Agius - Self Guided West Highland Way

The Burnbrae Premier Inn is situated on the main road through Milngavie heading out towards Bearsden. From Milngavie railway station exit onto Woodburn Way and turn left. Follow this road for 800 yards/725 metres and you will see the West Highland Gate Premier Inn on your left. Continue on past the West Highland Gate for 400 yards/360 metres (over a roundabout) and the Burnbrae Premier Inn will be on your right-hand side up a small incline. For the start of the Way retrace your steps back to the point where you passed the West Highland Gate and make your way back towards the town centre. After 355 yards/325 metres, bear left into Milngavie’s shopping precinct. Proceed through the precinct to the central clock tower. Bear right and you will arrive at the start of the West Highland Way in around 100 yards/90 metres.

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On the latter stage of the route from Milngavie to Drymen you will be walking along a country road. Shortly after leaving this road you will arrive at the A811 road (you will have walked through a field and crossed a stile). At this point make your way into Drymen village (signposted). With the village square in front of you turn right and pass the Clachan Inn which will now be on your left. Continue a short distance up hill and you will see the red sandstone of Ashbank on your left hand side.

Guests are welcome any time after 1600 hrs but if you arrive before this then please give Tommy a call since you may be able to check in early (within reason of course). Please call Tommy on 01360 660049 or then 07769 938259. There is a good choice of establishments in the village for an evening meal and advance booking is essential. Please note that if packed lunches are required then you can order upon arrival but advance notice would be very much appreciated.

Drymen is a small village in the west of Scotland forming the gateway to East Loch Lomond. In the 1700s Drymen found itself on the route of the military road from Stirling to Dumbarton. The Clachan Inn, on a corner of The Square, dates back to this period and carries signs proclaiming that it was first licensed in 1734. The area – steeped in history – is Clan Buchanan country. Rob Roy McGregor was a ‘local’ and this is the area in which he carried out his famous (or infamous) exploits against the Duke of Montrose.

The Way leads directly to the hotel.

Rooms will only be ready from 1500 hrs so if you are early due to either taking a taxi or walking from Balmaha then you can relax in the Clansman Bar or Beer Garden until your room is ready. An evening meal is available at the hotel and advance booking is strongly recommended (this is the best way to obtain the time you prefer) or you can also book upon arrival. Packed lunches are on offer, please order from the bar before 2000 hrs and they should be picked up from the bar at breakfast time. Wifi available.

The largest freshwater lake in Britain, Loch Lomond is over 23 miles long and 5 miles wide at its widest point. Loch Lomond’s beauty has drawn visitors from all over the world. Famous writers such as Boswell, Johnson, Sir Walter Scott, William Wordsworth and John Keats have all visited its shores – and Queen Victoria sailed on a steamer from Inversnaid in 1869. Steamers used to provide the main form of transport, linking the loch side with Balloch.

The small village of Rowardennan on the east shore of Loch Lomond nestles at the foot of Ben Lomond This is Rob Roy country. One of Rob Roy’s sons brought a kidnapped heiress to the Rowardennan Inn and forced her to go through a ceremony of marriage; a plot for which he was hanged in Edinburgh.

The Inn served as a wayside halt for the drovers who brought their highland cattle across the loch by ferry on their way to the markets of Stirling and Falkirk. Rising from the east shore of Loch Lomond, to a height of 974 m (3,193 ft), is Ben Lomond, the most southerly ‘Munro’ in Scotland. The road along the eastern shore of Loch Lomond stops at Rowardennan and the only way to continue along the shore is on foot.

You will arrive at the farm as you walk along the route to Inverarnan.

Laundry facilities are on offer (£3.50/wash and £1.50/dry with soap powder included). Drying facilities are available with a hanging area for wet clothes. Guests will be welcomed any time after 1500 hrs. An evening meal is available at Beinglas Farm, please order your meal upon arrival. Alternatively, meals are available at the Drovers Inn in Inverarnan village which is around 10 minutes walk each way. Packed lunches are on offer, also please order upon arrival. Wifi available (but note that this is an intermittent service and available in the bar area only).

