Things we learned along the (West Highland) Way

If you’re thinking of walking the West Highland Way, here are a few random things we discovered during the course of our trip…

1. It’s not as hard as we feared it might be.

When you’re used to hill-walking and the uneven paths of the Lake District, the Dales or even the Chilterns, it is slightly disconcerting to discover that so much of the WHW is on old military roads and wide tracks and that there are only a limited number of steep sections – which make for relatively easy walking. This also means that…

2. It’s a very companionable walk.

Not only can you walk side-by-side with other walkers, you will also meet a lot of different people walking the same route, staying in the same places and drinking in the same bars. And…

3. There’s always someone older, slower or less fit than you on the Way.

If they can walk 95 miles, so can you! The only way I would be mistaken for Julia Bradbury was if she was 10 years older, 3 stones heavier and had a slightly dodgy knee – and yet I did it. And so did a dog wearing a Three Peaks coat (which had also walked the Coast to Coast, annoyingly).

4. 95 miles is enough of a challenge, you don’t necessarily need to make it more difficult.

Just because assorted Dutch, German and French adolescents seem to want to complete the walk into the shortest possible time, whilst carrying the biggest backpacks imaginable, this is by no means compulsory – after all, you are supposed to be enjoying yourself. We met people who hated the Inversnaid to Beinglas Farm section of the walk, because they were already exhausted by the time they started it – yet we remember it as one of the best sections of the walk.

5. It’s OK to use a baggage transfer service.

There’s nothing wrong with getting to the end of a day’s walking and finding your bag full of clean, dry clothes. Likewise, camping is not compulsory!

6. It’s very difficult to get lost.

The West Highland Way is probably one of the best signposted and most obvious paths we’ve ever walked on – and the maps in the Trailblazer Guide make it even easier to see where you are and how much longer you have to walk that day.

7. Hope for the best but plan for the worst.

You’re definitely going to need a decent pair of walking boots, waterproof trousers and jacket, a hat, some gloves, a compass, a whistle, a torch etc. If half this stuff stays in your bag the whole way round and never sees the light of day, fantastic. If you’d prefer to be the French student who got lost in the dark and was trying to use her mobile phone as a torch when the rescue people picked her up in the early hours, that is of course another option.

8. It’s probably best to think of it as fuel rather than food.

This is how you justify the cooked breakfast plus porridge plus snacks plus hearty meals plus beer – after all, you’re burning off plenty of calories walking! Oh, and whilst you might turn your nose up at the idea of a cheese and baked bean pasty, let me assure you that when you’re sitting on Rannoch Moor in the rain, it is a mightily tasty experience.

9.  You don’t really “get away from it all”.

You’re never too far away from the A82 – and if there is an emergency en route, there are enough people walking the Way for help to be close at hand. But you do end up in remote locations, far enough away from satellite TV, mobile signals and the internet to switch off and enjoy the fresh air and scenery.

10. The mountains never look as impressive on your photos as they do in real life.

(Either that or we need to buy a better camera).

Finally, as soon as you reach the end, you’ll want to plan your next long distance walk. 100% guaranteed.