Walking the Way in Warmer Weather

Kirsty and Josie from Skye walked the West Highland Way in August and sent us their top tips for walking during one of the hottest weeks of the year, along with some fantastic pictures of their adventures.

• Sun protection – even in Scotland, it is important to consider sun protection.  Apply sunscreen at the start of the day and reapply it as needed on longer days.  Ensure you have a hat – consider a broad-brimmed one; if you are walking the traditional south-to-north route, the sun is on your back virtually the whole way, so you need to protect your neck.

• Leave early - Consider starting early in the day to avoid the hottest time, typically in the mid-to-late afternoon.  We were on the road by 8 am each morning (breakfast was available in most accommodations from 7 am) and were never later than 3:30 pm, arriving at our destination, which allowed for a time of relaxation and leisure before the next day’s stretch. 

• Hydration – start your day well-hydrated and refill your water carriers along the way.  We each carried 1.5 litres of water at the start of the day and refilled as we went from taps located outside hotels/facilities along the way. This is not available on the final stretch between Kinlochleven and Fort William. Beware of drinking from streams; if there has been little rain in the preceding week, the streams may not be flowing as fast, and there may be animal contamination higher up the water course.  If you are relying on natural water supplies, use a filter to avoid infection – that will really ruin your adventure.

• Toilet facilities – the availability of formal facilities varies from stretch to stretch.  If you plan to complete the walk over 7 days and therefore link the Tyndrum – Inveroran – Kinghouse legs, please note that you cannot access the toilet facilities at Inveroran until after 12:00 noon.  When choosing a “wild” spot to relieve yourself, be aware of the risk of picking up ticks, which is considerably higher in areas with bracken.