The West Highland Way is one of Scotlandâs most iconic long-distance walking routes, stretching 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William. Weâve been gagging to give it a go since we completed Hadrians Wall Path last year.
While many choose to backpack or book accommodation along the route, we decided to take a different approach â combining the freedom of walking with the comforts of our VW campervan.
With no backup crew, just the two of us and our dog, Jazz, we walked the WHW over 8 days, using a mix of strategic campsite bookings, cab transfers, and our trusty campervan as a moving basecamp.
Why This Approach?
Yes, it meant a bit more planning and a few cab fares, but we got the best of both worlds:
⢠Hot showers every night without setting up a shower tent
⢠Warm and comfy bed and home-cooked meals after long hikes.
⢠Dog-friendly and flexible travel.
⢠Average cost- accommodation and transfers: ~£83/night for two people + dog.
We could have wild camped to save money, but we value a real shower, comfy bed and a proper rest after hiking all day. For us, that trade-off was worth every penny.
đ Our West Highland Way Itinerary (Campervan-Style)
Style: South to North
Distance: 96 miles
Dates: Started walking Sunday 28th July and finished on Sunday 3rd August 2025
Setup: Campervan + daypacks + pre-booked taxis
With dog: Yes â all campsites and taxis dog-friendly
Day 0 â Arrive & Base at Drymen
We arrived in Drymen and set up the van at Drymen Camping for two nights. Itâs a great base to start from, walking distance to pubs and shops. This gave us a buffer day before starting the trail.
Day 1 â Milngavie to Drymen (~12 miles)
OS route here
We took a pre-booked taxi from Drymen to the official WHW start in Milngavie, then walked back to the van at Drymen Camping. Simple start, with easy and flat paths- good to get the legs going on day 1. We walked past Drymen campsite into the village and finished at the pub, The Clahcan. We had to walk back to campsite but saved 1.4 miles off day 2âs walk.
Day 2 â Drymen to Cashel (~11.25 miles)
OS Route here
We moved the van to Cashel campsite on Loch Lomond in the morning (about a 20-min drive), then took a taxi back to Drymen (Clahcan pub) to walk this section.
Cashel Campsite is scenic and a really lovely spot to stay for a couple of nights. We were blessed with amazing weather whilst here and were able to enjoy some million dollar cooking and eating views from our pitch – well worth paying for the premium loch side pitch.
Day 3 â Cashel to Inversnaid (~12 miles)
OS Route here
We walked from the campsite this morning on a beautiful but tougher section along the loch edge to Inversnaid Hotel. Weâd pre-booked a taxi to pick us up from there and take us back to Cashel. This is a long and expensive fare because itâs 1hr 15 mins back via road from Inversnaid hotel to Cashel site due to only one mountain pass route down.
Day 4 â Inversnaid to Beinglass Farm (~6.5 miles)
OS Route here
We moved the van to Beinglass Farm campsite early (a long journey -1 hr 15 mins). We were able to set up the van, then had a pre booked cab from Beinglass to Tarbet Pier, where we took a water bus boat across to Inversnaid, and walked back to the van. Slightly more complicated logistics, but it worked smoothly and was governed by the 11:45 water bus, so a later start walking but it felt like a holiday in a holiday! And the ferry journey was lovely!
The walk, despite only being 6 miles was very tough going. The path was very uneven, with clambering over huge boulders, tree roots and more. It was slow going and we were glad to be able to split this into two unlike most people who tack this onto our previous day (and then struggle hugely and in some cases quit the walk!) Despite a hard day/ the views were magnificent.
We very much enjoyed some post walk drinks in the renowned Drovers Inn. Established in 1705, it was originally a resting spot for highland drovers (cattle herders). Today, itâs known for its quirky, atmospheric dĂŠcor, taxidermy-filled rooms, traditional Scottish hospitality, hearty food, and live music. The inn combines rustic charm with ghostly legends, making it a popular stop for tourists exploring the West Highland Way.
Day 5 â Beinglass to Tyndrum (~12 miles)
OS Route here
We moved the van to Tyndrum Holiday Park in the morning, then got a taxi pick up and dropped back at Beinglass to start the walk. Easy trail day, with lovely views and following the old Military Road.
Day 6 â Tyndrum to Kingshouse (~19.4 miles)
OS Route here
A Long day! We walked the full stretch leaving the campsite Tyndrum Holiday Park at 7am and getting to Kingshouse at 4:30pm with refreshment stops at The Bridge of Orchy hotel, and Inveroran Hotel. Although big on miles, a thoroughly enjoyable and relatively easy walk.
Unfortunately, the A82 was closed due to an incident when it was time to transfer back, so our planned taxi couldnât reach us. Luckily, we managed to get a lift from a driver who had just dropped someone at Kingshouse. We shared the ÂŁ50 fare with two other walkers and got back to our van in Tyndrum. A reminder that whilst things had been smooth so far, logistical problems can hinder your day- which wouldnât affect you if youâre doing a point to point on route approach!
