Walking and Climbing

Hi all,

I am new here.

I am planning a hiking trip in Scotland next week. Have spent some time going between the West Highland Way or the Great Glen Way options. From what I've seen, the WHW can be quite busy but is somewhat more challenging, whereas the GGW is quieter and less challenging.  I think both offer opportunities for wild camping, but I understand that the WHW might be more difficult to do this? I'd just like the experience here in the UK.

I have about 8 days from Friday. This timescale would suit the WHW, but not really anything more. It would suit the GGW plus a climb up Ben Nevis.

Any recommendations?

If your navigation/carrying a few days food will stand it then I wouldn't try and to do either. Certainly not closely.

They're very much based around needing to arrive in B&B accomodation at a regular basis after reasonably short days rather than camping. The sheer variety of options with a tent could be a bit mind blowing of course but many rather better.

One problem with the WHW could be those recent camping restrictions round Loch Lomond. I'd assume easy to avoid by various diversions and camping in the hills somewhere (or the other side of the Loch), but potentially tricky if staying on route.

(unclear cf details.).

The GGW website describes it as ' low-level and following mainly towpaths and woodland tracks', which would certainly worry me a bit as regards wild camping.

Yeah - I saw the WHW new restrictions, and they came in force at the beginning of June. I think it's along a 10-mile stretch of the Loch.

The GGW does have designated free 'wild camping' areas along the way, but I was just wondering more what sort of quality of a walk it is compared to the WHW. I guess they've both got their respective features, but was looking for a consensus. I really do not want to B&B it! 

Are you suggesting to hike off the trails? I suppose there must be other, less populated walks in those areas. 

Yes and very much so

About the only thing you'll lose are the very clear paths/waymarking, and the very easy resupply. If you're happy without those, you get an awful lot of options.

Not the fault of the WHW/GGW designers, as they're restricted to work as B&B trips. But its a major restriction.

Something like Scottish hill tracks (the scottish right of way society) lists a huge amount of options in terms of old through routes etc. Or sundry other books.

Tricky with so little time to work it out/choose of course.

Glenfinnan-Glen Dessary-Sourlies-Inverie-Barrisdale-Kinnlochhourn-Shiel Bridge-Glen Lichd-Glen Affric-Cannich.

That's a starter for you. Easy transport links at both ends.

Montgomery Wick wrote (see)

The GGW is a dull plod and the WHW, while passing through better landscapes, has essentially become a Braveheart rite-of-passage for Glaswegian neds. There's a reason 'wild' camping has become an issue on the latter. They're both walks for people who don't really like walking. I'd be looking at options like the ones above.

Well, I didn't see any baseball-capped, trackie-wearing scratters when I walked it.

The reason wild camping has become an issue around Loch Lomond is the aforesaid scratters lighting fires and leaving piles of rubbish on the east bank, which is easily accessed by car.  Nothing to do with neds actually walking the WHW.