TMBtent.com GUIDE TO CAMPING ON THE WEST HIGHLAND WAY Welcome Table of Contents Your adventure starts now! 1. Sfa 2. Asdf Welcome to the TMBtent Guide to Camping on the West Highland Way! The WHW is an unforgettable trek however you approach it, but we feel that camping along the route is the most 3. Asdf rewarding way to experience it. Carrying your own tent will not only afford you greater 4. Asdf flexibility, but it will also give you the chance to build community with fellow campers and sleep 5. Asdf in some of the most beautiful places on earth. 6. Asdf This guide will give you the tools to plan your perfect WHW adventure. In addition to in-depth 7. asdf camping information for every stage, we’ve also included sections on logistics, packing, and a sample itinerary. You can print the entire guide or individual topics as needed. You can also download it to your mobile phone for easy access on the trail. About the course: In preparation for the upcoming hiking season, we completely revamped this guide to reflect the insights, experience, and updates that we’ve gained from the past three years of running our website. We feel confident that our guide has the most accurate and up-to-date information available and that it will be an invaluable resource for your trek. We are so excited that you’ve decided to hike the West Highland Way and we know that with the right preparation you will have an incredible trip. Thank you for letting us be part of the process. Sincerely, Who we are/About TMBtent: As passionate hikers and travelers, we've made it our goal to empower fellow trekkers with all of the information they need to have their best WHW experience. We scour the guidebooks, connect with accommodation providers, and compile tips from other hikers in order to give you the most current, straightforward, and accessible information possible. Happy trails! Emily & Ian Disclaimer: Everything presented here is for entertainment and informational purposes only, distributed on an as is basis with no warranties. TMBtent, LLC makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information in this guide and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. Copyright: All maps included in this guide are copyright © OpenStreetMap contributors, © Thunderforest and © TMBtent, LLC. All other information is copyright © TMBtent, LLC. All rights reserved. Contents Read it cover-to-cover or jump around to the parts that suit you. This guide is organized into six easy-to-navigate sections: About the WHW A quick overview of the hike, key stats, and what to expect along the route. 1 Table of Contents 1. Sfa Stage-by-Stage Camping Guide 2. Asdf 3. Asdf An in-depth description of all of your camping options on every stage of the 2 WHW. We’ve included detailed maps for each stage. 4. Asdf 5. Asdf Logistics 6. Asdf Key information about getting to and from the WHW, as well as insights on 7. asdf 3 luggage storage and rest days. About the course: Packing for the West Highland Way 4 Our tried-and-true gear list for camping on the WHW. The printable format makes packing a breeze! Sample Itinerary 5 This itinerary shows our recommended stopping points for campers completing the classic 8-day trek. Want more? Who we are/About TMBtent: 6 Learn more about our comprehensive West Highland Way planning resources which will prepare you for your best possible trip, while also saving you time and money! Section 1 About the West Highland Way Table of Contents 1. Sfa 2. Asdf 3. Asdf 4. Asdf 5. Asdf 6. Asdf 7. asdf About the course: Who we are/About TMBtent: Length: 170 Km (106 miles) Total ascent/descent: 10,000 meters (32,808 feet) About the WHW Duration: 11 days Trail conditions:: Mostly singletrack on dirt trails. Some steep, loose, and rocky sections. The West Highland Way is a 94-mile trail that traverses the Scottish Highlands from Milngavie to Small segments on dirt roads and tracks. Fort William. Starting just north of Glasgow, the trek takes walkers through quintessential Scottish Terrain: Rugged mountain passes, pastoral landscapes as it winds over rugged mountains and through charming villages. valleys, pine forests, alpine meadows 94 Is it for you? miles long What’s it like? : Passing through the many charming villagesLes along Houches the route has isseveral a major bars, restaurants, 13,000 highlight of the TMB.ATM’s, If youand want a grocery a hike store. in which There is a bus that feet of elevation gain you can absorb Alpineruns frequentlyculture and to pick and up from excellent Chamonix, which wine and cheese athas frequent several intervals,outdoor retailers you’ll love and shops that will the TMB. However,provide if