The West Highland Way is a route that winds its way from the Lowlands, deep into the Highlands of Scotland. The scenery and landscape changes markedly as you progress northwards over the 96 miles. Here we have collected together 10 of our favourite viewpoints along the way.
West Highland Way Viewpoint #1: Conic Hill
With the first real hill of the trek, comes expansive views over Loch Lomond. Conic Hill sits on the Highland Boundary Fault, and it is at this point on the West Highland Way that you enter the Highlands. You can see evidence of this geological fault in exposed conglomerate rock, and the chain of islands that follows the eye across the loch itself. Ben Lomond and the Arrochar Alps also come into view here. It is easy to see why this is such a popular hill, even for those not on the West Highland Way. Indeed, it is our welcome day walk on our Loch Lomond & The Trossachs hillwalking holidays.
West Highland Way Viewpoint #2: Loch Lomond National Park Memorial Sculpture
Situated just at the loch’s edge near Rowardennan (and just a 100m or off the official WHW route) sits the Loch Lomond National Park Memorial Sculpture. The sculpture is part of a larger memorial which includes Scotland’s most southerly Munro, Ben Lomond, as part of the Ben Lomond Memorial Park. The park along with the sculpture is dedicated to those who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars. The striking monument designed by Doug Cocker leads the eye across the loch to the mountains beyond.
West Highland Way Viewpoint #3: Looking South over Loch Lomond
The walking along the shore of Loch Lomond is some of the toughest on the whole trail. The rocks and the tree roots, as well as the repeated up-down-up-down of this section, does make it tiring and difficult to get into your stride. However, you are within stunning native woodland and once you climb above Ardleish towards the day’s end, you are rewarded with this fantastic viewpoint!
West Highland Way Viewpoint #4: Above Crianlarich – Halfway!
On any long-distance walk, naturally doubts often creep in about completion. Walking nearly one hundred miles is no small undertaking and until you begin clocking up the miles it may seem too distant to fully comprehend – especially if it is your first attempt at something like this. Passing the half-way point often gives a boost to the belief that it is in fact possible. On the West Highland Way, the half-way point comes above the village of Crianlarich. Continuing to the top of the hill gets us to our preferred lunch stop on this day (the height helps catch a breeze to see off any midges – they don’t like the snow either). It is also an excellent viewpoint to take in the Munros, Ben More and Stob Binnein – seen here in a spring coating of snow during an April trek.
West Highland Way Viewpoint #5: Beinn Dòrain
Leaving behind the bustle of Tyndrum, and the ever busy Green Welly Stop and the Real Food Cafe, the West Highland Way climbs out of the glen to meet the railway. Over the crest and round the corner and the views then open up. They are dominated by the massive slopes of Beinn Dòrain. Towering above Bridge of Orchy this mountain stands out and is a way marker on any trip in the direction of Glen Coe, for walkers, rail passengers, and drivers alike.
West Highland Way Viewpoint #6: Loch Tulla & The Black Mount
Leaving Bridge of Orchy behind there is a hill to negotiate before Victoria Bridge. On part of the old military road the route climbs over Màm Carraigh. This roughly translates to pedestal pass, which makes sense for one the best viewpoints on the West Highland Way. The high point looks over Loch Tulla, Rannoch Moor, and to the mountains of the Black Mount, which are invariably accompanied by moody clouds (but not for this lucky group). The prevailing wind direction is starkly illustrated by the direction of growth of a single Rowan (Mountain Ash) tree as you begin the descent. There can’t be many walkers who don’t stop for a picture here.
West Highland Way Viewpoint #7: Buachaille Etive Mòr
Buachaille Etive Mòr is probably Scotland’s most photographed mountain, and with good reason. When approaching Glen Coe from the East, the “big herdsman of the Etive” stands guard over the entrance to this magnificent Scottish glen. On the West Highland Way it isn’t until you have spent quite some time on the cobbles of the parliamentary road, that you round the corner and ‘The Buachaille’ comes into view. It is a both a welcome sight, signifying the end of a long day, and a spectacular distraction from any aches and pains. The triangular rocky peak rises high, displaying a mountaineer’s playground of climbs and scrambles. The view of this mountain just gets better and better over the next few miles. We summit this mountain (without recourse to rock climbing) on our Glencoe & The Buachailles hillwalking breaks.
West Highland Way Viewpoint #8: The Devil’s Staircase
The Devil’s Staircase, by its very name, instils a bit of trepidation in first time walkers. However, this rough path zig-zags its way to the saddle between Stob Mhic Martuin and Beinn Bheag and is never quite as tough as the name might suggest. On a clear day the views in all directions make this a real highlight of the West Highland Way. Looking westwards you get an indication of the majesty of Glen Coe, south-east the Black Mount, and then to the north mountains rise in ridges. The Mamores, and their thousand metre tops, are front and centre, beyond which the bulk of Ben Nevis and the Aonachs rise yet higher still. With the long descent into Kinlochleven demanding more of the legs than the Devil did on his staircase, it is a perfect spot to take a rest in preparation, and to just take it all in.
West Highland Way Viewpoint #9: Loch Leven & the Pap of Glencoe
Climbing out of Kinlochleven means (for almost all walkers) that you are on the final day of your West Highland Way adventure. It is a fairly strenuous start to the day but once you are up, pausing to look back down into Loch Leven, and across to the Pap of Glencoe is just reward for your efforts. The sea loch and the mountains make for a fjord-like scene. The West Highland Way then heads through the high valley of Lairig Mòr where you are well away from any roads and surrounded by the mountains.
West Highland Way Viewpoint #10: Approaching Glen Nevis
After refusing the optional short-cut to Fort William at Blàr a’ Chaorainn, the West Highland Way makes a beeline for Glen Nevis. It is here, facing its western slopes, that you really get a sense of the bulk and size of Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain. The summit doesn’t always reveal itself, but it does remain snow capped well into the late spring/early summer. For some, the West Highland Way is incomplete without climbing to the summit of Scotland. If you are on one of our WHW treks, we would be delighted to add this to your booking and share ‘The Ben’ with you.
West Highland Way – Guided Treks
The West Highland Way is the most famous and perhaps best loved long distance walking route in Scotland. It is 96 miles/154km in length and begins in Milngavie (on the edge of Glasgow) and ends in Fort William. It’s an incredibly diverse trail which explores some of the best scenery Scotland has to offer. From mountains and lochs, to moorland and farmland, the West Highland Way trek really does have it all.
Visit our West Highland Way trek page to find out more about a guided group tour with Thistle Trekking.
