From Kinlochleven to Fort William, West Highland Way

The 7th stage of the West Highland Way (WHW) brings us to beautiful surroundings at the bottom of the Mamore massif. Afterward, you cross clear forests where you can spot some views of the highest mountain in Great Britain, 'Ben Nevis'. Then you arrive in Fort William city where the official end of WHW walk is located.

Technical sheet

28425759
A Highland walk posted on 04/11/22 by Netra. Last update : 15/08/23
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 24.20 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 8h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 502 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 507 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 333 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5 m
  • ⚐
    District: Highland 
  • ⚑
    Start: N 56.714316° / W 4.963078°
  • ⚑
    End: N 56.820717° / W 5.106355°

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Description

Start : Lochaber Road (B863), at River Leven right riverside, Kinlochmore. Grid ref. NN 187 619

The official WHW waymark to follow: waypost with the "iconic little logo of a thistle with arrows on either side" + waypost - waymark with a yellow arrow when there is a change in direction."

(S) Follow Lochaber Road North-North-West, ideally on the safe left side pavement (the one on the right is not constant.) Cross the river.

(1) Leave the road (B863) and the path that goes right (North-West) towards Fort Williams. Go up in the woodland. At the Y-junction, take the path left.

(2) Cross a minor road and carry on on the path ahead, always going uphill. Ignore paths coming from left and bear right. Follow several turns.

(3) Cross the ford using the footbridge. As you arrive at an open area carry on up.

(4) When you get to a wider path bear left: this used to be an old military road, and follow it for around 10Km. Start to go slowly downhill.

(5) Start going uphill again between summits which are around 750m height on the left and 950m on the right side.

(6) Past an unnamed pass then start to go downhill. Go past the ruins of an old small fort then carry on downhill.

(7) Go past a gate and carry on the path bearing North-West.

(8) Go round the stockyard by its left. Carry on the path through newly planted and clear woods.

(9) Cross a wider path and, at the information board, bear right on a path going up (North). Climb this little hill to get to a junction (that not appears on the map).

(10) Carry straight on through the ferns then on the hillside. Go up a little hill and slighly go down a light wood.

(11) Cross the footbridge and carry on bearing North-East where alternate short climbs and downhills. Note in front of you a view of Ben Nevis (highest summit in Great Britain).

(12) Cross another footbridge and carry on North-East.

(13) Past a waypost and start going up hill.

(14) You then reach a wider path, bear right here and carry on going up hill for a little more.

(15) At the junction, carry on straight ahead and go down hill towards "Braveheart Car Park''.

(16) Reach another bridleway and bear left.

(17) At the junction, carry straight on towards Braveheart Car Park (leave WHW for a moment as it goes right, this way will avoid you around 1Km of pavement).

(18) At a Y junction, bear right and accross the car park to reach a road.

(19) Follow the road left, on the left side pavement (there is no pavement on the right side). After around 1.25Km, reach a roundabout which is the original WHW ending point.

(20) Go round the roundabout on its left and carry on toward the town centre.

(21) Aftter around 1Km and before a roundabout, bear right. Walk along the main road on the left and turn right to reach Fort William train station entrance. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 12 m - Lochaber Road, Kinlochmore
  2. 1 : km 0.59 - alt. 17 m - Start of the walk - Lochaber Road
  3. 2 : km 1.22 - alt. 78 m - Minor road
  4. 3 : km 2.08 - alt. 215 m - Footbridge
  5. 4 : km 2.32 - alt. 245 m - T-junction with a bridleway
  6. 5 : km 3.06 - alt. 240 m - River crossing
  7. 6 : km 5.88 - alt. 332 m - Pass
  8. 7 : km 8.98 - alt. 287 m - Gate
  9. 8 : km 10.46 - alt. 242 m - Stockyard
  10. 9 : km 12.31 - alt. 190 m - Junction with a bridleway
  11. 10 : km 13.22 - alt. 248 m - Junction
  12. 11 : km 14.24 - alt. 221 m - Footbridge
  13. 12 : km 15.83 - alt. 219 m - Footbridge
  14. 13 : km 16.65 - alt. 211 m - Waypost
  15. 14 : km 17.24 - alt. 269 m - T-junction with a bridleway
  16. 15 : km 17.44 - alt. 271 m - Junction
  17. 16 : km 20.29 - alt. 57 m - Junction
  18. 17 : km 20.88 - alt. 52 m - Junction
  19. 18 : km 21.79 - alt. 30 m - Y-Junction
  20. 19 : km 21.95 - alt. 17 m - Braveheart Car Park
  21. 20 : km 23.23 - alt. 17 m - Official WHW end point
  22. 21 : km 24 - alt. 10 m - Detour
  23. E : km 24.2 - alt. 5 m - Fort William Station (Gare de Fort William)

Useful Information

Start: Lochaber Road (B863), at River Leven right riverside, Kinlochmore. Grid ref. NN 187 619

Facilities: Fort Williams : pubs-restaurants, shops, supermarket.

Accommodation: At the end (A) Several accommodations are possible, just search on your favorite online search engine.

Local transport to get back to Glasgow:
- Daily train to "Glasgow Queen Street Station. Timetable at ScotRail'' Cost around £32/pers (august 2019)/
- Daily buses. Timetable and cost: check out Citylink.
Bus and train timetables allow you to think of your way straight back to Glasgow at the end of your walk if you wish.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

During the walk or to do/see around

- From (4) to (8) beautiful and wild landscapes at the bottom of really high hills.
- From (11) to (17) beautiful viewpoints on Ben Nevis, highest mountain in Great Britain.

Other walks in the area

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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