By Mike Merritt

Stretching from the edge of Glasgow to the foot of Ben Nevis, it was Scotland’s first officially designated long-distance route when it opened in 1980 – and is still by far the most popular.

Now a special exhibition is being planned to celebrate four decades of the West Highland Way, which has played host to hundreds of thousands of hikers, cyclists and runners.

Often named among the greatest walks in the world by top travel guides, the 96-mile trek usually attracts around 85,000 people annually – of whom over 30,000 cover the entire route.

Managers are preparing to mark its 40th anniversary later this year and have launched an appeal for stories, photographs and special moments which capture the experiences of members of the public.

The campaign, part of a special project funded by the LEADER programme, is already under way, with supplied content set to form the basis of an online anniversary exhibition on October 6.

“If you have walked, cycled or run the West Highland Way you will no doubt have lots of memories and standout moments from your adventures,” said organisers.

“We are looking to draw together as many of these as possible, with an exhibition that captures the magic of the trail from the many thousands that have enjoyed their time on it.

“What are we looking for? Charity challenges, overnight stops, fun moments along the route, the highs, the lows, weddings or family celebrations, the people that you shared the experience with.”

They added: “Maybe you’ve walked it multiple times, maybe you took part in a cycling or running event.

“Also, we’d love to hear from the people who work along the trail; the accommodation providers, shop and café owners, the van drivers, path maintenance, volunteers and so on.”

Thanks to its majestic mountain peaks, lochs and moors, the West Highland Way is well established as one of the planet’s most popular routes. Earlier this year, it was the only British trek to be named by top travel bible Wanderlust in its list of 37 “worldclass walks”.

The prestigious guide chose the best examples from each inhabited continent, as well as other geographical regions such as the Middle East.

It was also one of just seven walks chosen from Europe, joining the famous 497-mile Camino de Santiago between France and Spain.

The West Highland Way, which was co-designated as part of the International Appalachian Trail in June 2010 and hosts a number of ultramarathons, runs from Milngavie in the north of Glasgow to Fort William.

Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor and Glencoe are among the many iconic landmarks situated on the route, along with an exceptional range of wildlife including feral goats – descendants of those left from the Highland Clearances – red deer and golden eagles.

Crianlarich, Tyndrum and Inveroran are just some of the villages, towns and hotels which outdoor lovers will pass.

Of the West Highland Way, Wanderlust recommended that it be tackled over six to seven days, although the course record is under 14 hours by foot.

And Gary MacDonald, from Kinlochleven, recently set a new cycling record of 9 hours, 28 minutes and 34 seconds. Wanderlust described the route’s difficulty as “moderate, though it’s weather dependent.”

In their description, its writers said: “From just outside Glasgow to the UK’s highest peak, the West Highland Way is the perfect Scottish primer.

“Utilising many old pathways – from drovers’ roads to disused railway lines –it crosses pastoral lowlands, skirts Loch Lomond and negotiates bleakly beautiful Rannoch Moor before delving into great glens and finishing beneath Ben Nevis – a summit of which provides the ultimate finale.”

The route is managed by the West Highland Way Management Group, consisting of West Dunbartonshire Council, Stirling Council, Argyll and Bute Council, Highland Council and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority. Visit the West Highland Way website by September 6 with your memories.