West Highland Way Kit List – What to Pack for a Wild Camping Adventure
- Janire
- Aug 11, 2025
- 5 min read
If you’re joining us for the West Highland Way Expedition or planning your own long-distance Scottish hike, the right kit will make all the difference.
This is a 96-mile (154 km) journey from Milngavie (near Glasgow) to the foot of Ben Nevis — finishing with a summit of the UK’s highest mountain. Over 8 days, we’ll tackle around 5,500m of total ascent, carrying everything we need to be self-sufficient on the trail.
📅 Trip Dates: October 2026, May 2027 & September 2027
💪 Difficulty: Expert (Check out our hiking difficulty grading system HERE!)
👥 Led by: Qualified Mountain Leader Janire
📍 Find full trip details here: West Highland Way & Ben Nevis Event Page
New to Wild Camping? We Can Help
If you’re new to wild camping, or simply want to build confidence before heading out on a bigger adventure, our Ray of Sun x CampWild: Intro to Wild Camping Course for Women is the perfect place to start.
We’ll be running this course on 16–18 April 2027 and 16–18 July 2027 in the beautiful Shropshire Hills.
Led by Janire, this 2-night, hands-on course is designed to help you build real confidence in wild camping, backpacking, and hiking with a loaded pack — all in a supportive, small-group environment.
Over the weekend, you’ll learn:
Choosing a good pitch and setting up camp confidently
Packing, carrying, and hiking with a loaded backpack
Cooking outdoors and managing food efficiently
Staying comfortable in changing weather conditions
Essential wild camping skills and campcraft
Making good decisions in real outdoor settings
Leave No Trace principles and responsible camping practices
Based at a CampWild site in the Shropshire Hills, we use a safe, legal basecamp before heading out for a full day hiking with loaded packs — giving you the chance to practise your skills in a real but supportive environment.
It’s the ideal opportunity to test your kit, refine your setup, and build the confidence to head into bigger adventures feeling prepared.
Ready to join us? Book your place here: Ray of Sun x CampWild: Intro to Wild Camping Course for Women
Why packing smart matters
We’ll be carrying everything we need on our backs — tents, sleeping gear, food, cooking kit, and clothing for all weather conditions. The goal is to pack light enough for comfort, but complete enough for safety.
A pack that’s too heavy will make the distance feel much harder, but leaving out key kit could make for a miserable trip.
If you’re unsure where to start, this West Highland Way Wild Camping Kit List has been designed specifically for multi-day trekking in Scotland. It balances comfort, safety, and weight so you can enjoy the journey without being weighed down, whether you’re joining our guided trip or setting out independently.
West Highland Way & Ben Nevis Wild Camping Kit List
Equipment
65–75 litre rucksack
Waterproof rucksack liner or dry bags (bin bags can work well too; bag cover alone will not suffice)
Pack rain cover – keeps the outside of your pack dry
Tent
Sleeping mat
Sleeping bag (3–4 season)
Sleeping bag liner (adds warmth)
Stove, lighter, bowl, cutlery etc
Enough gas for 8 days (approx. 25g per day, plus extra; more if cooking fresh meals)
Walking poles
Head torch plus spare/spare batteries
Collapsible mug – for hot drinks without burning your hands
Optional
Gaiters
Maps (we’ll have group navigation maps, but bring your own if you like)
Trowel (for wild toileting)
Battery pack for charging phone etc
Sandals/crocs for evenings
Inflatable trekking pillow – extra comfort without much weight
Repair kit – duct tape, safety pins, needle & strong thread, spare tent peg
Small brush or cloth – to clean boots or dry tent before packing
Lightweight sit mat – makes rest stops more comfortable
Ear plugs & eye mask – useful for campsite or hostel nights
Micro cord or paracord – clothesline, repairs, or extra guylines
Small notebook & pencil – for journalling or notes
Clothing
Comfortable walking boots with ankle support
Waterproof jacket with hood
Waterproof trousers
2 × 1 litre water bottles
4 pairs walking socks (washable on the trip)
Underwear (your choice how often to change)
Thermal top & bottoms
2 × walking trousers
2 × technical t-shirts/tops
1 × micro fleece
1 × warm fleece
1 × insulated jacket
Warm gloves × 2
Warm hat
Buff/neck gaiter
Sunglasses and cap – for sun and wind protection
Health and Hygiene
Water purifying tablets/water filter of choice
Travel towel
Small bottle/bar of biodegradable soap
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Deodorant
Antibacterial hand gel
Toilet roll in a zip lock
Wet wipes/face wipes
Sanitary products
Suncream
Lip balm
Waste bags – doggy poo bags or zip locks
Personal first aid kit:
Plasters
Blister plasters, toe protectors & toe foam can be very helpful!
Zinc oxide tape
Antiseptic wipes
Antihistamines
Ibuprofen
Paracetamol
Sports hydration tabs
Any personal medication you may need
Food (for camping/wild camping edition)
The West Highland Way passes through several villages, campsites, shops, cafés, pubs, and accommodation providers, so there is no need to carry a full week's worth of food from the start.
Breakfasts
Bring lightweight breakfast options for the first few mornings, such as porridge sachets, granola, dried fruit, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Additional supplies can be purchased along the route as needed.
Lunches
We recommend simple no-cook lunches that can be prepared in advance or bought along the route. Good options include wraps, pittas, bagels, cheese, cured meats, pre-prepared salads, pasta salads, hummus, and other ready-to-eat foods. Plan to stop and enjoy a proper lunch break each day without needing to use your stove.
Evening Meals
If staying at campsites or accommodation, there are frequent opportunities to buy hot meals from pubs, cafés, restaurants, and local shops along the route. Those planning to wild camp should bring lightweight dehydrated meals, such as those from Firepot or similar brands, which require only hot water and provide a convenient, calorie-dense evening meal. More detailed food recommendations and resupply information will be provided after booking.
Snacks
Carry a selection of snacks for between meals, such as nuts, trail mix, flapjacks, oatcakes, chocolate, dried fruit, and energy bars.
Resupply
Thanks to the daily luggage transfer service, you can keep most of your food in your main bag and replenish your day pack each morning. Combined with the numerous shops, cafés, pubs, and campsites along the route, there is little need to carry more than a day's worth of food at a time.
Emergency Rations
Carry a small emergency food reserve, such as nuts, chocolate, sweets, or energy bars, in case of delays or poor weather.
Final packing tips
Test your kit in advance – practise pitching your tent and cooking on your stove before the trip.
Pack for quick access – keep waterproofs, snacks, and water easy to reach.
Double-check your waterproofing – use liners and dry bags to keep your essentials dry.
Get Your Training Plan
If you’re ready to start preparing, our Training for the West Highland Way guide walks you through a 12-week schedule to build fitness, strength, and endurance before May. It’s the perfect companion to the kit list — get your body and your gear trail-ready.📍 Read the full training plan here
If you’re joining us, you can expect expert guidance from your leaders, great company, and a real sense of achievement when you reach that final summit.
📍 Join the adventure here: West Highland Way & Ben Nevis Event Page
Wild camping lists make people obsess over tents, socks, and stoves, but the boring travel parts can still wreck the mood. I once packed well for a walking trip and still lost patience because the booking details were messy before we even started. For a trip like the West Highland Way, loveholidays reviews would matter to me before paying for any stay around the route. Good gear helps on the trail, but bad lodging or unclear dates can sour the whole plan before the first mile.