154km. 8 Days. Countless Midgees. Zero Regrets.

Walking the West Highland Way for a good cause—and an even better adventure.

The Hike Begins 🥾

After a crack-of-dawn wake-up and a delayed train from London to Glasgow, we hit the West Highland Way trail at 4:30pm from Milngavie… with 19km still to go and only a few hours of daylight left. Packs loaded (13kg for me, 9kg for Lisa), we power-walked our way to Drymen—arriving just before the 8pm campsite check-in cutoff.

Highland cows, rolling paddocks, and a race against the sun. Tent went up, rain rolled in, no dinner was had—just essential oils on the feet and sleep masks on. Day one done.

Day 2 – Hills, Views & Highland Hospitality

After drying off and grabbing our WHW passports (yes, we’re motivated by stamps), we tackled the notorious Conic Hill—a steep 301m climb made worth it by stunning views of Loch Lomond.

We met fellow hikers from all over: English rugby players, German tourists who thought we were mad for carrying full packs, and a Polish couple who chatted politics and tennis with us.

27km later, we reached the Rowardennan Pub, utterly exhausted. A Guinness, dinner, and the kindness of a youth hostel who let us camp in their forest restored us. We collapsed to the sound of Loch Lomond’s wind, sore but fulfilled.

Day 3 – Rocks, Roots, Mud & Madness

23km of pure scrambling over rocks, roots, and steep slopes—this was the toughest day yet. Even a seasoned Swiss hiker agreed.

We arrived at Beinglas Farm, paid extra for a raised tent with a mattress (worth every penny), and refuelled at the Stagger Inn with haggis, curry, Guinness, and our first encounter with the dreaded midgees—tiny, persistent, and merciless.

By 6pm, delirium had set in. Singing nursery rhymes, laughing through the pain… but still walking for the cause.

Day 4 – Fighter Jets, New Friends & Global Coffee

We woke up under attack (again) from midgees, fuelled up with a Freddo Frog and full Scottish breakfast, and tackled 19.5km through dramatic terrain and open pine forests.

A highlight? A NATO fighter jet screaming overhead just as we paused for lunch in the middle of nowhere. Blink and you'd miss it.

We met hikers from all walks of life—including a legend in his 70s walking from Land’s End to northern Scotland and back—in a pink bowler hat, no less.

We camped in Tyndrum, shared South African Shiraz with fellow Aussies, and debated the quality of Foster’s on tap in Scotland (verdict: “a bit bland,” but the locals love it).

Day 5 – Into the Heart of the Highlands

A shorter 15km day brought easier terrain and jaw-dropping scenery. Rolling giants and rugged peaks surrounded us as we meandered through the Highlands.

Scones, fighter jets (again!), and finally a bit of sunshine before rain rolled into the stone village of Bridge of Orchy. Wild camping by the river under moody skies felt like stepping into a Scottish fairytale.

We spotted deer, ate venison sausages and salmon with whisky sauce, and fell asleep to the sound of the river trickling over stones.

Still no Highland cows.

Day 6 – Red Alert: Midgees Incoming

Waking up in Inveroran meant one thing: midgee madness. A full red alert on the Midgee App. We ran uphill, arms flailing, faces covered in nets, laughing hysterically.

We climbed through stunning valleys under moody skies, stopped for wild-brewed Ukrainian coffee on a rock, and ducked into Kings House Hotel for shelter (and a haggis sausage roll we’re still thinking about).

Dinner came with sunset views and whisky, made possible by our new mate Liam, who let us enjoy the guest-only lounge with zero fuss.

Day 7 – Skyfall, Staircases & Fist Bumps

“Today is going to be a great day,” Liam said, fist-bumping Lisa, who was still reeling from her slow-leaking mattress.

And he was right.

We passed the Skyfall filming location, climbed the brutal Devil’s Staircase, and were rewarded with stunning views and new friends—including two forensic photographers who were thrilled to be taking “pretty pictures for once.”

We descended into Kinlochleven, had our first real rest day (showers! roast dinners! carrot cake!), and got utterly swarmed by midgees once again while setting up our final camp.

Day 8 – Wet. Wild. Wonderful.

We finished the West Highland Way in the most poetic Scottish fashion: soaked, sore, and totally spent.

We powered through 26km of relentless rain, mist, and boggy tracks, past Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak, cloaked in cloud. The final descent into Fort William was long and painful—Lisa was limping, but determined.

At the statue of the man rubbing his sore feet, we cried, laughed, and cheered.

154km over 8 days. For a cause that matters.

Why We Walked 💚

Every blister, every climb, every midgie bite… was for Hope Street—helping young people at risk of homelessness in Australia.

We met people from all over the world. We ate our body weight in haggis. We camped in forests, by rivers, and under Highland skies. And we saw parts of Scotland that stole our hearts.

And most importantly, we walked every step with purpose.

Thanks to your support, encouragement, and generosity, we raised $3,788.66 AUD for Hope Street.

Together, we made every kilometre count. 💚