West Highland Way Highlights
West Highland Way
Plan your West Highland Way Walk
I am lucky to live on the route of the West Highland Way, close to some of the most stunning sections of the trail. Here are some highlights for the part of the trail that goes through Loch Lomond. If you want more detailed section guides use the links below:
Plus some other planning guides to help you:
Camping along East Loch Lomond
Marketing Services
Video, Photography & Websites
Milngavie, start of West Highland Way
Milngavie
Milngavie at the start of the walk has been enhanced in recent years with new signs and information panels. In addition, Scottish Water has installed a helpful water top-up tap that has been well received.
The first stage of the walk is to Drymen, a typical first night stop for the West Highland Way walkers. You will find the wonderful Glengoyne Distillery along the mainly gentle walk, which may tempt you in for a tour and a wee dram.
Glengoyne Distillery
The Clachan, Drymen
Drymen
The village of Drymen has many places to stay, along with some pubs, including The Clachan, the oldest licenced pub in Scotland. If you want to eat at The Clachan, and you should as the food is excellent, I recommend booking in advance.
For public transport, there is a bus service that links Balmaha with Balloch. At Balloch, you can get a train to Glasgow and then Milngavie, a bit of a long journey to take you back to the starting position.
Conic Hill, Loch Lomond
Conic Hill
Back to the walk, and once you have cleared the forest in the section after Drymen, you will get your first glimpse of Loch Lomond in the distance. You can also see Conic Hill in the distance; this is where you will be walking for the next few hours.
Some excellent views reward the climb of Conic Hill; by now, you’re pretty close to the loch. The elevated position provides incredible views of Loch Lomond and its islands, not to mention Ben Lomond in the distance.
From here, it’s down the busy path towards the lochside village of Balmaha.
Tom Weir Statue, Balmaha
Balmaha
Balmaha is well worth spending some time at. You can read more about the village in our guide (linked below). Highlights in the village include the excellent Oak Tree Inn and St Mocha Coffee Shop, The Tom Weir Statue and the trips to nearby Inchcailloch Island by wooden ferry boats.
It’s a beautiful village, very popular at weekends and during the summer. From here, the West Highland Way route will take you very close to the eastern shores of Loch Lomond.
At Balmaha, there are toilets in the Oak Tree, St Mocha & National Park Visitor Centre. There are bus links to Drymen, Balloch and Alexandria, with the latter two linking with train stations, where you can catch a train to Glasgow. From May to September, water bus services connect with the village of Luss on the western shores of Loch Lomond. There is no public transport onwards to Rowardennan.
Milarrochy Bay, Loch Lomond
Milarrochy Bay
A few miles from Balmaha is Milarrochy Bay, with its much-photographed tree. There are toilets here and local information.
Local Photographer
Weddings & Family Photo Sessions
Rowardennan Youth Hostel
Rowardennan
At Rowardennan, you can climb Ben Lomond. There is a boat service that connects with Tarbet on the west side of the loch. Rowardennan is the end of the road; the only way of getting to Inversnaid is by foot. Read our more detailed guide to this stretch of the route at the link below.
Arklet Falls, Inversnaid
Inversnaid
Inversnaid is home to an RSPB reserve, plus Inversnaid hotel which is next to the impressive Arklet Waterfall. There are boat transfers from here to locations along the western shores of the loch.
West Highland Way, near Inverarnan
Inverarnan
Please read our guide (linked below) to the route between Inversnaid and Inverarnan. It’s a more challenging stretch of the route, but very enjoyable with some excellent views. You’ll walk past Rob Roy’s Cave and see some stunning views of the northern end of the loch and its islands.
There is an on-demand ferry to Ardlui Hotel, which will give you access to a train station. Once at Inverarnan, you can catch the regular coach service along the A82 linking Glasgow with Skye.
Thanks for reading
Words and photography by Paul Saunders. Visit Paul’s Marketing and Photography websites for details of his services in Scotland.
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Buy our guidebook, 101 Things to Do in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, packed with attractions, views, and activities to enjoy.