With everyone hoping for a summer of freedom in which the pandemic has receded and a highly-vaccinated population can get out into the countryside again, many will be focusing their ambitions on a long distance walk.
Our West Highland tours offer a superb option for undertaking the West Highland Way, a 96-mile hike from the urban sprawl of the central belt to the centre of Fort William.
The route starts in the lowlands at Milngavie (pronounced mill-guy by locals), but after it reaches Loch Lomond, walkers will notice a string of islands across the loch and the distinct rise of Conic Hill. This is in fact the Highland Fault Line, the geological start of the Highlands (irrespective of council boundaries).
It is after this you will start to encounter some of the Munros, Mountain peaks over 3,000 ft (914.4 metres). They are named after 19th century geographer Sir Hugh Munro who catalogued them, with the list being revised several times and now standing at 282.
Most of the Munros have Gaelic names, so you can impress folk by learning their curious pronunciations via a website like MunroMagic.
The first Munro you will encounter is Ben Lomond, the southernmost of them all and a fairly simple climb offering stunning views over the loch it shares its name way.
However, the real giants start at Breadalbane to the north of the loch. Ranged around Crainlarich are the imposing duo of Ben More and Stob Binnein, both over 3,800 ft high, while neighbours include Cruach Ardrain and An Caisteal. To the west are the towering summits of Ben Lui and Ben Oss.
North of here, the route passes through Glen Orchy, with peaks such as Stob Glas and Beinn Dorain towering overhead. Then, after the route crosses the vast peaty expanse of Rannoch Moor, the magnificent crags of Glencoe’s sentinel Buachaille Etive Mor loom large.
The final stretch from Kinlochleven to Fort William takes in the peaks of the Mamores Range such as Na Grugaichean, Stob Ban and Mullach Nan Coirean, before the last lap passes below Ben Nevis, the highest of them all at 4,412 ft.
Sitting in Fort William enjoying a celebratory drink at the journey’s end, you may just feel that climbing some Munros should be your next big challenge.