Notices

Update from Forestry and Land Scotland: Garadhban

Harvesting work is now complete in the Garadhban area and all trails are open. The West Highland Way diversion has been removed.

 

Updated: 31/07/2020

WHW and Covid19/Coronavirus

Facilities will gradually be reopening along the West Highland Way from 3 July as the 5 mile guidance on travel is relaxed (for most of Scotland), along with self-contained holiday accommodation (3 July) and outdoor hospitality (6 July).

Some of the services and accommodation providers will also start reopening from 15 July but it is essential for you to check with each business, book ahead and check latest guidelines before setting out.  Please do not expect everything to be back to normal – follow latest guidance on physical distancing, face masks and hygiene, be sensitive to local communities and do not meet in large groups.

As long stretches of the West Highland Way are within the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, please read their advice to visitors.
The West Highland Way Management Group is monitoring the Coronavirus situation closely and following advice from the Scottish Government and the NHS.  We recommend that you do the same.
Any further updates will be added to this page www.westhighlandway.org/notices
Other useful links are:
Updated: 29/06/2020

WHW 40th Anniversary campaign and Exhibition Coordinator

We are looking for a creative consultant to work on an exciting campaign this summer which will celebrate the West Highland Way and culminate in an online exhibition in the autumn.

The West Highland Way stretches 96 miles (154km) from Milngavie to Fort William and attracts a growing number of UK and overseas visitors. This year, the route celebrates its 40th anniversary but at a time when people are unable to travel far or walk the full route yet, our campaign will remind everyone how beautiful our landscape is and why Scotland’s No 1 long distance route is well worth the wait until you may head out to the hills once again.

You will be a good communicator and media savvy. You will ‘put out a call’ to all walkers of the West Highland Way to send us, digitally, their best photos, stories, memorable moments, quick videos and comments to share from their own West Highland Way experience over the past 40 years. You will sift, select and curate the material for display to showcase the beauty and majesty of the views; the fun, laughter and tears along the route; the friends our walkers journeyed alongside and encountered along the way. You will liaise with the originators of the creative content on stories and usage rights and work with our West Highland Way Business Development Manager to develop short films, an online show and some physical exhibition material which can tour to communities along the Route and to other places. The outputs will be a legacy of this special anniversary project which has funding support approved by the LEADER programme.  For more information about the West Highland Way visit https://www.westhighlandway.org/

Consultant: With social media, photography, film-making and/or marketing expertise.
Contract: 10 – 12 weeks, starting late July 2020
Location: Working from consultant’s own home or studio. Formal reporting base is at Carrochan, HQ of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, Balloch G83 8EG

This short-term consultancy role will deliver the campaign and 40th anniversary exhibition as an element of a much bigger Project Plan towards the future sustainability of the West Highland Way. Sound marketing and engagement with local businesses and communities is involved, so excellent communication, influencing, negotiating and organisational skills are essential.

Degree qualified or equivalent in a related discipline, you’ll have a proven track record in achieving excellence in project and contract management. As someone who has experience in developing and delivering events or exhibitions, you will thoroughly plan how to approach, develop and deliver this campaign and its associated outputs to a high quality and within the timeframe available, exploring and maximising on any additional potential opportunities. You will be confident, credible and proactive and will instil confidence and trust from colleagues in your professional advice.

If you want to grasp this opportunity to play a key role in contributing to the development and sustainability of one of Scotland’s most iconic long distance routes, then please visit our website for details about how to apply: www.lochlomond-trossachs.org or www.westhighlandway.org.

Please submit your quotation via Public Contracts Scotland by 12 noon on Monday 6 July 2020. Further details are also available on this link.

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN388513

The National Park Authority is committed to equal opportunities for all and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Closing time and date: Noon, Monday 6 July 2020

Provisional Interview date: Wednesday 15 July 2020

This project is being funded by the LEADER programmes of Forth Valley and Lomond, Argyll and the Islands, and Highland. LEADER is funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Scottish Government.

Added: 19/06/2020

Wildfire warnings

Scottish Fire & Rescue have issued warnings about the high risk of wild fire due to prolonged dry and windy weather that we have been experiencing. For further information please see here

Added: 21/04/2020

WHW Diversion for Timber Harvesting

Timber harvesting works will be taking place from Craigievern to the Millburn area at Garadhban at the end of March 2020. All trail networks North of the car park barrier will be closed of to keep all members of the public out of the active harvesting site.

The West Highland way will have to be diverted during this time and the Millburn trail will be closed.