The West Highland Way continues northwards from Rowardennan along the ‘bonnie banks’ of Loch Lomond, sometimes close to the water’s edge and sometimes well up the slopes. The village of Inverarnan is situated at the south end of Glen Falloch and just beyond the northern point of Loch Lomond. It sits on the banks of the River Falloch, which flows into Loch Lomond.

The Most famous landmark at this stage is the ‘Drovers Inn’ one of the best known pubs in Scotland. The Drovers Inn was originally used by the Highland drovers who used to drive their cattle down the side of Loch Lomond to the markets. Three hundred years ago The Drovers opened for business, Rob Roy MacGregor, Robert Burns, General Wade, Johnson and Boswell, Robert Louis Stevenson all passed by and quite probably entered the premises for refreshment or lodging. Beinglas takes its name from Ben Glas, Gaelic for Grey Mountain, down which the dramatic ‘Grey Mares Tail’ waterfall thunders.

As you approach the outskirts of Tyndrum village, you will have been following a river or burn on your right hand side. Continue on the Way, passing through a small group of houses and then you will reach a small tarmac road. Turn right and walk up the road for a very short distance and you will see Tigh na Fraoch clearly signposted on the left hand side of the road.

A laundry service is not on offer since there is an excellent laundrette at the back of the nearby Green Welly Stop (typically £8.00 per decent sized load & £2.00 for a 15 minute dry cycle). Heather will be pleased to point you in the right direction. Drying facilities are available at no extra charge. Guests will be welcomed any time after 1500 hrs. There is a choice of establishments in the village for an evening meal all within easy walking distance (advance booking highly recommended although note that the Real Food Café does not take advance bookings). Packed lunches are available, please order upon arrival. Wifi available.

Tyndrum, Taigh an Droma in Gaelic, translated as ‘the house on the ridge’ lies in Strathfillan at the southern edge of Rannoch Moor. Overshadowed by Ben Lui, one of the Munros (Scottish mountains over 914.4 metres or 3000 feet), Tyndrum has historic connections with Robert the Bruce and Rob Roy MacGregor. In 1306 Bruce suffered one of his rare defeats at nearby Dal Righ, the King’s Field. Tradition tells of his retreating soldiers throwing their heavy weapons into Lochan nan Arm. Defeat came at the hands of the MacDougall’s, during the battle, Alastair MacDougall ripped a brooch from Bruce as he made off and the ‘Brooch of Lorne’ is still in the possession of the MacDougall family. Tyndrum is a gold, silver & lead mining centre. Up on the hillside beyond Clifton the tailings of a former lead mine can be seen on Sron nan Colan hill. The actual gold mine is a couple of miles to the south and west of Tyndrum at Cononish, situated above Cononish Farm.

The hotel is easy to find since it is situated directly on the Way.

A laundry service is not available and in the annex rooms themselves there is a wardrobe area in the corridor entrance of the room with a heater where minimal drying of clothes is possible. If you are in the main hotel building (classic rooms) then no drying facilities are available. Rooms will be available from strictly 1500 hrs onwards (note, however, that the hotel is open all day). If for any reason, you anticipate arriving at the hotel later than 2100 hrs then Reception will be closed so you should check in at the bar. However, as per our instructions, accommodation providers ask walkers to telephone them to advise if they intend arriving any later than 1800 hrs in any case. If you require an earlier check-in of 1200 noon onwards then this can be arranged with at least 24 hrs notice and costs £20.00 per room. At Bridge of Orchy the hotel is the only place at the stage itself for an evening meal. The hotel offers a choice of dining in the restaurant or the bar. It is essential that you make a dinner reservation for the restaurant or bar in advance of your stay (telephone: 01838 400208 or email: [email protected]). Packed lunches are available, please order upon arrival. Wifi available.

The story of Bridge of Orchy is a story of travel and of travellers. In the years after the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite uprisings the government put a huge amount of effort into building roads and bridges over the length and breadth of the Highlands. Until then drove routes had existed to move cattle to the lowland markets. However, most travel took place by sea and the majority of significant settlements hugged coasts or major rivers. A bout of road building during the eighteenth century was intended to provide a means of moving troops quickly around the interior to suppress the rebellion. These were the military roads built by General Wade and later by Major Caulfield.

