Map of Classic Walks of Scotland including United Kingdom

Soak up the scenery on Scotland’s best walks

Sample some of Scotland’s best walks like the West Highland Way and the Great Glen Way and conquer Ben Nevis - the highest peak in Scotland and the entire United Kingdom – with two expert guides by your side. Fort William, a charming town located on the shores of Loch Linnhe, is famous for being the gateway to Ben Nevis and will be your home away from home on this trip which takes you through an ever changing landscape that is famous for its Scottish culture, dramatic landscapes, and breathtaking natural scenery. Add a charming English town and atmospheric pubs to enjoy at the end of each day and this walking trip has it all.


Start
Fort William, United Kingdom
Finish
Fort William, United Kingdom
Destination
United Kingdom
Style
Original
Theme
Walking & Trekking
Code
BWXF
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 14

Why you'll love this trip

  • Located on the shores of Loch Linnhe, Fort William is a charming town that makes for the perfect base for your trip. Unpack once, settle in, and enjoy a warm welcome back at the end of each day.

  • Safety always comes first – let your experienced and qualified leader show you the way as you take in spectacular scenery on some of Scotland’s best walks.

  • Conquer Ben Nevis - the king of Scotland walks – with two mountain guides who will provide plenty of encouragement and help you scale the mountain at your own pace.

  • Taste the West Highland Way and experience the best of it – Devil’s Staircase and the final stage leading you to Fort William – and enjoy a leisurely ramble along the Great Glen Way.

  • This trip is as green as it gets. We only use public transport and our accommodation can be reached from major cities in the UK by train.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This is a walking trip. Please carefully read descriptions of all the walks as you will need a good level of fitness to fully enjoy all the included hikes.

  • Scottish weather can surprise – in good and bad way – so be prepared for lovely sunshine but also rain, wind, and lower temperatures. Please make sure you have good walking boots, rain gear, warm clothing, and sun protection for this trip.

  • On day 4 we will climb Ben Nevis. While the group will be led by 2 qualified guides, it is important you are aware that the trek will take almost entire day.

  • This trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations and working with new partners can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.

Itinerary

Welcome to Fort William! This charming town enjoys a dress circle location on the shores of Loch Linnhe and is known as the gateway to Ben Nevis, the United Kingdom’s highest peak. You may recognise the spectacular scenery in the surrounding area from the Harry Potter movies where the Hogwarts Express travelled from Fort William and crossed over the incredible Glenfinnan Viaduct. After you’ve settled into your accommodation – there’s no packing and unpacking on this centre-based trip - meet your leader and the rest of your group at a Welcome Meeting then enjoy an easy hike to stretch the legs, perhaps to a ruined castle on a historic battle site.
Included Activities
  • Fort William - Fort William Orientation Walk
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting at 3pm this afternoon as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or Intrepid know.

This trip is as green as it gets so please consider travelling to Fort William by train from or bus. It is easy to reach Fort William using public transport from destinations throughout England and Scotland.

