Your home in the Highlands
Some of the finest walking in Scotland sits right on our doorstep, from gentle lochside strolls you can do with the children to the famous climbs of the glen. Over the years we have walked most of them ourselves, so here are our favourites near Glencoe, Kentallen and Loch Leven, with directions to get you started.
Right from your front door
The Caledonia Way
One of the joys of staying here is that the Caledonia Way runs right past the door. This level, largely traffic-free path, part of National Cycle Network Route 78, follows the shore of Loch Linnhe, passing right alongside the beach houses, close by the lodges and the neighbouring Holly Tree Hotel, behind Glenachulish Bay and directly in front of Wildwood.
Step out, turn either way and you are straight onto it, on foot or by bike, with otters, seals and other wildlife for company along the water.
On foot
Gentle and family favourites
Easy on the legs, big on views, and ideal with children in tow.
Glencoe Lochan Walk
Situated in the heart of Glencoe village, beside the old Glencoe Hospital, the Glencoe Lochan trail has three well signposted different walks that you can follow, depending on how much time and energy you may have! The Hospital used to be the home of the Earl of Strathcona who was Governor General of Canada for a while. He brought his Canadian wife back with him, who soon became a little homesick. The Earl decided to landscape the whole area around the house so that it looked like the Canadian Rockies. The entire water lochan is man made. This is one of the most popular family walks in the Glencoe area being really scenic and right in the heart of Glencoe village area. Routes and parking are on the Forestry and Land Scotland page.
Inchree Waterfalls
Take the A82 to Fort William, when you reach the village of Inchree in Onich, take a right turn and follow this road until you reach the car park for the waterfalls. This is a circular route around Forestry Commission roads and affords stunning views of the waterfalls flowing out of Gleann Righ. Parts of the walk also have marvellous views of Kentallen Bay and Loch Linnhe. Our kids have gone on outward bound trips there canyoning and abseiling which a local company Vertical Descents can offer. One of our kids' favourite walks.
Signal Rock and An Torr
As you travel on the A82 through Glencoe, take a left turn just about three miles past the petrol station and park in the car park (where the old visitor centre used to be). Cross the wooden bridge over the River Coe, and the path will take you straight to Signal Rock and An Torr. Signal Rock was chosen for the vital signal, which started the Glencoe Massacre in 1692. This part of Glencoe is well worth a look.
Sutherlands Grove
Take A828 towards Oban and stop off at just before Barcaldine village, from where you will see Forestry signs for Sutherlands Grove. Various forest walks with stunning views onto the open hills. Lots of display boards showing you which route is which. Nice views of Argyll from the hills.
Glenachulish
Take A828 towards Ballachulish. About 8 minutes up the road you will see signs for Glenachulish on your right. Follow this single track up until you reach the defined car park, just before the forest walk starts. You can take a leisurely stroll by turning right which will lead you past the forestry office and residential buildings. This very flat walk will eventually lead you to a shrine that has been dedicated to St. Mary by the local residents of Glenachulish. Lovely clear views across Loch Linnhe.
Ariundle Oakwoods
Cross the Corran Ferry and follow the signs for Strontian. Ariundle Forest is well signposted. Once you park, there are various walks to choose from, all very well signposted with maps to show you which routes you can take. Very pleasant walks that are quite protected from the elements in part by the majestic trees.
Clach Tholl, Port Appin
A gentle stroll round the headland of the Appin peninsula. Takes about half an hour. Follow the single-track road to the end of Port Appin and park in the car park opposite Lismore Island. The track, which is good, takes you past several interesting cliffs, caves and the sea-arch from which the walk takes its name (it means "the rock with a hole"). Seals are often seen swimming off the point at Appin rocks.
Caledonian Canal
Follow the A82 to Fort William then take the road to Mallaig. Take a right turn for Banavie once you cross the bridge and park in the car park beside Neptune's Staircase. This flight of locks is an engineering masterpiece and well worth admiring. The views are special and Ben Nevis fills the southerly views.
Nevis Gorge and Steall Falls
Take A82 to Fort William and drive straight on at the roundabout just past the Nevis Bank Hotel on your right. Follow this lovely road up to the end and park. Both Rob Roy and Braveheart featured panoramic Glen Nevis. The Gorge footpath leaves from the car park and is signposted Corrour Station. This lovely, mainly flat walk passes some impressive rock formations along the way. Good picnicking sites along the way.
