📌 Glen Coe, Highland
★★★★
The Pap of Glencoe cuts a majestic profile above Glencoe village. The distinctive summit cone affords a wonderful panorama over almost the whole length of Loch Leven, backed by the Mamores to the north and Ardgour to the west; whatever this wee peak lacks in altitude, it more than makes up for in attitude! While the views are hard to beat, the path itself won’t win any medals: often loose or eroded, with water running down the middle in places. The descent mapped out below is perhaps even rougher still with a little simple scrambling – or you could return by the ascent route. The roars of rutting red deer stags filled the air on our first, autumn visit, but our most recent trip was in springtime, with snowcapped peaks forming a majestic backdrop.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Glencoe Orbital trail 
Start of ascent, Pap of Glencoe straight ahead 
Burn crossing 
Loch Leven from the lower slopes 
South side of Glen Coe 
Beinn a’ Bheithir (left) & Loch Leven 
Meall Mòr (left) & Beinn a’ Bheithir 
Pap of Glencoe 
Red deer 
Upper Loch Leven from the final ascent 
Steep final ascent 
View over the bealach & across Glen Coe 
Coire an Lochain, Sgorr nam Fiannaidh 
Upper Loch Leven & snowcapped Mamores 
Pap of Glencoe summit, looking down Loch Leven 
South Glen Coe from the descent 
Rocky upper slopes on descent 
Steep descent 
View ahead from the descent 
Looking back
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at track junction, minor road immediately east of Glencoe village
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 107588
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.682264,-5.091875
🚌 Bus stops at west end of Glencoe village (0.5 mi)
🚗 Parking on side of track (don’t block access)
📝 Key info
▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 740 m | ⌛ 3.5-4.5 hr
Features: △ Pap of Glencoe / Sgorr na Cìche (742 m, “Torbett”)
⬤ Tough | Good path for approach, then ascent is mostly eroded with steep, poorly drained & rocky sections. Descent is slightly rougher still with a little very easy scrambling over rocky bands higher up.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise lollipop circuit: start – leave roadside path at 🧭 NN 111585 – cross footbridge at 🧭 NN 113587 – bealach between Pap of Glencoe & Cnap Glas – Pap of Glencoe – descent via west ridge, curving southwest to rejoin outward route at footbridge
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Lizards, bullfinches & other small birds. Hundreds of rutting red deer on a previous, autumn visit.
Weather: Mostly sunny with patchy cloud banks on Munros. Temperatures reaching 12°C after a cool start, fairly light wind. Fresh snow on higher hills above about 700m.
April 2023
