5 Beautiful Hikes In Glencoe, Scotland
For adventure lovers, Glencoe is the ultimate outdoor experience. From its vast and rugged moorland to its iconic mountains and sweeping glens, pulling on your hiking boots and getting outside is a must. There are many beautiful hikes in Glencoe to choose from, ranging from challenging mountain summits to easy forest trails.
Which you choose depends on your appetite for adventure.
For mountain lovers, you have a choice of eight Munros. But, with summits over 914m/3,000ft, these are not for the fainthearted. There are easier trails, too, for those seeking a more relaxed wander. Forest trails, lochside wanders, moorland paths, and smaller peaks are all options, providing adventure, fresh air, and spectacular views at a more leisurely pace.
We’ve been hiking in the Scottish Highland for many years, and one-half of our team is a qualified Mountain Leader.
So, to help you choose a Glencoe outdoor experience you’ll love, today we’re sharing the best and most beautiful Glencoe hikes and walks—trails that deliver big Highland views and epic scenery and get you outdoors.
Ready to go hiking in Glencoe? Let’s go!
Our top picks: Best Outdoorsy Glencoe Hotels & Travel Tips
If you’re looking for an outdoorsy hotel in Glencoe, these are our top picks:
Ballachulish Hotel (for the best boutique stay in Glencoe with spectacular views)
Isles of Glencoe Hotel (for the best waterside location and mountain views)
Riverbeds Luxury Lodges (for the best luxury unique stay in the heart of the forest)
Beechwood Cottage B&B (for the best cosy stay near forest walks)
Car hire:
Discover Cars: the easiest way to explore the Scottish Highlands is absolutely by car and we recommend Discover Cars. They offer the most flexible and affordable car rental in Scotland, big names like Hertz, plus collect your car in all major cities. Book your car here.
Mountain guiding:
We know that tackling Scotland’s summits can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to navigation. Often, the best way to get started is with a friendly, qualified guide who’ll help you get to grips with the Scottish terrain. We can help; get in touch and let us know if you’d like to book a day in the mountains.
The 5 Most Beautiful Hikes in Glencoe
Before we jump in, here is a word of caution about hiking in Glencoe. The weather in this part of the Scottish Highlands is, at best, unpredictable; the area is rugged and remote; the terrain can be challenging; some hikes are full-day affairs.
So, be prepared for your day outdoors.
Wear appropriate outdoor clothing and walking shoes or boots, bring a fully charged phone and pack plenty of food and water. And, though we wholeheartedly believe in pushing yourself, choose a route best suited to your skill and fitness level, the weather, and the season.
The hikes below range from easy to challenging; however, they are strictly achievable walks and hikes. If you’re looking for the most advanced routes, ones that require scrambling, for example, you won’t find them here.
Finally, these Glencoe hikes are perfect for spring through autumn but should be avoided in winter unless you have the necessary skills and winter gear.
1. Glencoe Lochan Trail
Time: 1 to 2 hours
Distance: 1 mile/1.6km
Difficulty: Easy
Glencoe Lochan Trail is easily one of the best and most beautiful Glencoe walks. Created in 1895 by Lord Strathcona for his homesick Canadian wife, it is well-known for its thoughtfully planted woodland trails that lead to a stunning focal point—the small but perfect loch.
Glencoe Lochan is also a very accessible walk. It’s on reasonably flat forest tracks, and markers help you find your route through the forest.
There are three walks, all taking roughly 35 minutes, with the Lochan Trail (red route) being the most straightforward and having the easiest terrain. This is our favourite trail, and it leads through the forest to the lochan, around its edge, and back again through the woods.
Glencoe Lochan is gorgeous at any time of the year, though it's wonderful in autumn when the leaves are all burnished and amber. Plus, this is the only hike on our list that is perfectly walkable in winter (though you may need spikes on icy days).
While there’s ample car parking, there are no other facilities here, so make sure to use the public toilets in the village and bring snacks and drinks.
Nearby, you’ll also find Signal Rock and An Torr, another short but lovely walk that crosses the river. Views are scenic, though not as dramatic, but this is a good option for a leisurely stroll.
Find my guide and the route for Glencoe Lochan here.
And the route for Signal Rock here.
2. The Lost Valley
Time: 2 to 3 hours
Distance: 2.5 miles/4km
Difficulty: Easy / moderate
The Lost Valley (or Coire Gabhail in Gaelic) is a beautiful spot and is one of my favourite Glencoe walks. Completely hidden from the road by the Three Sisters mountains, this is where the MacDonalds of Glen Coe once hid their stolen cattle.
Nowadays, it’s a popular short hike and wild camping spot.
Those with reasonable walking experience won’t find this hike overly challenging. However, there are steep sections with boulders, rough terrain, rocky sections, and a few shallow rivers to cross depending on recent rain.
But it is very much worth the effort. At the trail's end, the narrow route reveals the vast and open Lost Valley, a grassy space surrounded by soaring mountains.
This is a there-and-back route; the entire circuit will take around three hours. Parking is available at the Three Sisters viewpoint, but do note this is a busy viewpoint and parking is limited below. Finally, wear sturdy shoes or boots and pack appropriate clothes, snacks, and water.
