📌 Glen Coe, Highland
★★★★
This route starts from the fantastic Three Sisters viewpoint at the heart of Glen Coe. Overlooking the triplet buttresses of Beinn Fhada, Gearr Aonach and Aonach Dubh, you might be serenaded by a bagpiper catering to passing tourist coaches as you lace up your walking boots. The objective – Coire Gabhail or the Lost Valley – is famously the location where the MacDonalds once concealed stolen cattle, hidden away up the ravine between the two leftmost buttresses. In good weather the walk up to the coire is probably the best short(ish) walk in Glen Coe, but it shouldn’t be underestimated – the path is very rough indeed (verging on easy scrambling in a couple of places) and there have been fatalities in the past. After threading through the narrow gorge, the point at which the glen opens out to reveal the coire floor should be a real “wow” moment.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Entrance to Coire Gabhail seen from the start 
Coire nan Lochan 
Looking down Glen Coe 
A metal staircase helps scale a rocky area 
Steep section beyond the River Coe 
Looking back to the Aonach Eagach 
A’ Chailleach 
Allt Coire Gabhail 
Allt Coire Gabhail 
Rocky step on the path 
Looking back down the glen 
Bouldery area 
First view of Coire Gabhail 
Boulders at the foot of the coire 
Gearr Aonach 
Coire Gabhail from the head of the flat area 
Coire Gabhail from Bealach Dearg (not on this walk)
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Three Sisters viewpoint, A82 5 mi east of Glencoe village
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 171569
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.667738,-4.986430
❌ Buses pass the start but there is no official stop
🚗 Car park (further car parks to west & east)
📝 Key info
▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 300 m | ⌛ 2.5 hr
Features: 📷 Three Sisters viewpoint; 📷 Coire Gabhail (Lost Valley)
⬤ Moderate | Clear path throughout, but some sections are very rough, steep or close to steep drops. A few rocky spots may require the odd hand, especially if the ground is wet. Tough route for this grade.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – path to southeast from car park – footbridge over River Coe – path up west bank, then east bank, of Allt Coire Gabhail – Coire Gabhail (continue to far end of flat area for view looking back) – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: A few woodland birds.
Weather: Hot & sunny (27°C at finish!) but with a welcome breeze.
July 2021
