From Kingshouse Hotel to Kinlochleven, West Highland Way

Start : Kingshouse Hotel (PH49 4HY). Grid ref. NN 259 546

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) With your back to the hotel, go left and, at the corner of the hotel, turn left again. Cross the river and reach a T-junction.

(1) Turn left (West) following a minor road at the bottom of Beinn a' Chrùlaise summit.

(2) After one kilometer or so, leave the tarmac road and take a path on the right (gate). Go slowly up the hill then stay on the hillside (West).

(3) Go through a gate and carry on the path parallel with A82. After around 800m, cross a wider path and carry on alongside the road. Cross the bridge over the river then a footpath over the ford.

(4) As the road bends left, turn right (North). First, walk up along the side of the ford. The incline will become more important as you walk.

(5) Walk along several turns following the famous Devil's Staircase. Nothing too hard in this ascend; it helps to easily reach an unnamed pass, the highest point of this whole walk. (cairn).

(6) Carry on North and start to go downhill. After crossing two fords, go up a little bit again. Carry on North then go down following a few turns.

(7) Cross a river over a footpath then slowly go down bearing North-North-West. Past the cairn and enjoy the view of Kinlochmore, our goal.

(8) Reach a wider path, follow it on the left leaving a pond below on your right. Go down into the woods. Ignore the start of the path on the right and walk along the reservoir on your left-hand side.

(9) Cross a footbridge over a river just before the dam, bear right and carry on going downhill on the wider path.

(10) Carry on going downhill along pipelines on your right-hand side. At the bottom, bear right and go over the pipelines.

(11) Just after, diagonally walk towards B&B Forest View. Cross the footbridge with the blue handrails. Bear left leaving the bridge and ignoring a footpath on your right. The gravel path soon becomes paved: go straight ahead on Wades Road.

(12) As soon as you reach a bus stop, turn left on a paved footpath. Walk along the riverside on your left-hand side and reach 'Lochaber Road' in Kinlochleven city centre. (E)

Start : Kingshouse Hotel (PH49 4HY). Grid ref. NN 259 546

Gears :
Waterproof walking shoes. Waterproof gears. Warm clothes depend on how you handle the cold. Spray against midges.

Terrain :
This walk is relatively simple to follow and the route is well-signed at the junctions. An OS Explorer map is recommended or route on a smartphone. (Think about downloading your map offline before departure.)

Food and drink:
Take water and food before departure.
(E) In Kinlochleven, pubs, restaurants, supermarkets and shops on the left side of the river.

Accommodation at the end (E)
- Tailrace Inn, Riverside Road. Tel : + 44 - (0)1 855 831 777. Pub-restaurant.
- MacDonald Hotel, Fort William Road. Tel : + 44 - (0)1 831 539. Pub-restaurant.
- Forest View B&B, Wades Road. Tel : + 44 - (0)1 855 831 302. This one is not a restaurant but offers to prepare picnics for the next day. (You need to order the previous day £6/pers in August 2019).

- Between (S) and (4) nice walk with beautiful viewpoints of the surrounding.
- Waypoint (6) this is the highest point in the walk, beautiful viewpoint (when there is no clouds)
- Waypoints(8), (9) and (10) reservoirs, small dam,s and pipelines showing hydro-electrical activity in the region.