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West Highland Way

West Highland Way — the trail guide

The West Highland Way is a 153.1 km trek in Scotland, typically walked in 5-8 days, with 3630 m of total ascent. It rates Moderate on our published rubric (24 m of gain per km, topping out at 547 m).

The West Highland Way is Britain's first official long-distance trail and remains one of its best. Starting from Milngavie near Glasgow, the route passes Loch Lomond, crosses Rannoch Moor's desolate beauty, and traverses the Devil's Staircase before finishing beneath Ben Nevis. A rite of passage for British hikers.

Quick facts

Distance153.1 km
Total ascent3630 m
Typical duration5-8 days
Difficulty (computed)Moderate
Steepness24 m gain per km
High point547 m
CountryScotland
RegionScotland

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Moderate" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 8 m · high point 547 m · 3630 m total ascent over 153.1 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 56 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan6°1°134 mm
Feb7°1°140 mm
Mar8°2°116 mm
Apr11°3°66 mm
May14°7°88 mm
Jun17°10°105 mm
Jul18°11°127 mm
Aug17°11°147 mm
Sep15°9°113 mm
Oct12°6°146 mm
Nov8°3°121 mm
Dec7°2°157 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the West Highland Way?

The West Highland Way is 153.1 km, and most hikers complete it in 5-8 days. Total elevation gain is 3630 m.

How difficult is the West Highland Way?

It rates Moderate on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 24 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 547 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the West Highland Way is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the West Highland Way?

In Scotland. The route starts near 55.941, -4.318 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

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