Q: When should I travel to Glasgow?
Q: Where can I find accommodation if I decide to travel the day before the walk begins?
Q: Where is Milngavie?
Q: How do we get to Milngavie?
Q: Where do we have to be to start the walk, and what time?
Q: What if I am going to be late?
Q: What about lunch on the first day?
Q: Will we get a chance to stop for a break?
Q: Where can I visit the toilet?
Q: How hard will the walking be?
Q: How long will we be walking each day?
Q: How will I feel throughout each day?
Q: What if I have any medical problems during the day or night?
Q: What will the weather be like during the summer months?
Q: Can I drink the water from the streams & Lochs along the Way?
Q: What can I do to look after my feet?
Q: What is the Hostel accommodation like?
Q: What happens to our baggage and what's the routine on reaching the accommodation?
Q: What about our meals? What about lunches for the next day?
Q: When do we start and finish each day?
Q: Why do we sometimes have to travel back and forward to our accommodation?
Q: Is the accommodation likely to change from the program?
Q: What happens when we reach the finish?
Q: When will I book my trip back home?
Note* Should you have any other questions or queries, please do not hesitate to ask at any point during the event.
A: We strongly recommend that you travel to Glasgow on the Saturday, this not only ensures that you won't be delayed by trains etc, but leaves you only a small journey on Sunday morning, to Milngavie (pronounced 'Mull-guy'). If you choose to stay overnight on Saturday this will ensure that you have a good night's rest before the walk begins on Sunday morning - Highly recommended!
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A: By going to our links page you will find detail of accommodation in and around Milngavie that you can book prior to you trip. Or alternatively you can contact us by email or telephone us and we will pass on to you further details of accommodation providers in the area.
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A: Milngavie is situated approx 8 miles north of Glasgow City Centre, on the outskirts of Glasgow.
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A: Depends on where you are staying on Saturday evening, you can stay overnight in Glasgow City Centre and travel by taxi the next morning to Milngavie, the journey will take you around 15min. If you are travelling to Milngavie on Saturday, there are regular buses running to Milngavie from the City or alternatively you can get a taxi.
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A: The walk will start from the train station in Milngavie at 10.30am on the Sunday morning, where you will be met and introduced to your Guides. We advise that you are there for 9.30am to allow us time to load your luggage etc, and the opportunity to give a final quick talk on safety, and to take the group photo.
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A: If you think you are going to be late on Sunday morning for whatever reason, you must contact us immediately on the contact numbers you have been provided with. If you have requested accommodation for Saturday we will provide you with the accommodation phone number, to also let them know that you may be late arriving.
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A: Your first days lunch will be given to you on arrival at the start in Milngavie. When you book you will be given a 7 day lunch request form to complete, this must be submitted no later than 4 weeks before the event, if you don't complete this form we will make up lunches for you!
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A: Yes, there will be regular stops and breaks throughout the day to allow for you to have a bite to eat and to answer that call of nature. The transport will also meet us at certain locations along the Way, to let us have some light refreshments such as tea, coffee, orange juice and replenish our water bottles.
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A: Where do you think? The Great Outdoors! There's bushes, trees, ferns, walls etc just use these at your discretion, but if you really don't fancy that idea then there's the odd pub or inn you could visit along the Way, but these are few and far between.
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A: The walking will be fairly straight forward over undulating ground on normally good tracks, the walking will be kept at a leisurely pace throughout based on the pace of the slowest members - Remember it's not a race!
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A: Approx 12 to 14 miles a day and around 5 to 8hrs of walking with one longer day. The longer day, day 5 of which is around 19 miles (Tyndrum to Kingshouse) will take a little longer, although the tracks are excellent on this day.
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A: You should feel fairly comfortable each day provided you look after yourself; by doing such things as ensuring a good nights sleep, eating meals, eating and drinking during each day also - And most importantly looking after your FEET!
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A: Your Guides are fully trained first aiders, and provided that your illness or injury is nothing too serious, will treat you with what ever is necessary at the time, they all carry first aid packs and are experts on blister care & prevention which can be the biggest concern on a trip such as this, due to the amount of time on your feet. The Guides will always be in radio contact with each other, and also the support vehicle, should anything more serious occur when walking.
