Most of the West Highland Way has some mobile signal, but parts of it have none from any network. The UK government's page on its Shared Rural Network programme, last updated 19 October 2026, lists the West Highland Way among places that "currently have no 4G signal" and are planned for new masts, alongside Glen Coe and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Those masts are shared between operators, so as they come online the gaps should close for every network at once. Until then, the safest eSIM is one that can switch between UK networks.
We haven't walked the Way for this site. The coverage claims come from the government and news sources linked below.
What's known about coverage
| Source | What it says | Date |
|---|---|---|
| GOV.UK, Shared Rural Network | The West Highland Way "currently" has no 4G signal in parts and is in the plans for new masts; Scotland is a priority; "all publicly funded masts are shared by operators" | 30 Jun 2025, updated 19 Oct 2026 |
| STV News | Virgin Media O2 installed a mast at Glencoe Mountain Resort at 1,108 m, which Three and Vodafone customers also benefit from | 1 Jul 2024 |
| West Highland Way official site | On the Rannoch Moor stage, "there is no shelter on this section of the Way until reaching the Ski Centre" | Updated Mar 2023 |
The Glencoe Mountain Resort mast sits at the ski centre at the end of the Rannoch Moor crossing, the most exposed stretch of the Way. The government page doesn't say exactly which sections still lack 4G, and we couldn't find an operator map precise enough to say, so check the coverage checkers of the UK networks (or Ofcom's) for the specific points on your route before you go.
Which eSIM for the UK
The UK is cheap for data, and the more useful choice is how many networks the eSIM can use. Ten days at 0.5 GB a day, the length of a typical West Highland Way trip with a night either side:
Networks. Nomad lists 3, EE and Vodafone. Holafly lists all four UK networks (EE, Three, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone). Airalo lists EE plus two others. Lotso Travel, which our team runs, was cheapest for this trip but doesn't publish which UK network it uses, and Saily and Maya Mobile don't either. On a route where one operator may have the only mast in a glen, we'd pay a dollar or two more for Nomad's three named networks.
If you're also travelling in Europe, the Europe regional plans from Nomad, Saily and Holafly list the UK among their countries.
Satellite and emergencies
The UK is on Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite list (iPhone 14 and later), and Google lists it for Pixel Satellite SOS (Pixel 9 and later, not 9a), so a recent phone has a fallback where no mast reaches. Apple's Messages via satellite, for everyday texting, doesn't work in the UK. For most walkers on the Way itself, a satellite messenger is optional; if you're adding Munros or wild camping off the route, we'd carry one.
- A UK eSIM that names several networks (Nomad lists three, Holafly four)
- Offline maps of the whole Way; the route is well marked, but you'll want them if cloud comes down on Rannoch Moor
- Your accommodation bookings saved offline
- A power bank for the long days between Tyndrum and Kinlochleven
- iPhone 14+ or Pixel 9+ for satellite SOS where there's no signal
Questions people ask
Is there phone signal on the West Highland Way?
Along much of it, yes, but not everywhere. The UK government's Shared Rural Network page (updated 19 Oct 2026) names the West Highland Way among places that "currently have no 4G signal" in parts and are due new masts. It doesn't say which sections, so expect gaps in the remoter glens.
Which UK network is best for the West Highland Way?
There's no published route-level comparison, and new shared masts are changing the picture. A travel eSIM that can use more than one UK network gives you the best odds; Nomad lists 3, EE and Vodafone, and Holafly lists all four.
Does iPhone satellite SOS work in Scotland?
Yes. The UK is on Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite list for iPhone 14 and later, and Google lists the UK for Pixel Satellite SOS.