Campsites on the west highland way, helping you plan an epic scottish walking trip
The West Highland Way is the first long distance foot path in Scotland, spanning a distance of 96 miles from the town of Milngavie in the outskirts of Glasgow to the town of FortWilliam at the foot of Ben Nevis. The trail follows many ancient roads as it winds it way along the banks of Loch Lomond, through the dramatic Glencoe mountain range and ending at the foot of Ben Nevis.
In this post I wanted to focus predominately on the campsites along the way but will also touch on some useful info to help you plan that epic walking adventure.
West Highland Way Official Website
Here at camping Scotland we are great believers of linking you to official sources, that way you have the more accurate and up to date information. So for guidance on the trail, how to pack, how to split it up day by day and handy hints we highly recommend you first visit the official website here. Then secondly head over to Facebook and join the West Highland Way group where you can ask all your West Highland Way questions.
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The Start & End (how to get there)
So where does the West Highland Way start? And how do you get there?
The trail begins in the small town of Milngavie, just north of Glasgow. A West Highland Way marker stands in town center which marks the official start of the trail (or end if you walk it in reverse). Getting to Milngavie couldn’t be easier, trains run frequently from Glasgow Central train station. If you have time why not spend the night in Scotlands greatest and largest city, Glasgow. We recommend a visit to the Clyde Side Distillery, some live Scottish music in the Park Bar or a dram and cask ale in the Bon Accord.
The trail ends in the town of Fort William, self proclaimed outdoor capital of the UK, this town is shadowed by the mighty Ben Nevis. I don’t suspect you will want to hike Ben Nevis after walking 96 miles but on a sunny day you can admire it from below in the end stages of the West Highland Way. From Fort William trains run frequently back to Glasgow. So you could actually just pack your slippers and rest your feet on the West Highland Rail Line all the way to Fort William. Or what is more helpful is if the West Highland Way turns out to be a little bit more difficult than you thought, there is an option to jump on the train as the walking trail merges with some train stations along the way.
The Route & things to see
Google Map Link (left hand image above)
Click here (not to be used as way markers as its not 100% accurate but gives you a good idea of the route).
Wiki interactive trail map (Right hand image above)
Click here, this is a great map showing where the train links are and distance between them.
What to see along the route
I’m not going to go into a huge amount of detail on what there is on the trail but here are some highlights that you can look forward to.
- Glengoyne Distillery
- Falls of Falloch
- Buachaille Etive Mor
- Ballachulish Slate Quarry
- Steall Waterfall
- The View From Conic Hill
- Loch Lomond
- Rannoch moor
- The Glencoe Valley
- Devils ‘ staircase
- Ben Lomond
- The weary walker
The campsites (on a map)
There are various campsites along the West Highland Way where you can meet fellow hikers, share stories and meet new friends. For those looking to be even more adventurous wild camping is possible but make sure you are not within a restricted area.
The Campsites (in a bit more detail)
Wild Camping
If you are wild camping please ensure you follow the wild camping bylaws within the National Park. Wild camping is not permitted in the hatched areas shown in the map above where we have highlighted in RED the bits that effect the West Highland Way route. You will see that most of the Loch Lomond is restricted however there is an area within Lochan Maol Dhuinne which is shown at the red arrow where you can obtain a permit to wild camp.
Click here for more info on the wild camping restrictions and where you can buy a permit to camp at Lochan Maol Dhuinne
Beinglas Farm Campsite is located at the top of Loch Lomond below Ben Glas that has pitches for campervans, tents and glamping pods for hire. The site is located on the West Highland Way and is a popular stop of spot for those taking on the trail. There is a toilet, shower and washing up block with a communal kitchen and eating area available which offers great shelter when the weather isn’t favourable. The site also has its own pub, shop and restaurant offering fresh pints and hearty food after a long day of adventuring. A short walk away you will find The Drovers inn, which is a stunning hotel, bar and restaurant. A little bit further (2 miles) you will reach Loch Lomond where you will find various water sports including paddle boarding, wakeboarding, ferry services and a train station.
Small semi-wild campsite on the west highland way (a great 1st stop off spot) with hard standing pitches within the carpark (with electric) for campervans and an area of grass within the hotel grounds for camping. Campfires are permitted however please double check with the owners when you arrive as there may be specific rules regarding fires. Toilets, showers, laundry facilities and a BBQ area are all available for use, there is also a shepherd hut and bell tent available to rent for those looking for glamping. The site is located a 30-minute drive north of Glasgow on the start of the West Highland Way. Further north you will find Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Glengoyne Distillery and the continued trail for the WHW. The village of Blanefield is a 30-minute walk south of the campsite where you will find the Kikhouse Inn serving food and drink.
Strathfillan Wigwam Village is a family friendly campsites located in the Trossachs National Park near Loch Lomond. The site is located on a working farm with a verity of glamping pots available to rent and an open field for tents. For those walking this West Highland Way this is a great place to pitch up, rest your feet and cook some dinner over a campfire (in provided fire-pits). The site has an onside shop selling produce and supplies including some wild boar, ostrich, kangaroo and venison sausages and camel or zebra steaks. There is a shower, toilet and communal kitchen area available for campers use. Locally you will find woodland walks, a waterfall, the river Allt Auchteryre and the café “Country Mumkins” all within a short walk. The site also offers the opportunity for children to meet some of the farm animals, fish or pan for gold. Further afield you will find the village of Tyndrum (about 45mins if you walked it) which has train and bus connections to the surrounding area, pubs, restaurants and a great whisky shop (The Green Welly).
