Whaddaya want to know about the West Highland Way?

I’d like to make my notes on cycling the WHW a bit more comprehensive.

There is of course reams of info on the WHW, but mainly walking related. Off the top of my head I can think of the following questions not covered in the available walking guides:

Transport to Milngavie
Parking at Milngavie
Luggage transfer companies.
Booking bikes on trains from Fort William.
Transfers back to Milngavie
Distances covered and stopping points for 2 day, 3 day, 4 day efforts
General description/photos of terrain to inform bike choice and inspire.
Optional add-ons en route
Northern LL avoidance/ mitigation info ( contraversial 😀)
Non obvious accommodation recommendations.
The map

I’m sure there must be more, but can’t think of anything…

If your mate was to suggest doing whw this spring, what would be the questions you’d want answered before you set off?

Or, what were the biggies that you encountered when you did it in the past?

Cheers

If using clips what would be the recommended shoe style to clamber over “that bit” along Loch Lommond

(edit – crapply worded question but hopefully you get my drift!)

Viable alternatives to avoid it?

I did it with friends over 2 days with an overnight stay in a camping pod at around the midway point at a campsite in Tyndrum.We thoroughly enjoyed all of it,even the bike a hike bit. We struck gold with the weather over the first May bank holiday weekend. We did it supported as my mates wife drove his vito,so that made everything a lot easier for us.

It’s really worthwhile to use one of the bags transport options especially if 3 days or more. They also do vans back from the fort at not much more than the train if you’re in a group.
Five ten clipless for shoes worked well for me.
Beware of gravel rash on the first day if it’s raining. My ring was redder than apres South Indian Garlic Chili Chicken!
Milngavie – Inversnaid bunkhouse
Inversnaid to Kingshouse (Only just made last orders for food!)
Kingshouse to Fort
Worked for us.
Loch Lomondside is hard but has to be done really!

How bad is the actual hike-a-bike section? And does the alternative route actually take more time (or effort)?

How much of a difference does it make depending on whether you’re on a light mountain bike versus a loaded gravel bike, for instance.

What makes it hike-a-bike? Eg there’s a world of difference between pushing/pulling a bike because of large rocks on a flat trail versus carrying a bike up or down multiple gullies! Or over/under downed trees.

I presume some sections of the “hike-a-bike” section are actually rideable…

(No I haven’t been a long that section of the WHW so I have no idea what’s involved!)

Some photos of the un-rideable section would be useful

‘How bad is the actual hike-a-bike section? And does the alternative route actually take more time (or effort)?’

IMO- bad. Its never more than 4 or so feet wide. The loch is off to your left, although there’s lots of vegetation between you and the water. On the right, big tree roots are everywhere. If you’re a no-skill mincer like me, its more or less unrideable apart from short stretches of 50 metres or so. So you can either push your bike along while holding the bars, but this introduces the choice of: which side? Neither is better.

That’s the easier parts. In between these are sections of rock that are actual scrambles up and down, usually about 8 or so ft high. There are many of these. One of these is more or less a scramble up, and then an immediate broken staircase down. Solo (as I did), you have to try and wedge the bike while pushing it up, or ascend and pull the bike up.

Its really no fun at all, and I wouldn’t rush to do it unaided again. Take a friend. Also, a light hardtail.

Photos seem to be scant as it has little scenic appeal, and I suspect most people are just pushing on through it.

Its easier running it of course.

‘How bad is the actual hike-a-bike section? And does the alternative route actually take more time (or effort)?’

IMO- bad. Its never more than 4 or so feet wide. The loch is off to your left, although there’s lots of vegetation between you and the water. On the right, big tree roots are everywhere. If you’re a no-skill mincer like me, its more or less unrideable apart from short stretches of 50 metres or so. So you can either push your bike along while holding the bars, but this introduces the choice of: which side? Neither is better.

That’s the easier parts. In between these are sections of rock that are actual scrambles up and down, usually about 8 or so ft high. There are many of these. Solo (as I did), you have to try and wedge the bike while pushing it up, or ascend and pull the bike up.

Its really no fun at all, and I wouldn’t rush to do it unaided again. Take a friend. Also, a light hardtail.

Photos seem to be scant as it has little scenic appeal, and I suspect most people are just pushing on through it.

Its easier running it of course.

Sounds like the ideal job for a packraft!

So how long is this un-rideable section? A couple of hundred metres or multiple kms? Or is it better measured in hours?? 😉

I think the worst bit, Inversnaid to Beinn Ghlas farm (7 miles) took us 3 hours. Maybe 20% of that was rideable. Wouldn’t fancy it with a loaded bike!
Alternative is to get ferry from Inversnaid to West coast, ride up A82 – busy windy road, fast but dangerous and unpleasant. Perhaps the best solution I have seen was to get a friend with a canoe to paddle you up the loch. (Or packraft)

There were bits of that section I struggled to get myself through/over when walking it. I think I’d still be there if I’d taken a bike as well.

So I’ve done it twice now. The Inversnaid hike a bike bit is 2-3 hours of no riding, just accept it. The riding comes at the end of Loch Lomond to Beinglas and it’s tough, soul destroying and the best pint in the Drovers you’ll ever have.

The hike a bike section requires decent upper body strength to manoeuvre the bike between rock faces, lift it up the ladder and throw it into the lake if all becomes too much.

However, the rest of the route more than compensates for this very minor challenging bit.

Don’t over think it. Practice lifting your bike over things in your garden to train and throwing it over your shoulder and walking a bit. You’ll be fine.

In answer to the question, I don’t want to know anything. Thank you!