As Scotland’s most popular long-distance route, the West Highland Way is teeming with restaurants, pubs, B&Bs, hotels, and hostels – there are a lot of places where you can stop off for a snack.
In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at all those spots along the West Highland Way where you can fill your belly and replenish the energy after a long day of trekking.
Milngavie
With a typical rustic charm, the Tickled Trout Pub is one of the most traditional country pubs in Milngavie. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy a real feast, right by the fireside. And, since this is a pub, after all, you’ll be able to wash that feast with a pint of good beer.
As the name suggests, this is an Italian restaurant/bar. The look and feel of this place are authentically Italian – you’ll be able to drink casual drinks in an atmosphere of a conventional brasserie. The dishes, on the other hand, are mixes of both modern and classic Italian food.
The freshly prepared menu of Garvie & Co is always there to help hikers fill up their bellies before venturing further. This beautiful restaurant is located inside of what was once a coaching inn.
Drymen
The name says it all – here, you can expect refreshing drinks, homemade dishes, and regular live music. This charming inn has all that trekkers may need after their first day on the route.
Would you like to spend a couple of enjoyable hours in Scotland’s oldest registered pub? If so, make sure to pay a visit to the Clachan Inn – this traditional tavern was registered all the way back in 1734.
Located inside the Winnock Hotel in Drymen, the Ptarmigan Bar is one of this village’s best places for relaxing after a long day of trekking. In fact, this bar is held in high regard by all those who visited it while walking the West Highland Way.
Rowardennan
Inside this hotel, you will find two bars – the Clansman Bar and the Rob Roy Bar. Besides drinks, both of these bars also serve locally produced food. During summer, the guests are able to eat in the hotel’s beer garden, which provides an unforgettable view of Loch Lomond.
Tarbet
Located in the very center of this picturesque Scottish village, the Slanj Restaurant can be found inside a charming old building. The best thing about this restaurant is that they often play live music for their guests.
Another great place to eat while on the West Highland Way is the Ben Arthur Bothy. Besides homemade burgers, this pub also has a fine selection of beverages you can drink on its phenomenal beer terrace which overlooks the nearby lake.
Behind this simple name hides a place that was once a church minister’s house, all the way back in the 19th century. The inn has a very large ground, as well as a sizable beer garden where you can drink Scottish beers and eat delicious seafood.
Bay Tarbet Hotel
The best thing about this hotel is its location – it provides a fantastic view of Loch Lomond, as well as the nearby Ben Lomond. The hotel itself is situated inside a genuinely beautiful building – a baronial Scottish mansion whose history stretches all the way back to the 17th century.
Inverarnan
Three hundred years ago, cattle drovers used this inn to get some food and rest after a long day of work. Nowadays, trekkers visit the Drover’s Inn to enjoy hearty food in its typical, down-to-earth interior. Rob Roy, the famous Scottish folk hero, was a regular at the Drovers’ Inn. Check out our guide to hiking the Rob Roy Way as well.
With its daily specials and an extensive menu full of delicious dishes, this campsite offers a very warm welcome to West Highland Way hikers. They also have a beer garden.
Crianlarich
After a long day of trekking on Scotland’s most popular hiking route, the best place to relax is this family-run bar in the Highland village of Crianlarich. The Rod and Reel offer tasty drinks and home-cooked meals all day long.
This conveniently located 36-bedroom hotel in Crianlarich has won multiple awards over the years. It’s an independently owned Scottish hotel that was built in Victorian times and which offers all-day dining and has a fine selection of whiskies, wines, and beers.
Tyndrum
All of this shop’s cooking is produced right there on the site. The Green Welly Shop in Tyndrum is especially famous for its selection of fine soups.
This cafe is one of the most sustainably conscious places on our list. Besides the fact that it has responsibly sourced fish on the menu, the cafe also offers in-house baking. In other words, all of the baked goods in the Real Food Café are as fresh as they can be.
Bridge of Orchy
A lot of trekkers agree that the food offered at this hotel is great, especially due to the fact that it’s quite affordable. At the Bridge of Orchy Hotel, dishes are available all day long throughout the year.
Inveroran
While it’s small, the dining room of this charming hotel offers a few varieties of traditional Scottish dishes. These are guaranteed to help you replenish your energy before you go back to walking the West Highland Way.
Glencoe
King’s House Hotel Rare is the West Highland Way trekkers who do not pay a visit to the King’s House Hotel. The history of this place goes all the way back to the 16th century, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to eat delicious food in a historical setting.
Just like many other places on this list, the Glencoe Inn also offers a phenomenal view over a Scottish lake – this time, it’s Loch Leven. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh, locally sourced seafood.
Kinlochleven
Highland Getaway Inn
Here we have yet another great spot for unwinding after a long day on the trail. The atmosphere is informal and relaxed, and the food is great – they serve hearty meals, breakfast, snacks, coffee, and tea.
This particular hotel is a holder of over 40 Rosette awards. At the MacDonald Hotel, chefs use the freshest produce to prepare phenomenal meals that you won’t forget anytime soon.
Fort William
Crannog Seafood Restaurant
Located on Fort William’s pier, the Crannog Seafood Restaurant offers, as the name suggests, fresh seafood. It’s a particularly great choice for fish-loving outdoor enthusiasts.
This traditional alehouse/restaurant has an exceptionally warm and friendly atmosphere. Whether you decide to go for a freshly brewed coffee or one of their hearty meals, you’re guaranteed to have a great time – it’s precisely what you deserve after completing the West Highland Way.
Hopefully, our list of places where you can eat on the West Highland Way will be of some help to you. After all, walking this route is not a complete experience if you don’t fill yourself up with local produce along the way! For more information, see my ultimate guide to the West Highland Way and my post on Planning for the West Highland Way.
Related:
- What to Pack to Walk the West Highland Way
- Best Time to Walk the West Highland Way
- What Should I Know About the West Highland Way
- 5 Alternatives to the West Highland Way
I love hiking, backpacking, and camping. From the Camino de Santiago to the West Highland Way in Scotland or simply a great day hike on the weekend. Hiking refreshes me, my mind, and keeps my body reasonably fit. So far I have walked three Camino routes and many other long distance hikes in the UK, Canada, and around the rest of Europe. One of the best was my hike up Ben Nevis.