Day 7 â Kingshouse to Kinlochleven (~10.5 miles)
OS Route Here
We had a taxi to take us from Tyndrum to Kingshouse in the morning, then walked from there to Kinlochleven. Our taxi came back for us that evening and returned us to the van again in Tyndrum. This was our favourite day on the the trail, the views through Glencoe were absolutely outstanding. (We had amazing weather!)
Day 8 â Kinlochleven to Fort William (~15.7 miles)
OS Route here
Final day! An early start, We moved the van early to Glen Nevis campsite (very close to the finish line), then took a taxi back to Kinlochleven at 08:15 and walked the final leg to Fort William. A tough day on the trail but we got there, and there was a great atmosphere at the end in the Black Isle Bar with walking friends weâd encountered along the way!
đ Taxi Cost Summary
Days 1â3: Drymen Taxi Service â ÂŁ100
We pre-booked three journeys with Drymen Taxi Service about two months in advance. We paid the full ÂŁ100 at the end of Day 3. All journeys were prompt and smooth and not at all a reflection of their reviews online. We thoroughly recommend Ian and his team.
Drymen â Milngavie
Cashel â Drymen
Inversnaid â Cashel
Days 4, 5 & 7: Crianlarich Cars â ÂŁ170
We used Crianlarich Cars for five legs over three days. Ian (owner) and Jimmy (his deputy) were absolutely brilliant â always early, helpful, and flexible when plans had to change due to road closures.
Beinglass â Tarbet Pier ( for the waterbus to Inversnaid)
Tyndrum â Beinglass
Tyndrum â Kingshouse
Kinlochleven â Tyndrum
(Flexible extra support when A82 was shut)
Day 6: Kingshouse â Tyndrum â ÂŁ50 (shared)
The A82 closure made it tough to coordinate transport. We were supposed to have Crainlarich cars to collect us but a 9 hour road closure between Crainlarich and Tyndrum meant he couldnât get to us although he was insistent heâd come as soon as the road reopened no matter what time so we were never stranded. Luckily though, we got an on-the-spot taxi from someone whoâd just dropped off walkers at Kingshouse. Shared with 2 others, our portion came to ÂŁ25.
Day 8: Glen Nevis â Kinlochleven â ÂŁ60
We used Nevis Cars to get us from Glen Nevis Campsite (near the finish) back to Kinlochleven so we could walk into Fort William. Quick, reliable service.
Total Taxi Costs: ÂŁ380
Bus Alternatives â Why We Didnât Take Them
Letâs talk about buses. Yes, they were an option. A significantly cheaper one, in factâwe reckon we couldâve saved around ÂŁ175 on transfers by using public transport instead of taxis. Tempting, right?
Thereâs a solid bus service that runs from Beinglass/Inverarnan all the way up to Glencoe Mountain Resort (which is just about a mile before Kingshouse). Two companies operate this stretch: Citylink and Ember. The problem? Citylink doesnât allow dogs. Ember doesâbut their buses are far less frequent.
We looked into it. Properly. But the Ember timetable just didnât work for us. It wouldâve meant either ridiculously early starts or hanging around for hours waiting on connectionsâparticularly tricky when coordinating with things like the waterbus.
At one point, we even considered piecing together a two-bus journey from Glen Nevis to Kinlochleven. But again, dogs were taken at the driverâs discretion. We just couldnât risk being turned away, especially when that wouldâve meant starting a 15-mile day at nearly midday.
In the end, the taxisâwhile costlyâgave us what we needed: flexibility. They worked around our timings, whether we were ahead of schedule or dawdling. So yes, it stung the budget a bit, but we donât regret it. The ease and adaptability made a big difference, and for us, that was worth the spend.
đ Final Thoughts
This van + taxi setup worked brilliantly for us. It let us hike light, sleep well, eat brilliantly and keep the dog comfy too. The trade-off was having to manage transport logistics, but it was 100% worth it for the flexibility and rest between days.
This setup would suit anyone who:
-Has a campervan (but not too big as Drymen only take small vans) and doesnât want to move every day
-Is hiking with a dog or young companion
– Wants to avoid carrying heavy gear
-Prefers campsite comforts to wild camping
-Doesnât mind organising things ahead of time
Would we do a multi day linear hike again in this fashion? Absolutely! We loved it and for us it couldnât have been more perfect. Itâs fiddly at times, you have to think outside the box sometimes but the satisfaction of completing it with Gandalf the Grey was just brilliant!
Things we found useful for planning and during our trip!
Please note some of these Amazon items are linked to my affiliate account and if you order through the link I will receive a few pence income per item ordered
Toe liner socks – anti blister
Smidge – vital for this time of year
If you find this page useful and can see yourselves using it for your own adventure, perhaps youâd consider Buying me a beer đş.
Wow. Well done the 3 of you. Where next?
We havenât decided yet. Weâre bunkered down at Glen Nevis til the storm passes. Then weâll be following the weather for a couple of weeks!