Video by Catherine Tweedie.
Continue your West Highland Way experience in Gallery 2.
Would do it all again in a minute :)
“My best friend & I had been meeting for walks to get us through lockdown, before we knew it we were smashing 15 miles each time & decided to do the WHW! Both in our 40’s & having always wanted to achieve this, we did it in May 2021 & during WHW’s 40th year! We had wind, rain, sunshine but most of all lots of laughs, the most amazing experience ever! And finished off by completing Ben Nevis!”
Shona MacKinnon
WHW Illustrated Map
As a legacy from the West Highland Way’s 40th anniversary celebrations, this illustrated map by Neil Thomson is currently on display in Balmaha Visitor Centre.
“A beautiful feeling”
I wrote a few words after coming back from the WHW, in an attempt to hold onto the beautiful feeling I experienced when walking through the woods, fields and hills of Scotland:
”Walking out of the city into undisturbed fields where life had long transitioned into a dream-like fairy tale. The air feels so refreshing as it gradually expands, and I can finally take up as much space as I wish, in my breathing, my hopes, my dreams. At last, the realisation emerges that there was once a life prior to the pandemic.”
Maja Kaczmarek
Louisa sent us in the above poem inspired by her WHW experience in May 2021.
“I ran 46 miles of the WHW in a day on Saturday 29th May this year, I had planned to run it over two days but due to an ankle injury on day 1, I had to make do with the 46 miles from Milngavie to Crianlarich. This journey in itself was incredible, the most beautiful run I have ever done, running around Loch Lomond just kept on blowing me away with its beauty, it is what got me through the tough trail.”
“Once my ankle has fully healed I will be back next year to finish what I started and reach the end of the WHW in 2022.
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“How lucky we are to have this beautiful trail in the UK!”
Tigh-na-sleubhaich
On the Old Military Road, around 5km from Kinlochleven, you will find this ruined cottage, which means "house beside the gullied slope" in Gaelic. Many walkers have a photo of this in their collection, but from many different angles - and in various weather conditions!
The selection below are from Carolyn Reddell, Stephanie Price, Rachel Clarke, and Stephen McComb.
Stephen walked the Way in June with his 16 year old son. He said:
“In summary, a great hiking trip enjoyed for the magnificent views, good company and space to daydream. I would recommend it to others. There are many ways to do parts or all of it for people of various levels of fitness or available time.”
Loch Lomond, Bill Shinehouse
Of course, not as many international visitors could walk the Way this year as usual, but a few still made it, including Caitlin and Bill Shinehouse from the US.
“My husband and I recently (yesterday) completed the WHW and truly enjoyed our experience.
At times it was certainly physically challenging, but the views and small towns along the walk were worth it. Our favorite aspect of the walk was the people we met during our journey. It was fun seeing the same faces on the trail and at our accommodations and we enjoyed talking to those who were just walking a section.
The WHW has been on our bucket list for a while and was postponed from last year due to the pandemic. We’re grateful that we were able to complete the walk this year.”
Enjoy some more of your photos from 2021 below. Thank you to all who contributed!
Matt Foster - Highland Cow on Conic Hill
Hayden W. Bell - Peacock Butterfly
Carolyn Reddell - Deer at Kingshouse
Laura Barton with loyal companions Chester (lab) and Flint (collie)
Hayden W. Bell - Dorain et al
Kinlochleven, Caitlin McPhee
Bridge of Orchy, Gillian McGaffin
Rachael Disbury - Cloud inversion
We hope you have enjoyed this 2021 collection of West Highland Way stories.
Take some time to explore the rest of this virtual exhibition or return to 2021 Collection Gallery 1.
If you can, please make a donation below to support the maintenance of Scotland’s premier long-distance route.