Ballachulish Slate Quarry
Drive to Ballachulish and go into the village by the second entrance. Take the first right and park outside the Tourist Information Centre. Walk through the building, cross the road and go to the gate to the left of the small shop. Follow the path round the outline of the quarry, or climb the hill for spectacular views. Another path will lead off to the left and this will take you to Brecklet lane. Walk down the hill (through a big gate), pass the church, and at the bottom of the hill turn right. Walk through the village and past the CO-OP. Take a right towards the Tourist Information centre again.
On foot
Forest and glen trails
Waymarked forest roads and quiet glens, mostly under an hour or two.
Glenachulish to St John's Church Walk
This follows a four by four track and a couple of times we have gone half way up the hill by car and then walked to the top from there. To get the start head along the A828 towards Glencoe and take a right to Glenachulish before you come to the Dragons Tooth Golf Course or the Ballachulish Hotel. Follow the Glenachulish road for a mile or so and you come to the Forestry Commission car park. There is good signage showing the various different routes. One well known route is the horseshoe which takes in a couple of Munros. A much more gentle walk for families is to take the forest road to St Johns with some stunning views across Loch Leven to the Pap of Glencoe. You come down at St Johns church and you can either walk back along the cycle path, get picked up by car or walk back the way you came. It will take a couple of hours at most and really will not disappoint.
Callart Forest Walk
Cross the Ballachulish Bridge then turn right onto what the locals call the low road to Kinlochleven with the high road being the other road accessed through Glencoe village. Park at the entrance to Callart Forest about 2 miles along this road. This scenic forest walk has excellent views at various points across to Loch Leven and the Beinn Bheither Horseshoe, Glencoe Burial Isles and Pap of Glencoe, to name but a few. You can drive back the other way through Kinlochleven and then through Glencoe village back the high road.
James of the Glen's Birthplace in Duror
Go to Duror Village then take the left turn signposted Auchindarroch. This road leads up past a caravan park and housing scheme. Drive past until you reach the car park. Forestry paths lead from that point and the route to the bothy is marked by a post bearing the symbol "JG". The area is heavily forested and there is quite a network of pathways so be careful to follow the directions given. Not many scenic views, but certainly of historical interest relating to Duror and James of the Glen. Actual walk takes about 1.5hrs.
Arkaig Glens
Follow A82 to Fort William and continue onto Spean Bridge. At the Commando Memorial, take a left towards Gairlochy and the Caledonian Canal. After crossing the canal, turn right through woodlands until you pass Clunes. You then travel along the Mile Dorcha (Dark Mile) until you reach Loch Arkaig. Various walks are signposted and all start at the stepped waters of Chia-aig that pours into the peaty Witches pool. Fantastic views along the way in this beautiful countryside.
On foot
The classic Glencoe walks
The ones people come back for, right in the heart of the glen.
The Lost Valley, also known as The Hidden Valley
An extremely popular walk in Glencoe which people often do twice in a week's holiday because it is so interesting. Drive past Glencoe on the way to Tyndrum and park on the A82 in the upper of two car parks on the right hand side of the road (about 20 mins drive from the hotel). Descend to the old road (signposted Corrie Gabhail) and turn left along it. Soon, a set of wooden steps will lead you across the river and up the steep hillside between Beinn Fhada and Gearr Aonach (2 of the 3 Sisters of Glencoe). This very well defined path will lead you into the lost valley, where the MacDonalds are reputed to have hidden cattle they had rustled from their neighbours. The size of the lost valley in Glencoe is still a surprise, no matter how many times you enjoy this walk. The walk can take anything from 1 hour to complete.
The Two Passes
Drive to Glencoe and park in the first car park above the gorge. A large sign for Loch Etive indicates where the walk begins. This walk is very rewarding, offering fantastic views without the effort of conquering a summit! You ascend about 2000 feet and this circular walk takes in the passes of Lairig Eilde, Lairig Gartain and Buachaille Etive Beag (Little Shepherd of Etive). This walk is only advisable in dry weather as it is very boggy in parts and has several streams to cross.
