2013 West Highland Way — Scotland, UK
This was the first long distance hike my girlfriend (now my wife) and I did together. When we started dating, she told me she would like to go backpacking. Romantic devil that I am, I bought her a backpack for Christmas and got plane tickets to Scotland. The WHW is a 96 mile walking path in Scotland that runs from Milngavie to Fort William. To save a little transportation cost, we chose to start in Glasgow and hike an additional 12 miles along the Kelvin Way to Milngavie. Adjacent to the trail is a highland distillery as well as a newly established national park. The trail can be day hiked with a luggage service carrying your belongings for you to your next bed and breakfast or hotel (if you so desire–we chose to camp and backpack the entire distance). We met people from all over the world including two of our best friends, Peter and Marcia, whom we have gone on several trips with since. This was a great first experience for us together and ignited our love of long distance hiking.
- Getting There
- Day 1 — Glasgow to Milngavie
- Day 2 — Milngavie to Drymen
- Day 3 — Drymen to Balmaha
- Day 4 — Balmaha to Rowchoish Bothy
- Day 5 — Rowchoish Bothy to Beinglas Farm
- Day 6 — Beinglas Farm to Strath Fillan
- Day 7 — Strath Fillan to Inveroran Hotel
- Day 8 — Inveroran Hotel to Kingshouse Hotel
- Day 9 — Kingshouse Hotel to Kinlochleven
- Day 10 — Kinlochleven to Glen Nevis Hostel
- Day 11 — Glen Nevis to Fort William on to Isle of Skye
- Day 12 — Isle of Skye: Portree to Glenbrittle Hostel
- Going Home