Wild west scotland
April 10th – 14th 2025 I Book Now
Scotland in the spring. The new year of nature starts to burst forth. UK summer expedition season has begun! In this time of renewal, the dreaded midges have not yet reached plague level, and the weather can be kind and cruel.
Join us on an expedition through some of Scotland's most remote and breathtaking valleys. Our journey will begin in the most inaccessible mainland town in Britain, leading us through stunning landscapes and around breathtaking lochs. We will finish the journey at the iconic Glenfinnan viaduct, known for its appearance in the Harry Potter films.
To make the journey even more spectacular, we highly recommend taking the Caledonian Sleeper, though please note that transfers are not included in the expedition. From Fort William, we will travel by train to Mallaig, which is often considered one of the most stunning train journeys in the world. The journey includes crossing over the magnificent Glenfinnan viaduct. We then catch a ferry to lnverie.
This expedition is not a beginner's event. You must have experience of wild camping with Turn Wild. Please feel free to commit to this if you want a challenging goal and have the appropriate drive and time to devote. To take your next step, please arrange a chat with your professional and friendly guide.
“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”
Itinerary
DAY ONE: THURSDAY 10TH APRIL: ARRIVE
Arrive by 18:30 to lnverie. Britain's only mainland village without road access.
Meet and greet at a famous hiking Pub, The Old Forge.
Turn Wild plans to get the overnight sleeper train from London to Fort William on the 19th of April. The next day we will be taking a train to Mallaig from Fort William, and from Mallaig, a ferry to lnverie.
DAY TWO: FRIDAY 11TH APRIL: INTO THE WILDERNESS
We will leave lnverie and visit some of Britain's most remote hiking areas. They are truly breathtaking.
Distance: 15km I 7 hours hiking (with outbreaks) I 650m Ascent.
DAY THREE: SATURDAY 12TH APRIL: BIG DAY
It’s a stunning day. We hike through spectacular but rugged terrain, past numerous waterfalls, over a col, and across several streams.
Distance: 11km I 5 hours hiking I 400m Ascent.
DAY FOUR: SUNDAY 13TH APRIL: T0 GLENFINNAN)
This is a tough section. We hike past a former Royal Marine training barracks to start a long, steady ascent that is challenging underfoot – boggy ground that once over the ridge, turns into a thankfully firm track underfoot.
Distance: 13km I 5 hours hiking I 420m Ascent.
DAY FIVE: MONDAY 14TH APRIL: TO GLENFINNAN VIADUCT
This is a much easier day. It is a gentle descent into civilisation. We hike to the stunning viaduct featured in the Harry Potter films. We will stop and hopefully see the spectacular sight of the steam train crossing this iconic bridge. This area is also the former battleground of Glenfinnan, a historic and monumental place to end our epic journey.
Distance: 6km / 2 hours hiking / 6m Ascent.
What Is included
Thursday night camp fees.
Tents.
Five Firepot dehydrated expedition meals.
Emergency equipment.
Group shopping experience.
Group first aid kit.
Cookers/ fuel.
Emergency Satellite comms.
Pre-expedition team Zoom meeting.
Pre-expedition Zoom seminars covering equipment/ nutrition.
Expedition food preparation lesson.
What Is not included
Your transport to Fort William.
Train Fort William to Mallaig (approx £8).
Ferry Mallaig to lnverie (approx £15).
Shared taxi Glenfinnan to Fort William (approximately £35).
Alcoholic drinks.
Snacks.
Meals at pub lunches.
Friday dinner.
Insurance.
Any costs additional costs due to bad weather/ emergency.
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I am a total beginner. I am trying to figure out what to bring or how to pack my rucksack. Is this expedition still suitable for me?
Yes, it is perfect as a challenging first expedition! You must have the right expedition skills, which you can learn during our expedition training weekends in Dartmoor. This is a tough but achievable expedition that becomes even more challenging with bad weather. Please don't worry. Our extensive training weekends, accompanied by Zoom seminars on expedition equipment, teamwork, expedition nutrition, and how to physically prepare, will have you proficient and bursting with confidence.
How fit do I need to be?
The fitter you are, the more resilient you will be and the more you will enjoy it. You need to be able to carry a rucksack with all your equipment and food in it for up to 8 hours total per day, ascending 650m on steep terrain. A fitness goal is to run 10km, cycle 80-100km, or regularly hike 6 hours in mountainous terrain carrying 15kg. Please don't worry. We will give you a whole Zoom seminar on expedition preparation.
What will the weather be like?
This expedition is not for the faint-hearted. The weather could be anything! Last year it was very sunny! Hopefully, it will be nice. However, this is Scotland, the land of the brave, and you must be prepared for anything. Good news: the dreaded Scottish midge is pretty good at this time of year. You will have to pack for conditions to drop below freezing at night. This means heavier equipment than a warmer weather expedition.
Do I have to travel there and back by sleeper train?
No, you can fly into an airport, but you will have a long taxi ride of around 2.5-3 hours to either Glasgow or Inverness. We will form a WhatsApp group with other team members who may wish to travel this way. However, the train to Fort William is a stunning and exhilarating experience and we highly recommend it.
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The total cost is £715 per person. All bookings start with a one on one call with one of our qualified guides. This call is to make sure all your questions are answered so that all team members know about the expedition challenges and the commitment that must be made in preparation. You may also ask any further questions you may have around the expedition. After this call, a deposit of 30% will be sent to you to secure your place. The balance is due 50 days before the start of the expedition. For cancellations made within 30-40 days of the trip commencement date, Turn Wild reserves the right to retain 50% of the balance payment. For cancellations within 30 days of the departure date, Turn Wild will retain 100% of the total fee. For any further questions or to secure a place, please contact us via the details below. Thank you, and let your adventure begin!
Contact Ian on 07901 916 169 or Ian@turnwild.com. Find more about Turn Wild’s terms and conditions here.