Notices

WHW and Covid19/Coronavirus

Some facilities along the West Highland Way are closing for winter earlier than usual this year. As per Scottish Government guidelines it is essential for you to check with each business, book ahead and check latest guidelines before setting out. Guidance on travel and transport can be found here.

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. Businesses in more remote spots may be operating limited menus and hours or may not be open at all – please ensure you check ahead and have enough supplies.

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

Route Update –Blackwater Dam Hydropower Development

Construction work is due to start at beginning of Dec 2020, and the targeted completion date is Autumn 2021. During this time various activities will be undertaken on a daily basis including access track construction, penstock (pipeline) burying, and intake construction.

The West Highland Way will remain open through out this time but there may be occasions that you will be asked to wait until the excavator is clear of path before continuing along the route, banksmen will be present (please take instruction from them) and there will be signage erected to help guide you safely across the site.

Notices will also be displayed at both Altnafead and Kinlochleven informing walkers of the works.

Contact details for the development are:

Phone – 01738 493110
Email – info@greenhighland.co.uk

See below for map of location.

Updated: 01/12/2020

Route 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:

Ardlui Hotel: 01301 704243
The Drovers Inn: 01301 704234
Beinglas Campsite: 01301 704 281
Cruise Loch Lomond: 01301702356
Citylink Buses: 0141 352 4444
Waterbus timetable
Scotrail

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

Updated: 29/09/2020

Timber Harvesting – Duntreath

Timber operations are due to start towards the end of the week commencing 24^th 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.

Scottish Water have produced this short video about the taps.

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