Loram, C: West Highland Way

INTRODUCTION West Highland Way History 8 - How difficult is it? 9 How long do you need? 10 - When to go 12 PART 1: PLANNING YOUR WALK Practical information for the walker Route finding 17 - Accommodation 18 - Food and drink 22 Money 24 - Other services 25 - Walking companies 25 - Information for foreign visitors 26 - Walking with dogs 28 - Mountain biking 29 Budgeting 29 Itineraries Village and town facilities 31 - Which direction? 32 Suggested itineraries 32 - Hillwalking side trips 33 Day and weekend walks 34 What to take Keep your luggage light 35 - How to carry it 35 - Footwear 36 Clothes 37 - Toiletries 38 - First-aid kit 38 - General items 38 Sleeping bag 39 - Camping gear 39 - Money 39 - Maps 40 Sources of further information 40 - Recommended reading 42 Getting to and from the West Highland Way National transport 42 - Getting to Britain 43 Public transport map 46 - Local transport 48 PART 2: MINIMUM IMPACT WALKING & OUTDOOR SAFETY Minimum impact walking Economic impact 49 - Environmental impact 50 - Access 53 Outdoor safety Avoidance of hazards 56 - Weather forecasts 56 - Water 57 Blisters 57 - Bites 57 - Hypothermia 59 - Hyperthermia 60 PART 3: THE ENVIRONMENT & NATURE Conserving Scotland's nature Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) 62 - Campaigning & conservation organisations 63 - Beyond conservation 64 Flora and fauna Flowers 65 - Trees 67 - Mammals 71 - Reptiles 74 Butterflies 74 Birds 74 PART 4: GLASGOW City guide Orientation 78 - Arrival and departure 78 - Getting around and to Milngavie 79 - Services 82 - Festivals & events 83 - Where to stay 83 - Where to eat and drink 87 - What to see and do 91 Walking from Glasgow to Milngavie 95 PART 5: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS Using this guide 99 Milngavie to Fort William Milngavie 100 Milngavie to Drymen 103 Drymen to Balmaha 116 Balmaha to Rowardennan 121 Rowardennan to Inversnaid 128 Inversnaid to Inverarnan 134 Inverarnan to Crianlarich 139 Crianlarich to Tyndrum 143 Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy 149

Charlie Loram was the series editor who developed this British Walking Guides series for Trailblazer. He has hiked in the Himalaya as well as in Wales and Scotland. Fifth edition updated by Bryn Thomas, who set up Trailblazer in 1991 to produce the series of route guides for adventurous travellers that has now grown to over 40 titles. His first book was the Trans-Siberian Handbook,which was shortlisted for the Thomas Cook Travel and Guide Book Awards. Subsequent publications have included Trekking in the Annapurna Region, also published by Trailblazer, and guides to India, Britain and Europe, co-authored for Lonely Planet.