The Way leads directly to the Kingshouse Hotel.

Laundry is coin operated with all other areas of hotel cashless preferred. Rooms will be available from 1500 hrs, however, the hotel is open all day. An evening meal is available at the hotel and advance booking for the restaurant and bar is essential – please book online at https://www.kingshousehotel.co.uk/eat/book-a-table . Packed lunches are available, please order upon arrival. Wifi available.

Originally built in the 17th century, Kingshouse Hotel is believed to be one of Scotland’s oldest licensed inns. The building was used after the Battle of Culloden (1746) as a barracks for troops of George III, hence the name Kings House. It was their task to keep the Highlanders under subjection and to capture their elusive champion, Bonnie Prince Charlie. The Hotel’s history is colourful and varied. Dorothy Wordsworth wrote in 1803 ‘Never did I see such a miserable, such wretched place – long rooms with ranges of beds, no other furniture except benches, or perhaps one or two crazy chairs, the floors far dirtier than an ordinary house could be if it were never washed.’ By the 21st Century, the old building has been altered considerably and the owners together with their staff assure you of a warm welcome. The mountain situated right across from the hotel is the Buachaille Etive Mòr at the head of Glen Etive. Nearby is Glencoe (Gleann Comhann in Gaelic) one of the most spectacular places in Scotland. With a wild and haunting beauty, Glencoe is often said to mean ‘Glen of Weeping’, perhaps with some reference to the infamous Massacre of Glencoe which took place there in 1692. However, ‘Gleann Comhann’ does not translate as ‘Glen of Weeping’ rather the Glen is named after the River Coe which runs through it and bore this name long prior to the 1692 incident.

When you reach the road in Kinlochleven (B863), turn left and continue along the road. Very soon you will see Allt-na-Leven on your right just past the Highland Getaway also on the right and across the road from the Co-operative food store.

A laundry service is on offer (£10.00 wash & dry) and drying facilities for outdoor clothes only are available at no extra cost. Guests will be welcomed any time after 1500 hrs. There is a choice of establishments in the village for an evening meal (advance booking highly recommended). Packed lunches are on offer, please order upon arrival (up until 2000 hrs). Wifi available.

Kinlochleven, at the head of Loch Leven, 20 miles south of Fort William and 90 miles north of Glasgow, is a unique village, rich in natural resources and with a strong industrial heritage. The village developed in the 1900’s when the North British Aluminium Company built a hydro scheme and smelter in the area. As the smelter developed, so the population grew. At its peak the smelter employed over 800 people. The smelter closed in April 2000 but the sense of community continues. Now the growing popularity of the West Highland Way brings a steady stream of visitors to the village. Loch Leven is one of the most attractive lochs in Scotland and the village is surrounded by imposing mountains. To the north lie the Mamores, while to the south are the mountains guarding the north side of Glencoe.

As you approach Fort William and the Glen Nevis Roundabout you will see the signpost for the original end to the West Highland Way – the new end is in the town centre. To finish the Way continue along the road past the Glen Nevis roundabout, following the West Highland Way signs along Belford Road until you reach the town centre. Walk through the pedestrian precinct until you reach the end of the Way in Gordon Square at the west end of town. To reach Myrtle Bank continue to the end of the High Street and you will be at a roundabout. Take the second exit off the roundabout and continue along Achintore Road for approximately 350 yards/320 metres and Myrtle Bank is on your left hand side.

Laundry facilities are not on offer but drying facilities are available at no extra charge. Guests are welcome any time after 1430 hrs, please advise Dora if you intend to arrive after 1800 hrs. There is a wide variety of restaurants in Fort William for an evening meal (advance booking essential). Please note that Myrtle Bank does not supply packed lunches since there are ample supplies locally but there is the option to have a packed breakfast if leaving for early morning transport. Wifi available.

Fort William sits on Loch Linnhe with the majestic Ben Nevis, at 1344m Britain’s highest mountain, as its backdrop. The town takes its name from the fort that William Prince of Orange built in 1690. Fort William was successfully held by government troops during the Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745. However, the surrounding area saw great turmoil. Today, such a bloody past is difficult to imagine and the town is the main centre for visitors to the Western Highlands.