Interestingly the best time to do the West Highland Way is not in peak summer! You may or may not have heard of the infamous insect that plagues Scotland during the summer months – the dreaded midge. The midge is no joke (Scotland now even has midge forecasts!) and can seriously ruin your walking holiday.
Plan smart and do your research on the best time to do the West Highland Way to ensure you are able to bask in the sweeping beauty of the Highlands rather than peering out at it through a midge net!
The West Highland Way can in fact be trekked throughout the full 12 months of the year, however only highly experienced trekkers should attempt it in winter. I do not advise anyone to trek the West Highland Way during the winter months. You may see photos of people trekking the trail in Winter but these are most likely just locals who know the route and the weather very well. Generally there will be snow on some of the trail in winter.
The best time to do the West Highland Way is in April, May or September. The midges don’t usually emerge until the beginning of June and have normally petered out by early September.
One of my favourite times to walk the West Highland Way is around Easter, you may see a light dusting of snow on the mountain tops and the air is crisp and cold. The landscape, a hundred shades of earthy tones, sepia, caramel, mocha – has yet to turn green. As the trees are still bare views such as Loch Leven on the last stage of the way are unobscured. In April, the weather will be chilly, especially in the mornings. April sees fewer folk on the trail and accommodation is easier to book although expect demand over the Easter holidays. Photos above and below are hiking the Way during the Easter holidays.
May is the most popular month to walk the trail and if you hope to do so, you must book very early as accommodation gets booked up very quickly. May sees the longest hours of sunshine and the least amount of rainfall normally each year. Midges do start to appear mid June but these are normally the non-biting males – the biting females tend to arrive early to mid June.
May sees the bright bloom of the yellow on the gorse bushes which are marvellous – a shocking pop of welcome colour to brighten up the dullest day. During May you may have some short detours on the trail due to the lambing season and those with dogs will need to put them on a leash or avoid certain areas. Normally there are clear signs in place but please be vigilant.
During May you’ll witness the incredible swathes of bluebells on the banks of Loch Lomond towards the northern end (above) These are truly stunning. You’ll also experience the bright pop of yellow as the gorse comes into bloom. On the first stage you’ll wander through bluebell laden Mugdock woods.
September and October is also a lovely season to walk the way. It’s much quieter on the trail and the colours of the landscape change dramatically.
One thing to remember when you are planning your West Highland Way is that the weather in Scotland is famously fickle. Never has it been more true when we say ‘all four seasons in one day’! You need to expect any kind of weather so good quality outerwear and boots are crucial on the West Highland Way.
The best time to start the West Highland Way is mid-week, rather than on a weekend.