Sallochy Campsite is situated on the Eastern shores of Loch Lomond and offers stunning views across the loch towards the Arrochar Alps. The small beach is a perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the scenery and the 200 year old oak woodland is a peaceful place to stroll and spot some local wildlife. The campsite has basic facilities to give you a ‘wilder’ camping experience. Composting toilets and drinking water are available but there are no showers on-site. There are 10 loch side pitches and 10 inland pitches, fire pits are available to rent along with firewood. Wild swimming is possible in the loch and there are various local hill walks available.
Inchcailloch is part of the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve and is accessed by boat from Balmaha. It offers the perfect spot to experience remoteness and wildness in a safe and easily accessible location. Inchcailloch Campsite is located on the small island of Inchcailloch on Loch Lomond, accessible only via boat from Balmaha (MacFarlane Boatyard runs the ferry service until 5PM) or from Balloch and Luss with the Loch Lomond waterbus service or via your own boat. The site has a maximum of 12 people per night due to being on a nature reserve and can be booked online. There is a toilet facility on the island and swimming is possible within the loch.
Basic, semi-wild campsite located at the foot of the Glencoe Mountain Chairlift with 16 micro lodges, 4 campervans hook up points and space for 20 tents. There is a toilet and shower block available for use and an onside café that opens from 8am until 8pm. This site is perfect for campers looking to mountain bike, hill walk, climb, go on a chairlift ride, photography or do a bit of eagle spotting. With some of Scotland’s most dramatic views to wake up to and with some stunning waterfall and hill walks nearby this site offers a perfect base to explore the Glencoe area. The site is also located on the West Highland Way and offers a great stop off during your route through the Glencoe mountain range.
Drymen Campsite is perfectly situated on the West Highland Way and National Cycle Route 7 just at the start of the Loch Lomond National Park. It is a simple site with toilets and showers for small tents. There are plenty of local lowland and hills to climb for those not walking the West Highland Way and a pub located in Drymen which serves up food and drink. Along with tent pitches there is also various glamping pods available for hire, all of which can be booked online via their website.
By The Way is a small campsite located on the West Highland Way at the entrance of the Glencoe Mountains and caters for small tents only (no larger than 2 man) and is a perfect stop for walkers on the West Highland Way or hiking the local mountains. There are glamping pots to rent and a communal indoor cooking area for when the weather turns a little rainy. The site has toilets and showers with WIFI covering the full site. The site is conveniently located in the village of Tiyndrum where there is a train station, pubs, restaurants and shops. There is plenty to explore in the surrounding area from waterfalls, lochs and mountains to hike. Dogs not permitted into Hostel, Hobbit Houses or Chalets but can go everywhere else. NOTE, online booking for tents is not possible, you must phone to book if you are arriving with a tent.
Blackwater campsite offers a small number of tent pitches and glamping pods overlooking the River Leven within the grounds of a Hostel. The site 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. But also, offer a great base for exploring the local area. The campsite is a short walk into the village of Kinlochmore where you will find bars, restaurants, a chip shop and shops. The campsite has 30 pitches where only small tents are permitted (2-man max), larger tents are not permitted on the campsite. You can reserve your pitch in advance online via Blackwaters official website. There are showers, toilets, drying room and washing up area available for campers use. From the campsite you will find an abundance of hill walks, the Grey Mares Trail which leads to a stunning waterfall (climbing the waterfall is possible for experienced climbers) and The Ice Factor where indoor ice climbing is possible. There is so much to explore locally from golf courses, waterfalls, Glencoe mountains this really is a great base for adventure lovers.
Part of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park official campsites located on the east side of Loch Lomond in a quiet and idyllic spot. With direct access to the loch where swimming is possible and banked by forestry this is a great place to stay for a long camping trip or also great for a quick stop over. The west highland way passes the entrance to the site making it an ideal stopover for those taking on the epic walking route. The site has plenty to do a short drive away, from hill walks, water sports or Go Country outdoor activity centre where you will find a range of things to do.
Campsite located in Glen Nevis above Fort William that is set within trees surrounded by mountains (including Ben Nevis). This site caters for tents and campervans in a range of serviced, electric and non-electric pitches (there is a tent area that is an open field with no services). The site is a short walk to Glen Nevis Restaurant where you can grab a pint and fill up after a day’s hiking the Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK. There is a river running to the site of the site and plenty of smaller walks available if the challenge of Ben Nevis is too much. The town of Fort William is a short drive away with hosts a range of pubs, shops, restaurants and The Ben Nevis Distillery where tours are possible. The is a great campsite for those looking for a mountain adventure, or for those who like to be camping in an area with stunning views. Dogs are permitted, there is a communal toilet and shower block and BBQ’s and small enclosed fires such as chimineas/braziers are permitted so long as they are 5m from fellow campers and raised above the ground.
Whisky Distilleries Along The West Highland Way
You didn’t think we would miss out the whisky did you? Although the West Highland Way isn’t exactly on any famous whisky routes there are three distilleries, one you walk past and the other two just a wee bit off track.
Clydeside Distillery
Located in the Queens Dock in Glasgow City Center (a 30 min walk from Central Station) is the relatively new Clyde Side Distillery. Tours run daily and there is an onsite cafe and shop, well worth a visit before you catch the train out of Central to Milgavie to start the West Highland Way.
Glengoyne Distillery
Located just north of Milngavie and about 3 hours into the West Highland Way route. This stunning distillery is quite unique where the distillery sits in the highland region and the warehouse sits in the lowlands region. Tours run daily and we highly recommend you stop by here (or just stop in for a dram).
Ben Nevis
Located just on the edge of Fort William you will find the Ben Nevis Distillery which sits at the foot of, you guessed it, Ben Nevis Mountain. Stop of here to have a celebratory dram, or two after completing the West Highland Way, you deserve it!
Have you recently completed the West Highland Way? Let us know how you got on and any recommendations for those looking to plan the trip.
