Looking to walk the West Highland Way but avoid the crowds? Want to explore the larger mountains nearby, embark on serious backpacking trips, or continue north from Fort William? This guidebook takes the best of the Way and adds to it, offering detailed access, public transport, and facility information, over 100 photos, 1:50k OS mapping, detailed route description and overview maps. The routes are perfect for walking from April to October and suitable for backpackers of all levels. The guide's four parts are: Mountain alternatives to eight of the nine stages of the WHW. Use the conventional overnight stops but divert onto mountains during the day for some Munro-bagging (Ben Lomond, Beinn Chabhair, Ben Lui, An Caisteal, and Beinn a'Chròin), plus smaller fells like the Mamores and Campsie fells. Beginner backpacking trips with two two-day routes around Fort William's outskirts: the back of Ben Nevis and Taynuilt to Bridge of Orchy. Divergent routes north through remote glens and over mountains. Start from Dumbarton or Arrochar, cross the main WH way at Inverarnan, then cross Ben Lui and Loch Etive, Kinlochleven, Loch Treig, Lairig Leacach, and finish at Spean Bridge. Extend your journey from Fort William with multi-day excursions like Corrour to Dalwhinnie, Fort William to Inverie, Spean Bridge to Cluanie, or Cape Wrath expeditions.

Table of Contents:
Introduction The High Road and the Low When to go Safety in the mountains Maps How to use this book A Winter Not the West Highland Way Part 1 The High Road and the Low Milngavie to Drymen 1 Hill Option: the Campsie Fells Drymen to Rowardennan Rowardennan to Inversnaid 2 Rowardennan Outing: Ben Lomond 3 Hill Crossing: Ben Lomond to Inversnaid Inversnaid to Inverarnan 4 Hill Crossing: Beinn a' Choin 5 Inverarnan Outing: Beinn Chabhair Inverarnan to Tyndrum 6 Hill Crossing: Ben Lui 7 Crianlarich Outing: An Caisteal and Beinn a' Chroin Tyndrum to Inveroran 8 Hill Crossing: the Back of Beinn Dorain 9 Inveroran Outing: Ben Inverveigh and Meall Tairbh Inveroran to Kings House 10 Hill Crossing: Black Mount Kings House to Kinlochleven 11 Hill Crossing: Beinn a' Chrulaiste and the Blackwater Kinlochleven to Fort William 12 Hill Crossing: Mamores 13 Hill Crossing: More Mamores 14 Fort William Outing: Ben Nevis by the CMD Ar&##xea;te Part 2 Beginnerish Backpacking The excitement is in tents Midges are unpleasant May is the month Shoulder-strengthening short trips The off-route food-fetching formula Stuff, stuffsacks, and throwing it all away 15 A mostly gentle two-day: the Back of Ben Nevis 16 A wilder two-day: Taynuilt to Bridge of Orchy Part 3 Away from the Way 17 Dumbarton Start 18 Wrong side of the Loch: the Arrochar Alps 19 The Etive Trek 20 Blackwater and the Lairig Leacach 21 Routes of Rannoch Part 4 Roads to the Deep North 22 Corrour to Dalwhinnie 23 Fort William to Inverie 24 Spean Bridge to Cluanie and even Cape Wrath Appendix 1: Access Appendix 2: Useful information Appendix 3: Further reading