Here is a taster of our low level walks which show the scenic beauty of our area. No attempt has been made to describe any of the high level walks but these are described in great detail in the Scot Mountaineering publication for the Munros and the Corbetts.

A more comprehensive guide to walks in the area is available locally (Guide to Glencoe & Loch Leven) or you can order over the internet at £3.50 including postage from the U.K. Click here to order.

The Lost Valley

Start/Finish: Map Reference - NN 171 569 - Landranger 41
Parking: On A82 - upper of two large car parks on right of the road going up towards the ”Meeting of the Three Waters“ waterfall.
Distance: 2 miles/3.5 km.
Time: 2 hours

The Lost Valley was where the Macdonalds were supposed to hide the cattle they had rustled from their neighbours, or perhaps, where they hid their cattle to stop them being rustled by their neighbours! The geologists tell us that the lost valley was formed by the weight of ice that could not escape from the valley as the huge ice cap flowed down to the sea through the pass of Glencoe from off Rannoch Moor. Even knowing all this, the size of the valley still comes as a complete surprise the first time it is viewed.

Looking down from the car park towards where the river must be - the gorge is so deep that the river is not really visible from the car park - the old road can be seen. Descend to the old road and turn left along it. Soon a set of wooden steps lead down to a bridge over the river. A brief scramble up the rocks on the other side joins the path that rises quite steeply up the hill between Beinn Fhada and Gearr Aonach, the left two of the three sisters of Glencoe. All the way into the valley the path is quite clear even when it crosses the deer fence and the burn. Coming up over the final rise the valley stretches out a long way to each side and forward to the buttresses leading up to Bidean nam Bean. It is good to wander around the valley for a short while and consider, ”how on earth did the Macdonalds get the cattle up here in the first place?“
Return by the same route.

Devil's Staircase

Start: Map Reference - NN 220 563, Finish: NN 188 620 - Landranger 41
Parking: Long lay by at AltnaFeadh or at the side of the access road opposite.
Distance: 6 miles/9 km.
Time: 3 hours

The Devil's Staircase was initially given its name by the soldiers who were part of the road building programme of General Wade. The carrying of building materials up that stretch of the road was not popular! The name was perpetuated when some of the workers building the Blackwater Dam chose to travel to the nearest pub after their wages had been paid out. For the workers at Kinlochleven the journey to the Kingshouse Hotel proved to be more difficult than many realised. The journey back was even worse as unsteady legs meant that many were unable to manage the return trip and, on a cold winter's night, the devil often ”claimed his own“.

There is a signpost at AltnaFeadh indicating the West Highland Way over to Kinlochleven. The path is very clear and soon rises above the plain of Rannoch Moor. The path zigzags as it climbs the steepest part at which point the views of the moor and of the mountains surrounding it are well worth taking in. The path continues down, crosses the burn using stepping stones and then starts slowly upwards again. To the right the Blackwater reservoir comes into view. Built for the aluminium smelter (now closed) at Kinlochleven, the dam had a capability, when full, of running the smelter for eighty days.

The path continues downwards until it reaches the dam road at the pumping station where the pipes to the smelter start the high pressure build up for the turbines in the generating station. Still very steep, the path continues down to Kinlochleven across the river, through a small section of woods to the tailrace where the water rushes out of the generating station.

Inchree Forest Walks

Start and finish: Map reference - NN030633 Landranger 41 Parking: - in forest clearing car park 1 mile from A82 at Inchree.

Starting at the forestry car park at Inchree, there are 2 attractive options.

The most popular is to follow the waymarked path towards the river Righ. The path then climbs up giving superb views of the Righ Falls, a series of falls over 80 feet. Leaving the river behind, head up to the forest road, turn left and makes your way back to the car park enjoying extensive view of Ardgour and Loch Linnhe with Ben More on Mull showing prominently on a good day. (2 miles)

The alternative which can also be combined with the waterfall walk is to follow the waymarked ”Wade's Road“. Follow the path, which climbs steeply upwards through dense forest initially. However, the woodland opens up as you climb and the birch and rowan become predominant. The path eventually meets up with a forest road. Turn left and follow the forest road for 1 mile, before taking a sharp left turn down a steep path which takes you back to the car park. This walk also give excellent views of Ardgour and Loch Linnhe with Mull in the far distance. (3 ½ miles)