Walking the West Highland Way: What Maps Do You Need?

Walking the West Highland Way: What Maps Do You Need?

For the West Highland Way you have three map options: a large-format 1:50,000 route map showing the full 96-mile trail in detail, a compact 1:185,000 overview map ideal for planning and general orientation, and GPS-compatible OS tiles for walkers who prefer digital navigation. Which one you need depends on how you plan to navigate, and most serious walkers will want more than one.

The Route at a Glance

The West Highland Way runs 96 miles (154km) from Milngavie, on the northern edge of Glasgow, to Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis. Opened in 1980 as Scotland's first official long-distance route, it is now walked by around 40,000 people per year, making it the most popular long-distance trail in Scotland and one of the busiest in the UK.

The route divides broadly into three sections. The first third follows the eastern shore of Loch Lomond through the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, passing through the lochside village of Rowardennan and the remote inn at Inverarnan. The middle section crosses the open expanse of Rannoch Moor, the most remote terrain on the route, and descends through the dramatic glacial scenery of Glen Coe. The final third climbs to the high point of the walk at the Devil's Staircase (548m), drops down to Kinlochleven, and makes a final push north over the Lairig Mor to Fort William.

Most walkers complete the route over 7 to 8 days, though 6-day and 9-day itineraries are common. The standard direction is south to north: Milngavie to Fort William.

Option 1: The 1:50,000 Large-Format Route Map

The West Highland Way Route Map is the most detailed printed map available for the full trail. Produced at 1:50,000 scale using up-to-date Ordnance Survey data, it shows the complete 96-mile route divided into four sections on a single large-format sheet (920mm x 1,040mm at full print size).

At 1:50,000 scale, 2 centimetres on the map equals 1 kilometre on the ground. This level of detail is sufficient for confident navigation on the West Highland Way: you can clearly identify paths, tracks, roads, rivers, settlements, and contour lines showing the shape of the land. The West Highland Way route itself is highlighted throughout, making it straightforward to follow even where the trail intersects with other paths or forest tracks.

What the 1:50,000 map shows:

  • The full route from Milngavie to Fort William, highlighted end to end
  • Campsites and bunkhouses along the route
  • Key waypoints, road crossings, and staging towns
  • Surrounding landscape: glens, lochs, mountain features
  • Contour lines at 10-metre intervals

This is the map to carry if you want the security of detailed paper mapping and prefer to navigate without relying on a phone or GPS device.

One practical point: at 920mm x 1,040mm, this map is designed for large-format printing (A0 or similar), ideal for planning on a wall or table, or for printing at a print shop before the walk. It is not a pocket map.

View the West Highland Way Route Map: 1:50,000

Option 2: The Compact 1:185,000 Overview Map

The West Highland Way Compact Route Map covers the full route at 1:185,000 scale on a single 60cm x 80cm sheet, a scale more commonly associated with road mapping than walking maps.

At this scale you lose the fine trail detail of the 1:50,000 version: individual paths, field boundaries, and contour lines are not shown. What you gain is the ability to see the entire route from Milngavie to Fort William on one clear sheet, with all major staging points marked and the West Highland Way highlighted throughout.

The compact map is best used for:

  • Route planning: reviewing the full itinerary, identifying staging points, understanding how the sections relate to each other
  • Overview orientation: quickly establishing where you are in relation to the overall route
  • After the walk: as a clean, decorative wall map showing the route you completed

Many walkers use the compact map at home in the weeks before the trip, then carry the 1:50,000 map on the route itself.

View the West Highland Way Compact Route Map: 1:185,000

Option 3: GPS-Compatible OS Tiles

For walkers who navigate digitally, using a GPS device, OS Maps app, or GIS software, the West Highland Way OS Tiles provide the same underlying 1:50,000 OS mapping data in geo-referenced tile format, ready to load into your device.

The set covers the full route with eight OS map tiles at 1:50,000 scale (tile references: NS46, NS48, NS28, NN20, NN22, NN24, NN06, NN26), spanning the full corridor from Milngavie to Fort William. Once loaded into a compatible GPS unit or mapping application, they give you the same OS Landranger-level detail as the printed 1:50,000 map, with the added ability to track your position in real time.

Who the GPS tiles are for:

  • Walkers who have switched entirely to GPS or smartphone navigation and want current OS mapping on-device
  • Those who want a digital backup alongside a printed map
  • Anyone using GIS software for route analysis or planning

The tiles are supplied as geo-referenced files in a single zip download. Please check that your GPS device or software supports this format before purchasing.

View the West Highland Way GPS Tiles: 1:50,000

Which Map Do You Need?

For walking the route: the 1:50,000 route map is the right choice. It gives enough detail to navigate confidently on the trail without needing to carry multiple OS Landranger sheets.

For planning at home: the compact 1:185,000 map gives the clearest overview of the whole route and is the most practical format for planning your daily stages.

For digital navigation: the GPS tiles load the same 1:50,000 OS data directly onto your device. They are ideal if you already use a GPS device and want OS mapping rather than an app-derived base map.

Many walkers buy both the 1:50,000 route map and the compact overview map: the large-format map for on-route navigation and the compact for planning and as a keepsake after the walk.

Practical Notes for West Highland Way Walkers

Accommodation: The route passes through or near Drymen, Rowardennan, Inverarnan, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Bridge of Orchy, Kingshouse, and Kinlochleven before finishing in Fort William. Accommodation books up well in advance, especially for summer weekends. Plan your stages before booking.

The Rannoch Moor crossing: The section between Bridge of Orchy and Kingshouse crosses approximately 12 miles of open moorland with no shelter. Weather can change rapidly. Carry the map, know your exit options, and do not underestimate this stretch.

Season: The route is walkable year-round, but conditions vary significantly. Summer (May to September) offers the longest days and most reliable weather, but also the most other walkers and the worst midges. Spring and autumn are quieter; winter adds significant navigation difficulty and requires appropriate experience and equipment.

Browse West Highland Way Maps

All West Highland Way maps are available as instant digital downloads, produced under Ordnance Survey licence (number 100048957):

Looking for maps for other Scottish long-distance routes? Browse the full route map collection, including the North Highland Way, Borders Abbey Way, and St Cuthbert's Way.

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