you youwant with to feel anything far from you may have 8 civilization and aloneforgotten in nature, to pack. this isn’t your best days to complete bet. How hard is it? If you are reasonably fit and have some backpacking experience, you should be What’s it like? well-suited to the physical challenge of the TMB. It Many consider the West Highland Way to be one of the best long-distance hikes in all of Europe. The trek begins is a tough trek that involves long, steep ascents in Milngavie and stretches north to Fort William, encompassing an impressive variety of landscapes in between. and descents on nearly every stage, but it isn’t too The southern portion of the walk is characterized by bucolic pastoral landscapes, rolling green hillsides, and technically demanding. Make sure you have healthy peaceful woodlands. The middle section of the walk traces the entire length of the storied Loch Lomond, allowing walkers to experience its wild, tangled shoreline. In the north, the Way traverses the best of the Scottish knees, as the downhill sections can take their toll! Highlands, one of Britain’s last remaining expanses of true wilderness. Be sure to check out our article on how to train for the hike. How hard is it? Because of its relatively low elevation and minimal technicality, the West Highland Way is a very approachable What’s the accommodation like? Hikers can opt long-distance trek for the casual hiker. However, it’s still a serious feat of endurance that will push you to new for high quality hotels and use luggage transfer limits. You’ll be covering long stretches of undulating terrain with a variety of underfoot conditions. The rough services in order to maximize comfort. and rocky paths can be taxing on leg muscles and create a hotbed for blisters. However, if they train ahead of time and keep reasonable expectations, walkers of all ability levels should be able to complete the WHW-and enjoy Alternatively, they can stay in budget-friendly themselves while doing it! dorms or they can carry their own tent. The beauty of the TMB is that is is customizable to many What can I expect when camping? budgets, styles, and ability levels. Camping facilities along the WHW can vary widely from place to place. They range from basic wild camping areas to deluxe campgrounds with hot showers and wifi. In general, most established campgrounds along the route will provide showers, potable water, bathroom facilities, and a place to charge your electronics. Section 2 Stage-by-Stage Camping Guide Table of Contents 1. Sfa 2. Asdf 3. Asdf 4. Asdf 5. Asdf 6. Asdf 7. asdf About the course: Who we are/About TMBtent: Camping Basics RESERVATIONS WHW hikers do not need to make advance bookings for the majority of the campgrounds included in this guide. However, there are a few specific campsites that we highly The hiking season for the TMB generally lasts from late June through recommend reserving ahead of time. These include the Sallochy Campsite along Loch Lomond and the MacDonald Hotel campground in Kinlochleven. mid-September. July and August are the busiest months, and accomodation (with the exception of camping), must be booked in advance. There’s a chance Campgrounds that do not require reservations can still get quite crowded. We you could get away without advance bookings in June and September, but we recommend arriving before 4:00pm to ensure you get a good pitch. However, the campgrounds rarely, if ever, turn away WHW trekkers, even if they are very full. still wouldn’t recommend it. WILD CAMPING June: Early in the season, you are likely to encounter snow on the trail. Depending on the snow levels, there could be sections that will be impassible Here’s what the walk’s official site, westhighlandway.org, says about wild camping: and you may need to reroute. Otherwise, expect cool evenings, bright sunny “Under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, wild camping is permitted. This type of camping is lightweight, days, and less crowded trails. done in small numbers and only for two or three nights in any one place. Avoid causing problems for local people and land managers by not camping in enclosed fields of crops or farm animals and by keeping well away from buildings, roads or historic structures. Leave no trace by: taking away all your litter, removing all July: Hikers could still encounter some snow along the trail, but chances of traces of your tent pitch and of any open fire and not causing pollution. Please also note that within the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park camping byelaws operate between March and September.” significant snow will be diminishing as the month wears on.