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A: Who know's! We organise The West Highland Way trips from May to September, within these months you can get all sorts of weather - so be prepared! The worst thing that you will probably experience on your trip will be the dreaded Scottish Midge, so make sure you have plenty of repellent with you, its also worth considering purchasing a Midge hood from any good outdoor shop, which can be invaluable when under full attack!
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A: No! Although some of the streams that run directly off the mountains, we would advise against doing so, for example there may be something like a dead deer lying in it further upstream, which I think would make you rather unwell. Fresh water will be available in morning and hopefully once or twice throughout the day. Everyone should be carrying at least 2ltrs with them each day.
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A: As I mentioned previously blisters are the greatest concern on a trip such as this, although a relatively minor injury, the blister can cause discomfort and disability out of all proportion to its medical significance. We recommend that a pair of well broken in boots are used in conjunction with a quality pair of walking socks (Thorlo's) and that they are washed and changed regularly. Also the use of foot powder is strongly recommended, and should be applied in the morning before you start walking, and at least once or twice throughout the day. Should you feel any symptoms of a blister starting such as a rubbing or hot spot beginning to develop, put your hand up, and one of the Guides will sort you out - Do not leave it too late! Remember keep your feet in good order by - Keeping them clean, making sure that toenails are kept short, clean socks each day, use of foot powder, well fitting boots, laces not too tight or too loose, wearing of flip flops or sandals in the evening to give your feet a chance to breathe and recover, and finally, it may be possible to wear training shoes on some days, ask your Guides and they will advise you.
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A: Most people imagine bunkhouses and hostels to be like a massive dormitory with wooden floors and rows of beds - wrong! Hostels and bunkhouses are nothing like that at all, they have both male and female wings, with the rooms ranging from 2 bedded rooms, up to 10 bedded rooms and family rooms also. The rooms are carpeted and the beds have both clean linen and duvets, all are well maintained and comfortable. Within the hostels there are shower facilities, separate dining and kitchen areas.
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A: When you reach your accommodation, you will be given a key to your allocated room which you will share with other members of the party, if there are other individuals sharing the same room outwith our party, your bags will be kept under lock and key in another room of ours until your arrival, from here you are in your own time to have a shower, go to the local inn for a drink - or go to bed! Its up to you.
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A: A two course meal will be served at each overnight location at a nearby inn or hotel, transport will be provided to and from these locations where necessary. You may be provided a meal ticket to present to the hotel/inn staff, these will be issued at the end of each day. Breakfast will be provided by your guides/support staff, you will have the choice of a cooked breakfast or cereals each morning prior to your walk - you will also be asked at some stage prior to your trip, to complete a breakfast menu form - this is to assist us with our catering plans throughout the week. Packed lunches will be distributed each morning after breakfast, and will have your name written on.
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A: 9 - 9.30am is the normal start of each day, and look to finish anytime between 4pm and 7pm. The exception is to day 5 (Tyndrum to Kingshouse) when we will make a start around 8.30am. But what about the final day! 5.30am breakfast with a start time of 6.40am... (Kinlochleven to Fort William) this gives us an early finish time in Fort William, and lets you arrive back into Glasgow at a sociable hour where you may have transport to catch back home.
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A: The reason we have to do this is that, The West Highland Way is very limited to accommodation that can support groups, therefore we sometimes have to go off route slightly to find such accommodation, or as in most cases, using the same accommodation for 2 nights. Whatever the case we try our very best to make sure that you are comfortable, and that we cause you, the least amount of inconvenience.
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A: No, you will spend 2 nights at all 3 locations Rowardennan, Crainlarich and Glencoe.
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A: When we finish at Fort William, we'll have a quick celebration (a wee drink!) and the presentation of certificates. Before we head off for Glasgow, the bus will take us on the short trip into Fort William, and to the shower facilities that will be made available for us. Once everyone is washed and changed we'll make our final journey back by bus, to the drop off point at Milngavie or Glasgow Central Train station for the individuals travelling home that evening.
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A: We would advise that you make sure you book your return trip back home, for Saturday evening (as late as possible) or you may wish to stay overnight to Sunday, if so please make sure you book this well in advance.
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