trip cost: $1,850 + airfare
Trip costs include the following:
- All in-country transportation (including train tickets from Edinburgh city center to start and end the trail)
- Hotel accommodations
- Two experienced trail guides who serve with Roots
- Breakfast and dinner on the trail (lunch to be purchased by each individual)
- Team shirt
- Bag carry from hotel to hotel
everything you need to know
Trip Itinerary – May 30-June 8, 2025
Depart from the US airport of your choice for Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Be sure to make your travel arrangements such that you arrive in Edinburgh by early morning of May 31, 2025 at the very latest (it is advisable to arrive May 30).
May 30, 2025: Arrive and Explore Edinburgh
We ask that you try to arrive by 2pm on this day, though if you need flexible arrangements on the timing please contact us to let us know as soon as you can. We will start out by meeting at Roots to see the space where everything happens. While there, we will have some snacks and get to know each other and a bit more about Roots. After that, we will take a quick tour of Edinburgh and end with a dinner with the entire Roots team to celebrate everyone’s safe arrival and this incredible journey we’re about to depart on! After that we will head to our first night hotel (Travelodge) and get ready for our early morning the next day!
May 31, 2025: Milngavie to Drymen 12 miles / 19 km: 4.5 - 5.5 hours
We will meet at 8am at the hotel lobby in Edinburgh to depart for the train station. We will travel by train to Milngavie to the start of the West Highland Way. This first day on the trail will see us heading away from the urban suburbs of Glasgow and into the Lowland hills of Scotland. The trail on the first day is relatively flat and a good warm up. Then, we will stay at Buchanan Arms hotel in Drymen (http://buchanan-arms.co.uk/)
June 1, 2025: Drymen to Rowardennan 15 miles / 24 km: 5 - 6.5 hours
Our walk along the West Highland Way will leave Drymen behind as we head through dense wood to Garadhban Forest. The track then approaches Conic Hill, the boundary point between the Lowlands and the Highlands known as The Great Divide. The climb over Conic will present us with some tremendous views of Loch Lomond, which, at 27 square miles, is the largest body of water in the UK. Then it follows the shoreline of Loch Lomond all the way to the Rowardennan Hotel where we will stay for the evening (www.rowardennanhotel.co.uk).
June 2, 2025: Rowardennan to Drover’s Inn 14 miles / 22.5 km: 6 - 7.5 hours
While very scenic, many walkers consider this section to be the toughest along the West Highland Way because it can be quite rough and rocky at parts. We will follow right at a fork in the path to take the easier route that follows a track in the forest high up in the trees above the loch, which eventually descends and rejoins the more difficult route. We’ll follow along the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond till we reach the Drover’s Inn where we’ll spend the night (https://www.droversinn.co.uk/)
June 3, 2025: Drover’s Inn to Tyndrum 12 miles / 19 km: 4.5 - 5.5 hours
After a tough previous day, we’re rewarded with a bit of a shorter day, where we’ll follow the river along the valley that is Glen Falloch. We’ll pass through woodland and over farmland throughout the day. This is the approximate halfway point of the West Highland Way and we’ll get some great views of Ben More to the east. We’ll continue from there into the village of Tyndrum where we will stay at Muthu Ben Doran Hotel (https://www.muthuhotelsmgm.com/muthu-ben-doran-hotel)
June 4, 2025: Tyndrum to Inveroran 7 miles / 11 km: 2.5 - 3 hours
This will be the shortest day of the trip, so we will enjoy a longer lunch at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel. This morning we’ll continue along the old military road we were on the previous day. This will be easy, clear walking with lovely views, especially of Ben Odhar and Ben Dorain. After lunch, we will climb a small hill till we can see the Inveroran hotel in a gorgeous descent to our accommodation (https://www.inveroran.com/)
June 5, 2025: Inverroran to Kingshouse 12 miles / 19 km: 4.5 - 5 hours
We will leave our secluded hotel to then climb out onto Rannoch Moor. We will be walking in a fairly exposed path with incredible views. A cairn marks the summit at 445m and from here there are some of the best views into Glencoe. From there we will descend next to Glencoe Ski Centre till we reach our accommodation at Kingshouse Hotel. (https://www.kingshousehotel.co.uk/)
June 6, 2025: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven 9 miles / 14.5 km: 3 - 4 hours
This is another one of our shortest days, but it’s not to be taken lightly. It starts flat along the road, but soon we’ll find ourselves at the foot of the Devil’s Staircase. This steep switchback path leads to a cairn at 548m and marks the highest point on the West Highland Way. The views at the top make the ascent well worth it and we might even be able to see Ben Nevis on a clear day. From there we will slowly descend into Kinlochleven where we will stay at the MacDonald Hotel (https://macdonaldhotel.co.uk/).
