Scotland - West Highland Way and Great Glen Way

In the spring of 2026 I took a two week trip to Scotland during which I hiked the West Highland way and half of the Great Glenway

Getting to Scotland

Glasgow

I landed it Glasgow durning the late afternoon after a quick layover in Amsterdam. After spending the night at the Yotel, I caught an early morning train to Milngavie and started my walk north.

West Highland Way

Day 1

14 Miles Milngavie -> Wild Camp outside Drymen

Day 2

16 Miles Wild Camp outside Drymen -> Wild Camp 2 miles north of Rowardennan

Day 3

15 Miles Wild Camp 2 miles north of Rowardennan -> Wild Camp outside Crianlarich

Day 4

17 Miles Wild Camp outside Crianlarich -> Wild Camp on top of Mam Carraigh

Day 5

20 miles Wild Camp on top of Mam Carraigh -> Wild Camp Outside Kinlochleven

Day 6

14 miles Wild Camp Outside Kinlochleven -> Fort William

Fort William & Beginning of the Great Glen Way

I finished the West Highland Way in the mid afternoon and spent the evening celebrating. The next morning I got up early and did my trail chores. There was an amazing laundromat pod outside of a very large grocery store where I was able to pick up food for the next half of my adventure.

I had been told to not miss Neptune’s staircase while I was in town. So I took the Great Glen way its first 4 miles walking through Caol and Lochyside, before walking back to Fort William to catch the bus to Fort Augustus.

Fort Augustus

I arrived at Fort Augustus a little before 5 and got my first view of Loch Ness. With it already being late I only walked a few miles out of town before setting up my tent along the Great Glen Way.

Great Glen Way

Day 1

13 Miles Wild Camp outside Fort Augustus -> Wild Camp long trail

Day 2

20 Miles Wild Camp long trail -> Wild Camp outside Blackfold

Day 3

8 miles Wild Camp outside Blackfold -> Inverness

Inverness

I arrived in Inverness in the mid afternoon, took care of some trail chores, and spent the rest of the afternoon and the next morning exploring the city.

Edinburgh

Train to Edinburgh

Edinburgh day 1

I spent my morning exploring Edinburgh on my own, walking up and down the Royal Mile and doing a loop of Edinburgh Castle with stops along the way at the Scottish National Library.

North Berwick

In the afternoon I met up with a friend and we took the train down to North Berwick. We climbed its local hill “The Law” and explored its bay.

Edinburgh day 1 part 2

After exploring North Berwick, we grabbed dinner back in Edinburgh

Edinburgh day 2

Much like the day before, I was left to my own devices in the morning, where I was able to explore a small part of the National Museum of Scotland.

Arthurs Seat

In the afternoon we explored up Arthur’s seat, a large hill that overviews all of Edinburgh. We then proceeded to Calton Hill before continuing north on the great pilgrimage to a large Tesco.

Edinburgh day 3

On day three, I started feeling the effects of a cold I had picked up at some point in the previous days. After breakfast, I spent a few hours relaxing and enjoying the Princes Street Gardens before catching my train to Glasgow.

The Way home