Stressing about food on the West Highland Way is completely normal – especially if it’s your first multi-day hike. The good news? You won’t go hungry. There are plenty of places to eat, buy snacks, refill water, and even pick up treats from honesty boxes along the trail… you just need to know where they are.
This guide covers where to eat, where to buy food, where to refill water, and what to expect between each town – so you can plan confidently and avoid running out of snacks halfway across Rannoch Moor!
In this guide:
At a Glance: Food & Water Options
- Regular food stops: Every major settlement has at least one place to eat.
- Best resupply towns: Milngavie, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Kinlochleven.
- Smaller shops: Drymen, Balmaha, Beinglas, Inveroran.
- Honesty boxes: Scattered a few times along the route – only count on these for snacks.
- Water: Plenty of public taps + hotels/cafés happy to refill.
- Dietary needs: Possible, but limited — plan ahead.
FAQ: Things Everyone Wonders Before Their Hike
Do I need to carry all my food from the start?
No. You’ll hit enough shops and cafes that carrying 1–2 days worth is usually enough.
How often can I buy groceries?
If you aren’t too fussy you can resupply every day or two. Milngavie, Crianlarich, Tyndrum and Kinlochleven offer the biggest variety.
Can I rely on honesty boxes for snacks?
Not really – the boxes at Rowardennan and Kinlochleven are generally well stocked, but it’s better to think of them as fun extras, not guaranteed resupply.
Are water taps easy to find?
Yes. There are plenty, especially in villages and campsites.
What if I’m vegan, gluten-free or have allergies?
Most restaurants try to accommodate, but shop stock is limited in small villages. Best to plan ahead and book meals.
Can I buy gas canisters or other camping supplies on the WHW?
Yes. you can buy gas in Milngavie, Tyndrum and the petrol station in Glencoe village. The Green Welly stop in Tyndrum has the best selection of camping goods on the trail.
Can I drink water from the streams/lochs?
Yes, but only if you treat the water. Use a water filter at a minimum, but keep in mind the West Highland Way is a high-traffic trail and most water filters do not remove viruses. Consider using water treatment tablets, especially if near a well-used wild campsite.
West Highland Way Food & Resupply Google Maps Overview
Explore Food, Water and Resupply options on the Map
This custom Google Map includes all grocery shops, honesty boxes, water taps, outdoor shops and places to eat on the West Highland Way.
Icons help you spot the type of service at a glance: 🛒 for groceries, ☕ for cafes, 🍴 for restaurants, 🚰 for public water taps, ✉️ for post offices and 🛖 for honesty boxes. Should you need additional gas or gear, you can find outdoor shops using the 🚶♀️ icon.
I have included ⛺ campsites as you can generally refill your water there if needed (as you can with cafes and restaurants) – just make sure to ask first though!
Food, Water & Resupply Options by Stage
Below you’ll find a breakdown of what food and water options are available on every section of the trail. Click a stage to jump to the details:
Milngavie
🛒 Tesco
🛒 M&S Foodhall
🛒 Spar
🛒 Waitrose
🛒 Aldi
🍴 Andiamo
🍴 Garvie & Co
🍴 Fullbacks Pizza Bar
☕ Christine’s on the Green
☕ Cafe Alba
☕ Jessie Biscuit
☕ The Honeybee Bakery
☕ The Tea Cosy
☕ Costa Coffee
Milngavie - Drymen
On the Way to Drymen:
🍴 The WHW Hotel & Campsite: (for those staying)
🍴 Beech Tree Cafe Bar
☕ Turnip the Beet Cafe & Deli
☕ Oakwood garden Centre
🛖 Gartness Honesty Box
🛖 Altquhur Byre Baking Shed
Drymen
🛒 Spar Dryman
🛒 Drymen Bakery & Deli
🍴 Clachan Inn
🍴 Winnock Hotel
🍴 Drymen Inn
🍴 Buchannan Arms Hotel & Spa
☕ Skoosh
🚰 Drymen Public Water Tap
Drymen - Rowardennan
Balmaha
🛒 Balmaha Village Shop
🍴 Oak Tree Inn
☕ St Mocha Coffee Shop & Ice Cream
🚰 Balmaha Public Water Tap
Rowardennan
🍴 The Clansman Bar & Grill
🍴 Rowardennan Lodge Youth Hostel (for guests)
🚰 Ben Lomond Car Park Public Water Tap
🛖 Ben’s Bakes Honesty Box
Rowardennan - Inverarnan
Inversnaid
🍴🚰 Inversnaid Hotel
🍴 Inversnaid Bunkhouse
Across the Loch:
Inverarnan
🛒 Beinnglas Campsite Shop
🍴 The Drovers Inn
🍴🚰 Beinnglas Camspite Bar & Restaurant
Inverarnan - Tyndrum
