frozen solid and very slippery, and I had seen two men leaving the summit before I got there with ice axes and crampons on. These are the essentials. The valley opened up ahead of me as I went over the pass to Rannoch Moor. I had no worries about wet feet, though, as the path was well surfaced. You can then walk into Fort William or climb Ben Nevis with a lighter pack. The next day began with a short train ride to Milngavie, the start of the West Highland Way. There was plenty of room, and he had heard this was a good spot – I really should have read up more on this walk, then I’d know these things. So I decided to move on to Fort William to eat. Log In. Use the designated zones there. ! 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. Camping Gear for the West Highland Way. The place was very busy, but all they offered for breakfast was a bun with two sausages in it and a pot of tea. I stopped at the Bridge of Orchy for fish and chips and a beer, but the prices were horrific so I won’t be going here again. #wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1 .wp-post-image img.wp-post-image{max-height:250px; }. I started the climb at 8am, and reached the summit at 10.45am. Night time temperatures had also been warmer, at around 6 or 7 degrees. The West Island Way (not to be confused with the West Highland Way) is a varied multi-day walking route on the picturesque Isle of Bute on the West Coast of Scotland. Wild Camping the West Highland Way Scotland is one of the best countries in the world for hiking, not just because of its stunning landscapes but also because of the wild camping laws. For example, when the West Highland Way passes under the A82 and West Highland Rail Lines the reduced headroom would require cyclists to dismount. Another couple arrived who looked like they were also about to start the West HIghland Way. See more of Scottish Hill Walking & Wild Camping on Facebook. The route then left the loch and followed the river, until I found a campsite bar at Beinglas Farm (Inverarnan). We do have some Amazon affiliate links and adverts on the site. Wildwalkinguk is a blog run by myself and my wife in our spare time, and we pay for its running costs ourselves. From leaving here, it was better, more level walking by the river. If you wish to challenge yourself further, you can walk the 11 miles from the centre of Glasgow to the start in Milngavie on the Kelvin Walkway. I walked the West Highland Way as part of my 1,200 mile Land’s end to John O’Groats + 3 peaks walk in 2019. #wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1 .wp-post-image, Anyone planning to do some wild camping on their West Highland Way hike will want to check out the Scottish Outdoor Access Code which advises about your access rights in detail. There were still people looking at them at 6.30pm. If you don’t know what the West Highland way is, you’re not from around these parts. After about an hour, or 2-3 miles, there were a few more options. Can I camp at Kingshouse? Stretching over 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William in the Highlands, this route is a breathtaking way to explore Scotland, taking in a gorgeous national park. It is ideal for those walking the West Highland Way as it is the first campsite you come to as you walk down into the village from Glencoe. You can also have any luggage delivered to, or collected from, the hotel through AMS or Travel-Lite. 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