Please see map attached for further information.

Added: 17/03/2020

WHW 40th Anniversary Workshops

Thank you to everyone who attended the business workshop at Milngavie Golf Club on 4 March.  We are looking forward to welcoming businesses to Fort William for the second workshop on 11 March  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/west-highland-way-workshop-tickets-94378321099.

Further information will be sent out in due course but, if you have any queries in the meantime, please email whw@lochlomond-trossachs.org.

Added: 09/03/2020

Closure at Balmaha Visitor Centre

Balamaha Visitor Centre will be closed from Monday 20th January until the end of March 2020.

This is to facilitate improvements to the Visitor Centre facilities, including an upgrade and reconfiguration of the toilets, increasing the number of toilets available, and installing new smart bins to reduce litter and cut down our carbon footprint.

While we recognise that closures are not ideal, this work is being scheduled to minimise impact as much as possible and will be completed ahead of the busy summer season.

While the improvement works are ongoing alternative toilet facilities can be found nearby at the Oak Tree Inn or at Milarrochy Bay.

You can read more about the works at: https://bit.ly/2RgBaOq.

 

Added: 21st January 2020

Update

The West Highland Way between Inversnaid and Crianlarich sustained some storm damage at the end of Summer 2019. The section has remained open, however extra care should be taken especially in poor weather conditions.

Please follow the diversion signs that maybe in place on this section due to any repair work taking place.

Useful numbers:

Any further updates will be placed on www.westhighlandway.org

Updated: 19/02/2020

Timber Harvesting – Garadbhan Forest

The West Highland Way will be diverted at the entrance to Garadhban Car Park from 14th October until January 2020 to allow walkers to avoid the area where timber harvesting work is being carried out. This diversion will not extend the walking time of the long distance trail. Please obey all site signage and advice from any on site operators during this time.

Added: 4th October 2019

Timber Harvesting – Duntreath

Timber operations are due to start towards the end of the week commencing 24th June on Duntreath Estate. There is a section of the site that requires an access road for timber lorries to cross over the West Highland Way. Please see map below showing the areas of operations.

Contractors will ensure that all approaches, on the path and access road, have the appropriate warning signs in place and will continuously monitor these to ensure they stay in place.

Added: 25th June 2019

Top up taps installed on West Highland Way

Scottish Water have installed a top up tap in Milngavie at the start of the West Highland Way and another in Fort William at the end of the route.

See video here to find out more!

                                                 Added: 2nd April 2019

Livestock on West Highland Way

Please be aware that sections of the route go through working farms where livestock will be present, not all sections are able to have diversions.

Please pay particular attention when walking with dogs as there will be sheep with lambs and cows with calves along the route. Both can be easily disturbed and also could potentially be a danger, see advice below:

The information below is a short summary of the key things to remember from the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

The Access Code says:

Access rights apply to people walking dogs as long as their dogs are kept under proper control. Your main responsibilities are:

  • Farm animals:
    • Never let your dog worry or attack farm animals.
    • Don’t take your dog into fields where there are lambs, calves or other young farm animals.
    • If you go into a field of farm animals, keep your dog(s) on a short lead or under close control and keep as far as possible from the animals.
    • If cattle react aggressively and move towards you, keep calm, let the dog go and take the shortest, safest route out of the field.

For further information see the Scottish Outdoor Access Code website here

Scottish Six Day Trials

The Scottish Six Day Trials are an annual event which has taken place in the area around Fort William since 1977.

The event itself has little impact on the West Highland Way, but you are likely to come across spectators who may use the path to access the Trials route. You may find that while the Trials are taking place, Fort Williams can be busy with spectators and support crews.

You can find more information on the trials at http://www.ssdt.org/.

Keep it clean

Our forests are at risk from tree pest and diseases. Tree diseases can travel. That’s not new but the increase in global trade and the impacts of climate change mean the foresters are tackling an increasing number of problems at once.

Pests and diseases can hitch a ride in mud and debris on your shoes, dog’s paws and bike tyres, ending up in new forests. We’re doing everything we can but we need your help too.

Before a forest visit, make sure you’ve cleaned your shoes, your bike, your kit and your dog too.

This helps slow disease spread, preserving our woodlands now and for future generations. Together we can help control the spread of diseases.

For more information visit https://forestryandland.gov.scot/keep-it-clean

keep-it-clean-graphic-2

Latest updates: https://www.westhighlandway.org/notices/ Please Think, Check and Plan ahead.