Walk from Milngavie to Drymen

Approaching Dumgoyne on the West Highland Way route

How far is it to walk between Milngavie and Drymen?

This first stretch of the West Highland Way, between Milngavie and Drymen, is 12 miles (20km). It will take around 5 hours at a reasonably leisurely pace. Before we get started, let's dive into some top tips and background information about this iconic Scottish long-distance walking trail.

Plan Your West Highland Way Trip

See our series of guides to the West Highland Way; we have had lots of good feedback about them as helpful planning tools. We work closely with the Official West Highland Way and encourage you to support them if you can donate or purchase from their range of official West Highland Way merchandise. Their work is vital as they help keep the paths well maintained.

There is access to Milngavie by train (From Glasgow) with a short walk to the official start. For this section, you have many options for supplies, food and drink. Milngavie Town Centre has coffee shops and an M&S. 

Facilities on Route

There are coffee shops at Mugdock Park and Carbeth (both a little off the route), The Beech Tree near Killearn and Turnip the Beet at Killearn Mill. Drymen has a chemist, a Spar shop, village shop, bakery (coming soon), two pubs, two hotels, B&Bs etc.

Baggage Transfer West Highland Way

Are you walking all of the West Highland Way? Do consider baggage transfer from AMS, Travel Lite, Baggage Freedom and Macs Adventures. Only carry with you what you need for your day's walk, with your luggage waiting for you at the overnight stops. 

Top Tips West Highland Way

Finally, do read our Top 10 tips for walking the West Highland Way. Readers submitted these to this website and can help you make the trip even more enjoyable.

Cycling West Highland Way

Some people cycle the West Highland Way; this section is more accessible, with some good paths and tracks.

Let's get started!

Back now to the West Highland Way first section from Milngavie to Drymen, the starting point shown on the map below.

 

The Start of the West Highland Way

Milngavie to Drymen is the enjoyable typical first-day itinerary for walkers of the complete 96-mile trail. The mainly gentle paths help to ease walkers into their rhythm, ahead of the steeper hills that await them after Drymen when they enter the Highlands. You can see the starting point on the map above. Towards the top of the map is Ben Lomond, which you will pass by a few days later, and the Munro is often visible from the path.

Walk between Milngavie and Drymen

Of course, you don't have to walk all of the 12-mile route I have described here, as it is straightforward to enjoy much shorter sections. Join or leave the path at Mugdock Park, Carbeth, Dumgoyne or Killearn Mill.

The official start of the West Highland Way in Douglas Street, Milngavie

Recently the West Highland Way celebrated its 40th anniversary. Now firmly established as one of Scotland’s most famous and loved walking routes, the route started initially without much fanfare at Milngavie. But, as a testament to its vast popularity, you cannot miss that this is where the trail begins. 

Milngavie, Glasgow

Milngavie is a town just north of Glasgow in East Dunbartonshire. Walking into the town centre from the train station car park, you will pass many signs, displays, storyboards, art pieces, banners for the West Highland Way, all ideal Instagram content for walkers wishing to share the start of their adventure. 

The stone obelisk on Douglas Street marks the official start of the West Highland Way. Close by; there is metal artwork cut out to feature some of the many landmarks and milestones along the route. A more recent and practical addition is a free Scottish Water top-up tap. 

Scottish Water Top-Up Tap at Milngavie at the start of the West Highland Way

Following the West Highland Way Route

A market for the West Highland Way at Milngavie

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The route is well signed, not just as you leave Milngavie but along the entire 96-mile trail to Fort William. The path initially runs alongside Allander Water, into Mugdock Country Park, through the woodlands.

Carbeth, West Highland Way

Around 5 miles into the walk is Carbeth Loch, with its community of wooden huts. Hutting here dates back around 100 years, becoming very popular just before World War II. 

Carbeth along the route of the West Highland Way

Glengoyne Distillery

Glengoyne Distillery and Dumgoyne on the West Highland Way path

As the path widens out at Strath Blane, you get good views of Dumgoyne, with Ben Lomond visible in the distance. The West Highland Way route picks up and follows the old Blane Valley Railway line; there is a footpath to cross over to Glengoyne Distillery and Dumgoyne if you can tour the distillery at Glengoyne.

Beech Tree Inn

At the Beech Tree Inn close to Killearn Mill, you will find a place to stop and pick up some food; its welcome sign works hard to tempt walkers along the West Highland Way to call in.

Turnip the Beet

Turnip the Beat at Killearn Mill on the West Highland Way

A little further along the route at Killearn Mill is the very popular Turnip the Beat, serving deli meals, snacks and drinks.  

Pots of Gartness

Honesty shop at Pots of Gartness

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Approaching Drymen

At Gartness, there is an honesty shop if you need ice cream to get you through the last section to Drymen. You’ll see the site of an old gravel pit on your left with glimpses of Loch Lomond and some of its islands in the distance. The last few miles go up and down a quiet lane, look out for a path signed with a West Highland way marker that leads to a field; this brings you out close to the Old School House in Drymen. 

You can walk up Stirling Road into Drymen. Alternatively, you cross the bypass and continue along Gartness Road to take you into the village if you stay on the lane. Drymen is their first night stop for many West Highland Way walkers, with some excellent places to stay and enjoy a night in the village. You’ll also be able to visit the new village bakery and deli.

Walking towards Drymen on the West Highland Way

Thanks for reading

Words and photography by Paul Saunders. Visit Paul’s Marketing and Photography websites for details of his services in Scotland.

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