West Highland Way Packing List

West Highland Way Packing List

Here is a West Highland Way checklist for what to wear hiking in Scotland

• 1 x raincoat (decent quality – see below).
• 1-2 fleece tops or as many as you require, sweat can smell.
• 2-4 Merino wool base layer.  They are not the cheapest so I would possibly go for 2 merino and 2 not. I really do love them and think they are worth investing in as they keep you cool if hot, warm if chilly. They also came with me to Snowbombing ski/music festival in Austria.
• 1 t-shirt for every 2 days.
• 2 x walking trousers. The drying options in our B&Bs weren’t great and if you are camping you’ll struggle even more.
• Waterproof overtrousers – by the last day, I just wore leggings and pulled these waterproofs on top when it rained. This is my staple hiking outfit while travelling to save space (worked for trekking to Machu Picchu, Peru!) They often come with a wee pouch which you can stuff the wet trousers in and have slit access to trouser pockets if worn underneath
• Gaiters – material that goes over your shoes and covers your ankles. I never had these but will consider them now I wear trek trainers instead of walking boots (see here for this story). My friend, Gemma T, liked her gaiters, see here for the variety of prices, they are inexpensive
• Pants (as in knickers).
• Sports bra and ‘normal’ bras.
• Socks: very important 6 pairs of clean cotton socks and 4-6 pairs of walking socks.

Evening Clothes

Once you’ve removed your soggy clothes, you will want to change into something clean, or dry at least.

• Lounging, comfortable clothes to dine drink in.
• 1 x padded coat, like my North Face.
• Socks and pants if you want clean ones after a shower.
• Shoes/flip flops (my trainers ended up being my saviour).
• PJs (bed socks? Some hotel rooms were cold, others toasty).
• A towel (although all of our accommodation options provided them for free).

Travel Insurance

Naturally, being a Scot, I get access to free healthcare through our National Health Service but I am aware that many of my readers are not actually British so word of warning – get travel insurance before you leave for the UK.

I never travel without insurance when heading further afield. I even had to claim to Vancouver and the cost of visiting the GP alone was $100 never mind the two trips to the physiotherapist which followed. Luckily my extensive research had paid off (literally) as our insurer, True Traveller, refunded us speedily and without fuss. Heading to Scotland to hike? See if True Traveller works for you by searching their rates here.

You can read our insurance comparison guide here.

Details – West Highland Way Kit List

Quality Raincoat

I did not have the best hiking gear for walking the West Highland Way. My £25 Trespass from TK Maxx was poor quality, selected because of the colour. I now have two of these ‘alright’ quality raincoats, I will never again scrimp on cost (as I ended up buying two anyway). My advice is – splurge, buy one decent one, named brand. I was envious as the other girls all had coats where the raindrops balanced neatly on top of the material whereas they doused mine.

For Iceland, I invested in a Mountain Equipment Rupal and it is one to the two best hiking gear decisions I’ve made (the second is purchasing Salomon Quest boots). The Rupal is made from GORETEX which makes it waterproof, not just shower proof like cheaper coats. It is flattering and comes in decent colours. The back of the coat covers my bum which is great in wet weather. There are two large pockets on the front of the coat which store phones, maps and even a small camera.

For long-term travel hikes, I pack a Marmot PreCip Jacket because it is water resistant, thin, light AND folds away into its own pocket. Although I do think something heavier like the Rupal would be better for the WHW. When it rains it pours!

My friend Helen recommends her Berghaus as a trustworthy make. I can’t stress how much a high-quality raincoat is required, it will be the best item on your West Highland Way gear list, believe me, I live in this country. 

Footwear

I killed my Achilles on Day 4 and I blame heavy overly supportive walking boots and my ineptness for not breaking them in. Hiking for beginners biggest rule – do not buy boots one week before the trek, you have to break them in and mould them to your feet. In saying that, my companion, Julie’s boots were years old but she still suffered.

Helen has had her boots since she was 19 years old and she had no issues. They are leather walking boots like Scarpa (which Craig wears). You are mainly walking over farmlands and much of it is flat, trek trainers with gaiters over the trouser would suffice.

My top pick for walking boots now has to be Salomon Quest as mentioned above. They are comfortable, waterproof and look great. My only complaint is that sometimes the lace loop catches on the tie bracket and causes me to trip.

I did the Devil’s Staircase in Nike trainers (as I could not get the boots over my ankles). What a boss I hear you say. Since the West Highland Way, I’ve broken in a pair of Salomon Ellipse trek trainers over mountains, volcanoes (even sledging down it using my feet as brakes!) and through rainforests. I honestly wish I had them during this hike then maybe I would not have had Achilles issues? Heading elsewhere in the UK for trekking? Check out this UK hikes packing list.

Final Words

The West Highland Way was certainly an endurance test for me. It was my first multi-day hike, the first time my Achilles played up, and the first time I had to sit out of a challenge for one day to recover. Would I do it again? Sure thing, but only now I have a decent raincoat and walking boots moulded to be my feet!

Planning Your WHW Hike?

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Gemma I Two Scots Abroad

Gemma and Craig are full-time workers with a life-long travel habit. Flirting with 30 and let loose on the world! Gemma writes, Craig looks good in the photos.