12-Day / 11-Night Moderate 🥾

From your point of arrival, use the public transport information we provide to make the journey to Milngavie.

Within minutes of leaving the town of Milngavie in the Glasgow suburbs you find yourself, as if by magic, in the fabulous Scottish countryside. Today’s hike is the perfect “muscle loosener” with peaceful woodland hikes and gentle farmland trails. You even have the chance to visit the famous Glengoyne whisky distillery – a wee dram will give you plenty of fuel for the hikes ahead!

Enjoy this wonderful hike to the edge of the Highlands. Wide tracks climb gently through Garabhan Forest before you cross some open moorland. The hike up to the shoulder of Conic Hill (300m) is the first real climb of this hiking tour – but the amazing views over Loch Lomond and the surrounding landscape make every step worthwhile. A steep descent brings you quickly to the loch-shore hamlet of Balmaha with its busy boating activities in the summer.

This is the first of several sections that follow close to the lakeshore as you walk along the ‘bonnie banks’ of Loch Lomond. Pass by sandy beaches, wooded islands, and hidden coves, where you can take a break and dip your feet in the water. The day finishes at Rowardennan, a small but captivating village nestled at the foot of Ben Lomond, Scotland’s most climbed mountain and its most southerly Munro (mountains over 3,000 ft).

Experience one of the most challenging but also rewarding sections of the trail, as you traverse the remote, and sometimes rugged, east shore of Loch Lomond. You face some steeper climbs and descents, as well as some rough and rocky terrain. But you are rewarded with spectacular views of the loch and its islands, as well as waterfalls, streams, and the tranquil forest. Inversnaid is an isolated, small hamlet beside the Arklet Falls, where you can rest and recharge.

Today’s section of the trail is similar to the previous hike, but a little less demanding. You still encounter some ups and downs, as well as some boggy and muddy areas. But you’ll also enjoy some beaches and fine lake views, as well as passing Rob Roy’s Cave and the Doune Byre Bothy. You end your day in Inverarnan at the northern end of Loch Lomond, a charming village with a historic ‘drovers inn’ that promises refreshments after your hike.

The trail from Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy follows the railway line through a beautiful glen. From Bridge of Orchy, you leave civilisation behind as you enter one of the more remote sections of the route. The views from Mam Carraig over Tulla Loch are terrific – just make sure to have the battery charged for your camera!

Hiking across the exposed Rannoch Moor may be the most enjoyable day of your trip or, if the weather misbehaves, the most challenging. When the sun shines, the views of the surrounding mountains are stunning. When it rains, there’s nowhere to hide. Either way, the trip will be memorable!

Today’s hike features a climb known locally as The Devil’s Staircase. With a name like that, it’s safe to assume that your legs are going to get a good work-out! But, here’s a little secret – it’s not that bad. And the views from the top over the Ben Nevis Mountain range more than make up for it.

A steep climb out of Kinlochleven gets the adrenaline flowing pretty quickly but as always, the spectacular scenery is adequate compensation. After the initial climb, an old military road rambles gently through the magnificent Glen Nevis valley. Eventually, you turn a corner and the formidable peak of Ben Nevis lies ahead of you. But that’s for another day – you descend instead along forest paths towards the town of Fort William.