Today’s walk is a gentle ramble with minimal elevation.
Catch the local bus or a private transfer (40 mins) to nearby Glencoe where we will hike the West Highland Way from Glencoe to Kinlochleven, over the famous Devil’s Staircase. It’s a bit of a hike to the top but the main climb isn’t too taxing as the trail zigs and zags up the mountain. Keep an eye out for deer as you take in the tranquil views on this occasionally challenging but rewarding hike. There’s no need to walk back to where you started on this point-to-point walk as a short transfer will takes us back to Fort William for a relaxing night at our comfortable accommodation.
Included Activities
  • Fort William - Devil’s Staircase Guided Hike
  • Fort William - West Highland Way Guided Hike (Glencoe to Kinlochleven Section)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s driving time is approximately 1 hour and the today’s walking distance is 16 kms (10 miles) with 562 metres (1840 feet) elevation gain.
After a hearty breakfast, we will take the morning bus to Kinlochleven and hike the final stage of the West Highland Way which was Scotland’s first designated long-distance hiking route. Travelling over a pass and through a valley back to Fort William, this stage of the West Highland Way is the official end point of the West Highland Way and the start point of the Great Glen Way which we will also get to enjoy on Day 5 of this trip. See if you can spot red deer dotted across the lush countryside and golden eagles soaring overhead as you travel along this famous hiking route. Tonight you may like to join your group for dinner at a Fort William restaurant or a cosy pub.
Included Activities
  • Fort William - West Highland Way Guided Hike (Final Stage)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s driving time is approximately 1 hour and the today’s walking distance is 25 kms (15 miles) with 811 metres (2660 feet) elevation gain.
Today is the highlight of your Scotland walking trip, the ascent of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland and the entire United Kingdom. The name Ben Nevis means 'mountain with its head in the clouds' in ancient Gaelic and the trail showcases a diverse and stunning natural landscape. This walk is considered a must do by hikers around the world but it’s not a walk in the park so you’ll need good physical preparation and a strong will to get to the top. To make our ascent easier, our group will have two experienced guides who will share their expertise and give us the support and encouragement we need to complete the climb and finish our day on a natural high. Tonight, rest your legs and enjoy a relaxing evening at your comfortable accommodation in Fort William.
Included Activities
  • Fort William - Ben Nevis Guided Hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s walk is approximately 16 kilometres (10 miles) with an elevation gain of 1341 metres (4400 feet).
We’ll enjoy a relaxing hiking day today with very little elevation gain as a celebratory victory walk after conquering mighty Ben Nevis. The famous Great Glen Way starts near our accommodation in Fort William and follows the banks of the Caledonian Canal to the tiny settlement of Gairlochy. From here, we will follow a charming country lane to the nearby Commando Memorial which offers amazing views across the Ben Nevis mountain range before finishing in Spean Bridge. Here, we will jump on a local train for the short ride back to Fort William.
Included Activities
  • Fort William - Great Glen Way Guided Hike via Caledonian Canal to Gairlochy
  • Fort William - Commando Memorial Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s walk is approximately 19 kilometres (12 miles) with an elevation gain of 189 metres (620 feet).
After breakfast, we will head out for our final hike with great views across Ben Nevis and the surrounding area. Starting directly from our accommodation, we will hike into Glen Nevis and then head uphill to reach the summit of Cow Hill. It’s a steep climb but we will be rewarded with fantastic views of Glen Nevis and the many peaks which surround it, as well as across Fort William to Loch Linnhe and beyond. It’s a memorable place to finish the trip and look back on a wonderful week of Scotland walks. A short steep descent completes the circuit and takes us back into Fort William by 1pm, giving you time to catch a bus to Inverness or a train south to Glasgow.
Included Activities
  • Fort William - Cow Hill Guided Hike
  • Fort William - Glen Nevis Guided Hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s walk is approximately 10 kilometres (6 miles) with an elevation gain of 474 metres (1555 feet).

Meals

5 breakfasts

Transport

walking, Public bus, Train

Accommodation

Bed & Breakfast (5 nights)

Included activities

  • Fort William - Fort William Orientation Walk
  • Fort William - Devil’s Staircase Guided Hike
  • Fort William - West Highland Way Guided Hike (Glencoe to Kinlochleven Section)
  • Fort William - West Highland Way Guided Hike (Final Stage)
  • Fort William - Ben Nevis Guided Hike
  • Fort William - Great Glen Way Guided Hike via Caledonian Canal to Gairlochy
  • Fort William - Commando Memorial Visit
  • Fort William - Cow Hill Guided Hike
  • Fort William - Glen Nevis Guided Hike

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Classic Walks of Scotland trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This trip starts at 3pm in Fort William on Day 1 and finishes at 1pm in Fort William on Day 6. Please book your onwards travels accordingly.
3. Fort William can be reached either by the sleeper train from London or by bus from Inverness (2 hours) or by a long but scenic train ride from Glasgow (5 hours).
4. Pre and post tour additional accommodation, arrival and departure transfers are available to book upon request, subject to availability. Please contact your Travel Consultant for more details.

Essential trip information

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