Crianlarich
🛒✉️ Crianlarich Store & Post Office
🍴 The Crianlarich Hotel
🍴 Ben More Lodge
🍴 The Rod & Reel
🚰 Crianlarich Public Water Tap
Between Crianlarich & Tyndrum
☕ Artisan Cafe & Deli
Tyndrum
🛒 Brodies Mini Market
🍴 The Real Food Cafe
🍴 Tyndrum Inn
🍴 The Ben Lui Restaurant
🍴 Muthu Ben Doran Hotel
☕🚰🚶♀️ The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrum - Inveroran
Bridge of Orchy
🍴🚰 Bridge of Orchy Hotel
✉️ Bridge of Orchy Post Office (limited opening)
Inveroran
🛒🍴🚰 Inveroran Hotel
Inveroran - Kingshouse / Glencoe
Glencoe (near the trail)
🍴 Glencoe Mountain Resort
🍴🚰 Kingshouse Hotel
Glencoe Village
🛒 Gulf Petrol Station Convenience Store
🍴 The Glencoe Inn
🍴 Glencoe Gathering
🍴 Moss
☕ Crafts & Things
🚰 Glencoe Public Water Tap
Kingshouse - Kinlochleven
🛒 Co-op Food
🍴 Highland Getaway Inn
🍴 The Tailrace Inn
🍴 Rice & Chips Chinese Takeaway
🍴 MacDonald Hotel
☕ Leven Bites
✉️ Kinlochleven Post Office
🚰 Kinlochleven Public Water Tap
🛖 Wee Midgie Honesty Box
Fort William
Glen Nevis:
🍴 Glen Nevis Restaurant
🍴 Ben Nevis Inn
Fort William:
🛒 Morrisons
🛒 Tesco Express
🍴 Nevis Bank Inn
🍴 The Crofter Bar & Restaurant
🍴 Crannog at Garrison West
🍴 The Grog & Gruel
🍴 The Tavern Restaurant
🍴 Ben Nevis Bar
🍴 Black Isle Bar
🍴 Spice Tandoori
🍴 Sonas Restaurant
🍴 Crannog Seafood
🍴 The Geographer Restaurant
🍴 Cafe 115
🍴 Macari’s Fish & Chips
🍴 The Great Glen Wetherspoons
☕ Lochaber Cafe
☕ The Wildcat
☕ The Old Deli
☕ Farine Bakery
☕ The Kilted Caramel
✉️ Fort William Post Office
🚶♀️ Ellis Brigham
🚶♀️ Nevisport
🚶♀️ Cotswold Outdoor
Booking Restaurants on the West Highland Way
If you’re hiking the West Highland Way during high season (May–September), it’s worth booking restaurants in advance. Some villages along the route only have one or two places to eat, and they can fill up quickly. If there’s a pub or restaurant you’re excited to try, make a reservation as soon as you know your dates so you’re not left disappointed at the end of a long day.
If you’re vegan, gluten-free, or have any other dietary needs, let them know when you book. Many places can be accommodating, but they need a bit of notice – especially in smaller villages where supplies are limited.
Tips for Managing Food & Water on the West Highland Way
While the West Highland Way has plenty of places to eat and restock, a little planning makes each day smoother:
Don’t carry too much food
Stick to 1–2 days’ worth. Shops and cafés are more frequent than people expect, and extra weight adds up quickly.
Refill water every chance you get
There are plenty of taps, but distances between them can feel long on hot or rainy days. Make a habit of topping up whenever you see one.
Plan ahead if you have dietary restrictions
Vegan, gluten-free or allergy-friendly food is available but not everywhere. Stock up when you can and book restaurants in advance.
Keep snacks easy to reach
The trail has long days. Having snacks in a hip belt or shoulder pocket makes a huge difference.
For wild campers
A water filter helps you stay flexible, and carrying an extra meal is a smart backup.
Best pubs and cafes on the West Highland Way (In my humble opinion)
I obviously didn’t have a chance to visit all the options – I would have been eating more than walking if I had! But I went with an eat-out-whenever-possible strategy and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m vegetarian and there were plenty of options for me throughout the trail.
Here are my 5 favourite places I tried:
- Clachan Inn (Drymen)
- Oak Tree Inn (Balmaha)
- Real Food Cafe (Tyndrum)
- Bridge of Orchy Hotel
- Rice & Chips Chinese Takeaway (Kinlochleven)
And for some post-hike food in Fort William I loved:
- Black Isle Bar
- The Old Deli cafe
Fuel Up & Enjoy the Miles
Food really doesn’t have to be stressful on the West Highland Way. As long as you know where the shops, cafes, and water taps are, you can pack light and enjoy the trail without worrying about finding your next meal.
Plan ahead for busier stretches, book restaurants in high season, and carry a little extra on the remote sections and you’ll be absolutely fine. Once you’re out there, taking advantage of all the food options becomes part of the fun of the walk.
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