Hiking the West Highland Way in July 2023 was a fulfilling journey. The trail led me through a tapestry of lush green hills, each one unique in their own right. The landscape was varied with rugged mountains, still lochs, and winding paths that seemed to welcome you deeper into Scotland's natural beauty.
Clouds hugging the emerald green hills shot on #35mm film
What made this journey particularly special was the opportunity for wild camping, allowing me to immerse myself completely in the wilderness and experience the peaceful tranquility of being far away from civilisation. Wild camping on my second night next to the Loch, I couldn't help but feel a connection to the spirit of the Scottish Highlands. The whole journey was a testament to the simplicity of being silent and still in Nature.
I hadn’t planned where I was going to stay on this hiking trail. I literally looked up the start and then the finish, deciding to wing it! I felt experienced enough to trust my intuition and go with the flow, setting up camp when I wanted to rest. I had no trouble finding wild camping spots at all, and on the trail there were plenty of people to ask questions if I did have any queries.
I enjoyed the untamed nature and remoteness of the trail - #35mm film
The trail itself was extremely well catered for with plenty of water spots and places to resupply for food in shops and cafes along the way.
My favourite campsite (aside from the wild camping next to the Loch) was on day 3 in Inverarnan at Beinglas campsite. Camping next to huge green hills with plenty of sunshine right up until 9pm was bliss after a long day scrambling along the Loch. The breakfast here was unlimited too - you only had to buy one small meal and you could have as much tea and food as you wanted! Which was great knowing I had 20 miles to walk that day. The facilities were great as well, with an in-house shop with all necessary supplies like gas, toiletries, etc. They had thought of everything. I also noticed plenty of campervans parked up which got me thinking for the future…
Some pink flowers along the path - shot #35mm film
The itinerary I ended up walking -
Day 1 Milngavie - Drymen, ‘Drymen Camping’ Campsite
Day 2 Drymen - Wild Camping Spot, next to the Loch (just after the no-camping zone)
Day 3 Loch Lomond - Inverarnan, ‘Beinglas’ Campsite
Day 4 Inverarnan - Wild Camping @ The Bridge or Orchy
Day 5 Wild Camping @ Bridge of Orchy - Kinlochleven, ‘Blackwater Hostel’ Campsite
Day 6 Kinlochleven to Fort William
The wild camping spot I found on Day 2 next to the Loch was 15 - 20 mins after the end of the no-camping zone. I also discovered the next day that there were even more spots 10 minutes after this, so there are plenty of places to pitch if you want to wild camp in this area.
I highly recommend trying this trail for yourself, even solo, as I felt comfortable and safe along the whole route.
Lastly, my hike along the West Highland Way in July was a full-filling journey through Scotland's natural landscape. The lush green hills, the rugged terrain, and the peaceful solitude of wild camping combined to create an unforgettable experience. It was a chance to disconnect from the noise of modern life and connect with the untamed beauty of the Highlands, leaving me with lasting memories of an adventure that will always hold a special place in my heart.
Any questions? Leave me a comment below and I’d be happy to answer any queries!
FUN FACTS
Start: July 2023
End date: 6 days
Route: Milngavie - Fort William, 96 Miles (154 km)
Sleeping: Wild Camping and Campsites
Daily average walked: 15 - 20 Miles
Favourite Day: Wild camping next to the Loch on day 2 (after the no-camping zone)
Trail Feature: The route is very catered for with plenty of water spots and places to resupply food in cafes, pubs or shops along the way.
Trail Fail: Mouse eating through my tent in the night and into my backpack on Day 2!
Tip: There is a no camping zone between the 1st March and 30th September on a large section along the Loch, unless you book ahead and buy a camping permit. The no camping zone starts near Balmaha and goes on for a couple of km until you see a sign that shows the no camping zone has ended.
Getting to the West Highland Way starting point at Milngavie, Glasgow
The West Highland way starts in Milngavie, Glasgow Scotland. I arrived to Glasgow city centre and then took a train to Milngavie. Trains run from Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central Stations to Milngavie every few minutes. The journey takes roughly 20 minutes and costs around £3.
Packing and Gear List
Here are some highlighted items I bought along with me.
There are plenty of outdoor shops in Glasgow town centre near the train station that sell gas, and other outdoor equipment if you need supplies. There is a Mountain Warehouse 5 minutes walk from Glasgow Queen Street station where I picked up some socks and gas for the trail.
I had a whole bunch of new gear for this hike. This included my new 38L Bonfus Ultralight backpack which I love! It comes with a removable hip belt and shoulder pouch for packing extra bits like my phone, camera gear and snacks.
Bonfus 38L Backpack joining me on my journey
I also tried out my new Salomon X Ward Gore-Tex women's hiking shoes which were a dream to wear. I had no blisters at all from these shoes and my feet were kept dry. I would also recommend Salomon X Ultra Pioneer Gore-Tex shoes.
Salomon X Ultra Pioneer Gore-Tex
Water Filter
The Katadyn BeFree Filter 1L was useful to have for back-up on my West Highland Way trek in Scotland, offering the priceless benefit of providing clean and easily accessible drinking water from the Highland streams, ensuring hydration was never a worry during my journey.
Food and Water Supplies
The West Highland Way has plenty of water spots to refill, as well as cafes and shops to eat along the whole route.
Additionally, all the Loch’s along the trail are filled with drinkable fresh water - once filtered of course! I never had to use my water filter as there was so many opportunities to refill along the entire route.