Scotland’s best officially unofficial walking route. A bold claim, obviously, but nobody important has objected yet. Come for the scenery. Stay because you’re lost, the weather’s changed, and turning back would now be embarrassing.

Long Distance Walking Route: Fort William to Aviemore
82 Miles - 132 KM

The East Highland Way is a dynamic long-distance trail that links Fort William, the UK's outdoor capital, with the renowned ski and mountain hub of Aviemore. In doing so, it bridges some of Scotland's iconic long-distance routes, connecting the West Highland Way and Great Glen Way to the Speyside Way in the northeast. The trail’s diverse natural landscapes offer a journey rich in contrast, with each stretch revealing its own unique beauty. Walkers are treated to a seamless transition through enchanting broadleaf woodlands, serene lochside paths, and the rugged solitude of mountain wilderness. The route skirts untouched marshlands and meanders through the ancient remnants of the Caledonian Forest at Inshriach, evoking the wild heritage of Scotland. Designed with accessibility in mind, the East Highland Way also aligns with local accommodations, making it an inviting option for walkers of all skill levels seeking a true Highland adventure.

The route was devised by Kevin Langan in 2007 and continues to be one of the most popular long distance walking routes in Scotland. Join the Community.

No Fires or BBQ's | Leave No Trace | Pack Out Waste 

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"The route your knees warned you about, where blisters become memories"

The Route Stages:

Fort William to Spean Bridge | 19 km | 4.5–5.5 hours
Spean Bridge to Inverlair | 16.5 km | 5–6.5 hours
Inverlair to Feagour | 34 km | 7.5–8.5 hours
Feagour to Laggan | 8.5 km | 2.5–3 hours
Laggan to Newtonmore | 15.5 km | 5–6 hours
Newtonmore to Kincraig | 23.75 km | 6.5–7 hours
Kincraig to Aviemore | 16.5 km | 4–5 hours

"Better than the West Highland Way. If by better you mean fewer people and slightly fewer places to buy a coffee."

The Route History:

"I came up with the idea for the East Highland Way after spotting what looked like a missing piece of Scotland's long-distance path network. The West Highland Way met the Great Glen Way at Fort William, the Speyside Way began in Aviemore, and between them was a rather inconvenient absence of a trail. It was a right faff, took several years, but eventually I joined the dots.

What followed involved a lot of walking, getting lost, checking maps, talking to landowners, walking some more, and gradually piecing together a route using existing paths, tracks and historic rights of way. It turns out creating a long-distance trail involves considerably more effort than I'd naively imagined.

The East Highland Way officially launched in 2007 and has since become an established long-distance route, helping connect landscapes, communities and Scotland's growing network of walking trails. Against all expectations... it caught on.

It's like the West Highland Way, but with fewer people, fewer amenities and no maintenance budget. Frankly, it's a miracle it exists."

Kev Langan - Swimming Pattack Falls 

"Come for the views and solitude. Stay because you're lost."