Long-distance walk
Camping on the Land’s End to John o’ Groats walk, Drymen
There is no single path from Land’s End to John o’ Groats, but most walkers cross Scotland on the West Highland Way, and that brings them past our gate on Gartness Road.
- About 1,200 miles on foot
- Usually 2 to 3 months
- On the West Highland Way
- Pay on arrival
Land’s End to John o’ Groats, often called the End to End, runs the length of Great Britain from Cornwall to Caithness. There is no continuous official path: walkers link existing long-distance trails, typically covering about 1,200 miles (1,900km) over two or three months. Through Scotland most routes take the West Highland Way north to Fort William, then the Great Glen Way to Inverness. The West Highland Way passes Drymen Camping on Gartness Road, at the end of its first stage.
Is there an official route?
No. There is no continuous long-distance path from end to end, so walkers piece their own line together from existing trails and quiet roads. The one real requirement is a single continuous journey from one end to the other.
One well-known version is Andy Robinson’s End to End Trail, published by Cicerone: 1,215 miles (1,956km) in 61 daily stages, averaging about 20 miles a day, which a fit walker can finish in around two months. Cyclists usually ride the shorter road route, traditionally 874 miles, in 10 to 14 days.
How does the walk reach Drymen?
Through Scotland, the most common walking line crosses the Central Belt on the Union Canal and Forth and Clyde Canal towpaths, then follows the West Highland Way north to Fort William and the Great Glen Way to Inverness.
Follow the Way from its official start at Milngavie and you reach us at the end of Stage 1, 12 miles in. Some walkers come in from the east and meet the Way here instead: Mark Moxon’s well-known 2003 walk went from Kilsyth to Drymen in a day, then took a rest day in Drymen before heading over Conic Hill.
When should I be in Scotland?
Cicerone suggests starting in April and finishing before the end of June. It advises avoiding the Scottish part of the route from 12 August to the end of October, when deer stalking and grouse shooting restrict access to the hills, and warns that midges are much worse in July and August.
Walking south to north puts the prevailing wind behind you; walking north to south avoids the midge season. Open 14 March to 8 October 2027.
Do I need to book ahead?
Over two or three months, plans change. Cicerone’s advice is to book no more than a week ahead, because walking does not always go to plan. Walkers on an established route like the West Highland Way can pay on arrival with us instead, by card or cash, subject to availability. The pods book up well in advance, so book those if you can.
What do you get for the night?
A grass pitch from £14 per adult, with toilets, hot walk-in showers, charging points and wi-fi included, and a sheltered communal area for cooking. We stock Coleman C300 gas at reception, and the shop sells TentMeals dinners and breakfasts.
If you are taking a rest day, Drymen village is about a mile on, with pubs, a bakery and a Spar. Most West Highland Way baggage transfer companies collect from us too, if you want your pack carried for the next stretch.
The Cicerone introduction to the End to End Trail is a good place to start planning. There is no official route, so check each trail’s own guidance for the stretch you are on.
Last updated .
Other routes from our gate
- Walk
West Highland Way
96 miles (154km)
Right on the trail, where Stage 1 ends and Stage 2 begins. Guides to both: Milngavie to Drymen, and Drymen to Rowardennan.
Read more - Walk
Rob Roy Way
79 miles (127km)
Starts at Drymen Square, about a mile on from our gate. Seven stages to Pitlochry.
Read more - Walk
John Muir Way
134 miles (215km)
Coast to coast, Helensburgh to Dunbar. The cycle route shares the Way past Gartness, a few hundred metres from us.
Read more - Cycle
National Cycle Route 7
547 miles (881km)
Passes our gate on Gartness Road, between Balloch and Aberfoyle. Sunderland to Inverness.
Read more - Bikepacking
Great North Trail
About 800 miles
Cycling UK’s off-road route to Cape Wrath and John o’ Groats comes past our gate on its way through Drymen.
Read more - Bikepacking
Badger Divide
About 210 miles (338km)
Gravel route from Glasgow to Inverness. On its first day out of Glasgow it passes about a kilometre from our gate.
Read more
Questions about the Land’s End to John o’ Groats
Does the Land’s End to John o’ Groats walk go through Drymen?
Most walking routes do. There is no single official path, but through Scotland walkers usually follow the West Highland Way north to Fort William, and the Way passes Drymen Camping on Gartness Road at the end of its first stage.
How long does it take to walk Land’s End to John o’ Groats?
Usually two to three months, covering about 1,200 miles (1,900km). Cicerone’s End to End Trail is 1,215 miles in 61 daily stages, around two months at about 20 miles a day.
Walking the Way this year?
The 2027 season runs from Sunday 14 March, with the last night on Friday 8 October and last check-out on Saturday 9 October.