Devils Staircase
This walk was initially given its name by the soldiers who were part of the road-building programme for General Wade. Take A82 through Glencoe and when you come to Alt na Feidh, signs will take you along the West Highland Way over to Kinlochleven. This well-defined path zigzags as it climbs and offers some exceptional views along the way, including Buachaille Etive Mhor. After this section, walking gets a bit easier until the coll is reached. Thereby, the path continues down until you can see the Blackwater Reservoir in Kinlochleven. Rewarding walk.
It climbs to the highest point on the West Highland Way.On foot
Hills, Munros and bigger days
For the energetic, with summit views to match the effort.
Pap of Glencoe
Park in the village of Glencoe then cross over the River Coe. Pass the Glencoe Hospital signs on your left, once the forest on the left ends you come across a gate at the foot of the hill. Pass up through this gate, through the fields until you come to the path for the mountain. Quite a strenuous walk in parts, but nothing can beat the tremendous views from the summit! Total walk time can be anything from 2 hours.
The Pap, properly Sgorr na Ciche, stands 742 m (2,434 ft) and is classed as a Graham.Ben Nevis
Park at Glen Nevis Visitor Centre, cross the footbridge over the river and just follow the path up Britain's highest mountain! Fairly arduous walk but well worth the stunning views from the summit.
At 1,345 m (4,413 ft) it is the highest mountain in Britain.Ben Lora
Take A828 to Benderloch and you will see the Forestry signs for Ben Lora. Great views across the mountains with mainly easy walks, well signposted. Depending on the pace of the walk, this hill can be conquered in a few hours or can take a full day.
Cuill Hill
Park in Duror Hall car park and follow the track behind the Hall, which will bring you to the top of the hill. Breathtaking views of Ben Nevis, Mull and Ardgour once you reach the top.
Buachaille Etive Beag
The start of the walk is on the opposite side of the road to a large cairn, at the Lairig Eilde footpath in Glencoe. Wonderful views to the Aonach Eagach ridge, Glen Coe and as you progress, to Beinn Fhada and Buachaille Etive Mhor. This is a circular walk with a total ascent of 550m. The path is mainly good, although a bit undefined in parts. Can take 6-7 hours.
Its southern summit, Stob Dubh (958 m), is a Munro.Glenachulish Horseshoe
Take A828 towards Ballachulish. About 8 minutes up the road you will see signs for Glenachulish on your right. Follow this single track up until you reach the defined car park, just before the forest walk starts. Walk straight up through the Forestry gates. The initial walk is pretty steep, but you can then fork left where the slope is much gentler. As the name suggests, the walk doubles back in a horseshoe shape to take you back to your starting point. The more energetic can branch left then left again at the next forestry road and this leads to behind St. Johns Church, on the way to Ballachulish. You can also decide to ignore the first left turning and follow the next right turn, which will lead you more or less to the top of Beinn Vhair. Breathtaking views await those who make it to the top!
Glenachulish to the Radio Mast
This starts again at the Forestry Commission car park in Glenachulish but takes a slightly steeper route to the radio mast. It's well marked by the Forestry Commission and you will be rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view ranging from Mull to Ben Nevis.
Loch Eilde Mor, Kinlochleven
Park in the Grey Mares Waterfall car park. This is a circular walk above the village of Kinlochleven providing excellent views over the village, the Blackwater Reservoir, Loch Leven and all those beautiful hills. The opening scenes from the film Rob Roy were shot from around this area.
The Blackwater Dam, Kinlochleven
In days gone by, school pupils of Kinlochleven used to run up this walk as part of their PE sessions! Take the road alongside the Ice Factor and climb up the pipeline. When you reach a corrugated hut, you can either carry on the more strenuous walk up the pipeline, or opt for the easier road walk. At the top, you can reach the Blackwater Reservoir and Dam and enjoy the lovely views across the village to the hills beyond.
On foot
The West Highland Way
You do not have to walk all of it to taste one of Scotland's great long-distance routes.
West Highland Way
You don't have to walk all of the West Highland Way; even just walking part of the way gives you a taste of what a magnificent walk this is. Pick up trails from Kinlochleven to Fort William through the Mamores or from Glencoe to Kinlochleven over the Devils Staircase.
The full route runs 96 miles (154 km) from Milngavie, near Glasgow, to Fort William.