June 7, 2025: Kinlochleven to Fort William 16 miles / 24 km: 6 - 7.5 hours
Our final day will be one of our longest, but we will all be pro-walkers by then, so it won’t seem too daunting. We start with some gentle elevation changes for the first half of the day, but the second half will be defined by the incredible views of Ben Nevis (the highest peak in Scotland) as we walk around it. We will end the West Highland Way in Gordon Square right in the center of Fort William. Here you will find a statue of 'Sore Feet Man' which has marked the end of the walk since 2010 - a perfect place for team photos to mark our completion of this incredible 96 mile trail through the Scottish Highlands. After that we will make one final short walk to our accommodation (Travelodge) for the night.
June 8, 2025: Fort William to Edinburgh
Our first day of no trail walking and our official departure day! We will take an early train out of Fort William to travel back to Edinburgh (Travel time: 5 hours). Our trip will have officially ended the previous night, so those travel plans can be altered on an individual basis so that everyone can catch their flights on time. Once back in Edinburgh we can try to help you get to the airport or wherever you need to go for your travel needs!
The West Highland Way is a 96-mile route which will be completed in 8 days. The longest day's trek will be on day 8 from Kinlochlevin to Fort William which is 16 miles long and is estimated to take 6-7.5 hours to complete. There’s a bag drop service which will shuttle your baggage from accommodation to accommodation which means you will only have to carry your essentials for walking. The route itself follows a well made path but some of the sections are rocky.
The minimum physical requirement, therefore, is that you can walk 16 miles in a day and walk an average distance of 12 miles a day through the trip's duration. Some sections may be difficult if you struggle with steep gradients either up or down, but walking sticks can be used to help mitigate this.
TRIP COST: $1,850 + Airfare
TRIP COST INCLUDES:
• All in-country transportation (including tickets from Edinburgh city center to start and end of trail)
• Hotel accommodations
• Two experienced trail guides who serve with Roots
• Breakfast and dinner on the trail (lunch to be purchased by each individual)
• Team shirt
• Bag carry from hotel to hotel
Additional personal expenses:
• Airfare to/from Edinburgh (see suggested list of travel agents below)
• Passport (must be valid within 6 months after the date of our trip)
• Personal gear
• Trip insurance (see suggested list)
• Lunches while on the trail (there will be shops along the way to purchase lunches)
• Meals to/from Edinburgh
TRIP REGISTRATION DEADLINE:
Only 22 spots are available for this trip. We anticipate it filling up quickly, so don’t delay in reserving your spot. To secure your spot for this life-changing adventure, submit your $500 deposit by September 15, 2024.
Note: Your deposit is non-refundable. All trip fees are due to CMF 75 days (March 17, 2025) prior to departure. A suggested trip payment schedule will be provided.
TRIP LEADER:
Brett McClain: Brett has been on the Roots team since 2020, and walked the West Highland Way for the first time in 2023. Brett is from Arkansas in the United States, but found a new home in Scotland. Prior to working for Roots, he worked for 3 years at a thriving campus ministry at his alma mater, Georgia Tech. God has given him a passion for serving university students in Scotland. Brett will be your primary point of contact for the preparation and fundraising, providing regular updates and helping you physically prepare for the trek.
TRIP CANCELLATION POLICY:
Important Note: The initial registration deposit is non-refundable. If a participant decides to withdraw from their CMF adventure trip, all additional trip fees can be fully reimbursed up to 75 days (March 17) prior to the trip's start date. However, within 75 days of the trip, all additional trip fees are non-refundable.
SUGGESTED TRAVEL AGENTS & INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE CARRIERS:
CMF does not officially endorse or have any connection to any of the vendors listed below, but we have used them with success in the past. This list is provided to simplify and speed up your process of getting your trip tickets and to hopefully ensure you get the best price.
