Where can I stay?
The West Highland Way is quite a good walk for accommodation as it passes through a few little towns and villages and the bus or train can be used to transport you to other nearby locations and back the next day if you can't get accommodation at your finishing point of the day. Below are a few suggestions where to stay, from Fort William in the North to Milngavie near Glasgow, many of which have websites.
Fort William
Fort William is a large town with accommodation for all budgets with many Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts and also an independant Hostel. Depending on the day of the week you start on, you might find deals on a room in the Premier Inn or the Travelodge which is right at the start of the walk in Fort William and has a Wetherspoons Pub below it which is ideal for a good breakfast before you set off. I stayed here on this trip as it was cheaper than other Hotels and almost the same price as the local Hostel. I have also stayed at the "Fort William Backpackers" Hostel but you'll find that's usually quite busy so don't expect a great sleep.
Kinlochleven
Kinlochleven has a few pubs/hotels with accommodation and the Blackwater Bunkhouse. The MacDonald Hotel just as you enter Kinlochleven has camping facilities plus camping cabins which I have used a few times. These are basically large wooden sheds with 2 bunk beds so can sleep up to 4 people, electricity, a heater and plenty room for storage and cheap, especially "off season".
Kinghouse
Many people choose to stay at the Kinghouse Hotel after they have crossed over the Devils Staircase and then walk to Bridge Of Orchy or Tyndrum the next day. I haven't stayed here but it's always had good reviews and I usually stop here to have a rest, a drink and a bite to eat before continuing the walk. They also allow wild camping near the Hotel in designated areas.
Bridge Of Orchy
There used to be a good Bunkhouse here but the Hotel chose to knock it down and replace it with a new building which means no accommodation here for someone on a low budget and the Hotel is expensive. If you are camping, there's quite a large area to camp just before the Hotel by the river or a couple of miles before at Inveroran. My advise if you are finishing your days walk here and can't afford the Hotel would be to get the bus or train to Tyndrum and stay the night there, then get the bus or train back the next morning to start the next days walk, far cheaper plus there are shops and places to eat at Tyndrum.
Tyndrum
I always enjoy staying at Tyndrum, I usually stay at the Bytheway campsite which has a Bunkhouse, Camping Cabins and space for camping. There are another few Hotels to stay in but for a low budget, the Camping Cabins at Bytheway can't be beaten.
Crianlarich
Crianlarich is a short (but steep) detour from the route but it has a few Hotels and Bed and Breakfasts and also a Youth Hostel if you are on a low budget. Just remember it's a steep walk back uo to the path in the morning.
Inverarnan
At Inverarnan, there are a couple of places to stay, either the Beinglas Campsite, which also has Camping Cabins or the Drovers Inn just a short walk from Beinglas. Beinglas has a small shop in the Campsite but they are not open all year, unlike the Drovers Inn. The Drovers In also has single rooms and they were quite cheap, including breakfast. When I stayed there in March I was upgraded to a nice double room. If you can't get accommodation in Inverarnan, you can get the bus to Tyndrum or Crianlarich and get it back the next morning.
Rowardennan
Note....Camping between here and Balmaha is not permitted unless it's in an official camp site...There is a Hotel and a Youth Hostel at Rowardennan and that's it. There is only the Inversnaid Hotel (expensive) between Inverarnan and Rowardennan so it's either stay at Rowardennan or continue on to Balmaha, which is my preferred option due to there being a shop and the Hotel for a meal and a drink at night.
Balmaha
A couple of miles before Balmaha is a campsite at Millarochy which is quite cheap for a backpacker. At Balmaha there are a couple of Bed and Breakfasts, a Bunkhouse which also has a single room, breakfast optional and the Oak Tree Inn which you can get a good deal at if you're lucky. I stayed there in March and was upgraded to a "superior" room in one of their little cottages beside the Hotel instead of a single room. The Hotel also has a small bunkhouse in it and the price includes breakfast. When I've stayed there, the breakfast has been a "help yourself" buffet in the morning and I've cetrainly got my moneys worth.
Drymen
Drymen is just a short walk from Balmaha and slightly off the main route but if you choose to stay here, there are a couple of Hotels and Bed and Breakfasts in the village, plus a cafe and a couple of shops to stock up in.
Milngavie
If you finish the walk at Milngavie, it's probable that you will head head home that night as it's a short train ride from there to the main Railway stations in Glasgow every half hour where you may choose to spend the night or head home.
