The Great Glen and River Spey - The Rough Guide to Scotland - page 402

WALKS AROUND GLEN COE
Ordnance Survey Explorer map 384
Flanked by sheer-sided Munros, Glen Coe offers some of the Highlands' most challenging
hiking routes, with long steep ascents over rough trails and notoriously unpredictable
weather conditions that claim lives every year. The walks outlined below number among the
glen's less ambitious routes, but still require a map. It's essential that you take the proper
precautions, and stick to the paths, both for your own safety and the sake of the landscape,
which has become badly eroded in places. For a broader selection of walks, get hold of the
Ordnance Survey Pathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks .
DEVIL'S STAIRCASE
A good introduction to the splendours of Glen Coe is the half-day hike over the Devil's
Staircase , which follows part of the old military road that once ran between Fort William and
Stirling. The trail, part of the West Highland Way (see p.400), starts at the village of
Kinlochleven and is marked by thistle signs, which lead uphill to the 1804ft pass and down
the other side into Glen Coe.
ALLT COIRE GABHAIL
Set right in the heart of the glen, the half-day Allt Coire Gabhail hike starts at the car park
opposite the distinctive Three Sisters massif on the main A82. This explores the so-called “Lost
Valley” where the Clan MacDonald fled and hid their cattle when attacked. Once in the valley,
there are superb views of the upper slopes of Bidean nan Bian, Gearr Aonach and Beinn
Fhada, which improve as you continue on to its head, another twenty- to thirty-minute walk.
BUACHAILLE ETIVE BEAG
Undoubtedly one of the finest walks in the Glen Coe area that doesn't entail the ascent of a
Munro is the Buachaille Etive Beag circuit, which follows the textbook glacial valleys of Lairig
Eilde and Lairig Gartain, ascending 1968ft in only nine miles of rough trail. Park near the
waterfall at The Study - the gorge part of the A82 through Glen Coe - and walk up the road
until you see a sign pointing south to “Loch Etiveside”.

11

Glencoe Village and around
Tucked between steep mountains, Loch Leven and the grassy banks of the River Coe,
Glencoe Village is an attractive place to spend a couple of days. here's a good choice of
accommodation in the area, and if you fancy a break from walking, the village museum
and nearby visitor centre make for pleasant distractions.

Glencoe Folk Museum
Main Street • Easter-Aug Mon-Sat 10am-4.30pm (last admission 4pm) • W glencoemuseum.com • £3
If you have an hour to spare in Glencoe Village, it's worth paying a visit to the
delightful heather-roofed Glencoe Folk Museum . Various games and activities for kids
can be enjoyed within this cosy 1720 croft where items include a chair that reputedly
once belonged to Bonnie Prince Charlie.

NTS visitor centre
A mile east of Glencoe Village on the A82 • Feb-Easter Thurs-Sun 10am-4pm; Easter-Oct daily 9.30am-5.30pm; Nov-Jan Thurs-Sun
10am-4pm; Guided walks Easter & June-Sept (book ahead) • W glencoe-nts.org.uk • £5.50; guided walks from £5; NTS
he attractive NTS visitor centre sits in woodland a mile south of Glencoe Village.
It has a good exhibition, with film, giving a balanced account of the massacre, plus
information about the area's natural history and conservation issues, and some
entertaining material on rock- and hill-climbing through the years. here's also a
cabin area providing information on the local weather and wildlife, and you may be
able to join a ranger-led guided walk of the surrounding area.