Travel Agents:
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Regal Travel By Design Nancy Thaxton 304.776.5907 regaltravelbydesign.net |
AFC Travel Anthony Hilden 952.886.7676 afctravel.com |
Fly Me World Mohan 949.981.1707 flymeworld.com |
International Insurance Carriers:
• International Volunteer Card
• Good Neighbor Insurance
• IMG Patriot International Plan
• World Nomads
We encourage you to have fun with this part of the adventure, trusting that you won’t go through fundraising alone. As a team, we’ll share tools and ideas to help you raise the funds to benefit the discipleship journey of students at Roots, starting with how to share this opportunity with friends, family, coworkers, and church groups.
CMF has created an easy, user-friendly fundraising tool to help you raise the $3,000 commitment support for this trip. You will be sent simple instructions to create your own unique fundraising page. These funds will be due by May 30, 2025.
If you need assistance at any time, please contact adventure@cmfi.org.
Arrive early or stay late to add any of the following suggested adventures to your trip.
- Explore Scotland: Discover the beauty of Edinburgh and its neighboring cities with a variety of available tours and attractions. Dive into the rich history and cultural landmarks of Scotland, including immersive experiences for fans of Harry Potter and Outlander.
- Religious Sites: Delve into the religious heritage of the British Isles, with a highlight being Iona, an island in the Inner Hebrides. Visit the historic abbey where St. Columba first landed in Scotland in 563 AD, spreading Christianity across the region. Plan for a 2-day journey each way and allocate ample time to explore Iona.
- European City Tour: Enhance your trip by adding an overnight stay in a European city of your choice en route to or from Edinburgh. Experience the vibrant culture, rich history, and delectable cuisine with minimal added expenses for accommodation, transportation, and meals.
- Plan Your Route: Familiarize yourself with the West Highland Way using the official website: West Highland Way website.
- Training Hikes: Discover nearby training hikes to prepare for your adventure using the resources available at alltrailscom.
Download a PDF of the packing list here!
The Mission
As part of your experience in walking the West Highland Way in June 2025, you will commit to raise or give $3,000 (minimum) to support the Roots Globalscope Campus Ministry in Edinburgh, Scotland. These funds are due by May 30.
As part of CMF’s commitment to making disciples, Roots has been providing a grace-driven community for university students in Edinburgh since 2013. Since campus ministry is about helping university students take their next steps in discipleship, all funds raised through the West Highland Way trek will be used to support the ministry of Roots as they walk alongside students, helping them know and follow Jesus.
Why Roots?
Roots’s mission is to inspire students to grow closer to Jesus through grace-driven community. By providing a campus house, friends and mentorship, opportunities to explore the Christian faith, and plenty of free tea and coffee, the 5 members of the Roots team work hard to welcome students from every walk of life into the Roots community.
Roots currently serves at least 70 university students weekly, mostly undergraduates, as well as some masters and doctoral students. While some of the students who are part of Roots are from the UK, most are international students who have traveled to the UK for their studies from all over the world.
Only about 10% of the students who are part of Roots identify as Christians. The other 90% are atheist, agnostic, Muslim, Hindu, or of another religion. Often, students start going to Roots for the free food, but they stay because they find a community where they can truly be themselves as they realize they are loved whole-heartedly by this grace-driven community.
Our goal
Our goal is to raise $100,000 from our 22-person walking crew. Through the funds we raise and the steps we take together along the West Highland Way, we’ll also be helping university students take their next steps into a community modeled on God’s love where they can explore life and faith.
In recent years, the number of students participating at Roots has significantly increased. Though this is wonderful news, we’ve reached our capacity to serve the crowds, sadly resulting in having to turn students away from both events and serving opportunities upon graduation. That said, the funds raised will serve several crucial purposes:
Firstly, by providing weekly meals and space for students and staff to gather, our collective fundraising efforts will enable Roots to expand its capacity, welcoming even more students into our grace-filled community.
Secondly, many former students express a desire to return and contribute to Roots after completing their university education. However, the financial barrier often prevents them from doing so. These funds will provide financial assistance, facilitating their involvement and fostering a cycle of support and care for future students.
Lastly, the money raised can contribute to Roots acquiring a permanent campus ministry space, ensuring stability and continuity for our community in the years to come.
Join us as we pave the way for Roots’ future impact.