Find the route here.
3. Pap of Glencoe
Time: 4-hours
Distance: 4.2 miles/7km
Difficulty: Easy /moderate.
The first mountain on my list and the smallest, the Pap of Glencoe (known in Gaelic as Sgòrr na Cìche) is a steep and distinctive hill that dominates the Glencoe village skyline.
You’ll find some of the best views of the area from this little mountain and the summit is a fantastic vantage point over Loch Leven and Glencoe village.
The trail to the top is, for the most part, reasonably easy - if a little steep and rocky. The well-defined path is straightforward to follow and winds uphill from the forest below, providing gorgeous views as it nears a flat area just below the summit.
Until this part, we’d describe the hike as steep but otherwise reasonably easy for those with a good fitness level. However, the final push to the summit is a rocky, steep scramble, and those without experience in putting hands to rock may wish to enjoy the views from below.
There’s ample parking for the Pap of Glencoe and a signpost pointing the way. Again, there are no facilities at the trail head, so be sure to use the public loo in the village and bring anything you might need, including food and water.
Find the route here.
4. Buachaille Etive Mòr
Time: 7 to 9 hours
Distance: 8 miles/13 km
Difficulty: moderate / challenging
An iconic Glencoe hike, this soaring mountain is a firm favourite and one of the most spectacular walking routes in all of Scotland.
The pyramid mountain that towers over the entrance to Glen Coe valley, the views from the summit are a perfect vantage point. Plus, this mountain is home to the famous White Cottage that has become synonymous with travelling to Glencoe.
While reasonably experienced walkers will find this hike moderately challenging but not overly difficult, Buachaille Etive Mòr is one Glencoe’s Munros and is not to be underestimated.
A long day, the entire route encompasses a steep uphill hike, a rocky trail, a ridgeline, and two Munro summits. The downhill section is equally challenging, with steep sections and boulders to contend with. The complete route also makes for a long day in the mountains; you’ll need to pack plenty of food and water and have a good fitness level.
Navigation is reasonably straightforward in clear conditions, but in low visibility, be aware that finding your way will require a map. Personally, I like to use OS Maps on my phone, but a full phone battery and an extra power pack are essential for digital navigation.
All those warnings aside, this is one of the most beautiful Glencoe hikes and well worth the effort. It offers classic Highland views, with remote and wild Rannoch Moor and mountainscapes all around. Afterwards, pop into the nearby Kingshouse Hotel to warm up with a coffee by their roaring fire.
Find the route here.
5. The Three Sisters
Time: 7 to 9 hours
Distance: 7 miles/11 km
Difficulty: challenging
The Three Sisters, or Bidean nam Bian in Gaelic, is the biggest mountain range in the area and easily one of the most dramatic.
It’s also one of the best and most challenging of the Glencoe mountains, with scrambles, scree, narrow ridges, and exceptionally steep slopes. Completing the Three Sisters circuit is a real adventure, but it's also a serious undertaking, and you’ll need decent fitness, gear, and skill to tackle these peaks.
However, the views from the summit are otherworldly. A majestic Highland landscape flees well into the distance, and as far as the eye can see, mountain peaks and glens lie far below the hulking summits of The Three Sisters.
It’s utterly breathtaking.
Signs of Glencoe’s ancient past are evident at every turn on this hike, too. Millennia-old glaciers and volcanos shaped these mountains, and remnants of this fire and ice are most clearly seen in the chimney-like structures and overhangs near the narrow ridge.
We advise these mountains only for the most experienced walkers due to the challenging terrain and often tricky navigation. This is not a place you want to get lost and other than the initial path the terrain is rough and there are no signposts or waymarkers.
In some areas, a misstep could easily lead to a life-threatening situation, so extra care is necessary.
Those wishing to experience these mountains without taking on the entire hike should either walk the above-mentioned and easier Lost Valley trail. Or follow the Three Sisters trail from the car park uphill as far as you’re comfortable before turning back. The route from the car park to the river is satisfyingly dramatic and follows an obvious and straightforward trail to a river crossing where you may wish to turn back.
Finally, a note on parking: the parking lot for the Three Sisters hike doubles as a viewpoint point and can get crowded. Arrive early to guarantee a space before the crowds arrive.
Find the route here.
Final thoughts
We love hiking in Glencoe and firmly believe it’s the best way to truly experience the wild Highland landscapes this area is rightly famous for.
So, no matter the weather, we encourage you to pull on your hiking boots and get outdoors.
While we love mountain hikes, the forest and lochside trails are equally beautiful, and our favourite walks have the most stunning views: Glencoe Lochan, The Lost Valley, and Pap of Glencoe. For a more significant challenge, Buachaille Etive Mor is an iconic Munro and a memorable hike.
It goes without saying, but always follow the outdoor code and leave no trace.
Finally, if you’re looking for a Glencoe mountain guide to help you tackle those bigger summits, get in touch. We can help with navigation, training, or providing a friendly, qualified guide who’ll help you get to grips with the Scottish terrain.
