Guided Walking at Glen Coe

 Easier Walks      Medium Walks     Harder Walks

Easier Walks are through glens, forest and moorland. Medium Walks are generally on good paths though often steep and rocky. Harder Walks cover very rocky and intermittent paths with some exposed ridges and sections of scrambling.

• Our experienced guides offer the choice of up to three different walks each day
• Choose the option which best suits your interests and fitness; take an Easier Walk one day and switch to a Harder Walk the next
• We offer a social activity each evening

2012 - Itinerary One

7 night holidays
Days 1-7: Sat 9, 16 June; Sat 7, 21 July; Sat 4, 18 Aug;
Sat 1, 15, 29 Sept; Sat 13 Oct 

6 night holidays
Days 1-6: Sat 26 May 

4 night holidays
Days 1-4: Sat 9 June; Sat 7, 21 July; Sat 4 Aug; Sat 1, 15 Sept;
Sat 13 Oct

3 night holidays
Days 1-3: Sat 26 May; Sat 16 June
Days 4 & 6: Tues 29 May
Days 5-7: Wed 13 June; Wed 11, 25 July; Wed 8, 22 Aug;
Wed 5, 19 Sept; Wed 17 Oct

See below for Itinerary Two

Day 1: Arrival day 

Meet your leaders who will tell you more about the walks.

Day 2: Lairigmor and the Kinlochleven hills

Easier Walk: From Kinlochleven we ascend to Mamore Lodge to join the old military road. We traverse the mountainside to the picturesque Loch Eilde Mor returning to Kinlochleven over hillside paths. 6½ miles with 1,150 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Starting at Callert on the north shore of Kinlochleven we take a steep path on open hillside contouring round Mam na Gualainn before descending into the adjacent valley to join the West Highland Way to Kinlochleven. 7½ miles with 1,775 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Callert we climb steeply to the bealach veering east over Callert Lump, onwards to Mam na Guilainn and along the undulating ridge of Beinn na Caillich before joining the West Highland Way to Kinlochleven. 7½ miles with 3,225 feet of ascent.

Day 3: Lismore and the hills beyond Ballachulish

Easier Walk: We take the ferry from Port Appin to the Isle of Lismore and head to Port Ramsay and to the pictish broch at Tirefour, the heritage centre and the ruins of Castle Coeffin. 9 miles with 600 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Ballachulish we head up Gleann an Fhiodh to ascend the south west ridge of Sgorr a’Choise. After descending through boulders we follow the ridge of Meal a’Bhuige to the remote Gleann Leac-na-Muidhe to end near the Clachaig Inn (with the possibility of well-earned refreshment). 8½ miles with 2,300 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Ballachulish we go southwest and ascend a rocky ridge to Sgorr Bhan, then on to the Munros of Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill. We descend on forestry tracks back to Ballachulish.  8¼ miles with 4,375 feet of ascent.

Day 4: In and around Glen Coe

Easier Walk: From Kings House we follow the West Highland Way to Altnafeadh at the head of Glen Coe. With spectacular views of the mountains all around we pass Loch Achtriochtan to follow the River Coe to the Clachaig Inn. 8½ miles with 425 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Glen Coe we ascend Sron Garbh, then follow the undulating ridge to Stob Mhic Mhartuin before descending the zigzags of the Devil’s Staircase to Altnafeadh, and following the West Highland Way to Kings House. 8½ miles with 3,025 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Glen Coe we head up through Coire nan Lochan to the twin summits of Stob Coire nan Lochan and Bidean nam Bian, (the highest peak in Argyll at 3,773 feet). We descend through the Clan MacDonald’s Lost Valley back into Glen Coe. 7 miles with 3,750 feet of ascent.

Day 5:

For 3 night holidays arriving today, this is your chance to meet your leaders.

If you have booked a 7 night holiday, today is a free day with no guided walks organised. This is a great opportunity to explore the Western Highlands independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting.

Day 6: Glen Nevis and the surrounding hills

Easier Walk: From the Lower Nevis Falls in Glen Nevis we follow riverside paths down the Glen to Fort William via the viewpoint of Cow Hill. 8½ miles with 1,175 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: A stalker’s path takes us to the top of Coire a’Mhusgain. Turning east up the ridge we loop over Sgurr an lubhair to end up at Achriabhach. 7½ miles with 3,225 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: We ascend the long north ridge to the summit of Stob Ban, then drop down to the bealach at the head of Coire a’Mhusgain before continuing up to the summit of Sgurr an lubhair. We cross the famous arête of Devil’s Ridge then on to Sgurr a’ Mhaim to return to Achriabhach. 7 miles with 4,550 feet of ascent.

Day 7: Remote Ardgour

Easier Walk: We start at Onich following forest trails towards Inchree with its splendid waterfalls before taking the Corran ferry to Ardgour for a pleasant woodland walk in the grounds of Ardgour House. 8¼ miles with 850 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Crossing the Corran ferry we climb the side of Maclean’s Towel, a spectacular waterfall to Meall Breac and to Lochan a’Choire Dubh. 6 miles with 2,300 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: After following a similar route to the medium walkers as far as the lochan we then continue over the summit of Sgurr na h’Eanchainne to descend via Beinn na Cille back to the ferry. 7¾ miles with 2,600 feet of ascent.

2012 - Itinerary Two

7 night holidays
Days 1-7: Sat 23, 30 June; Sat 14 July; Sat 11, 25 Aug;
Sat 8, 22 Sept; Sat 20 Oct

6 night holidays
Days 2 & 4-7: Sun 7 Oct 

5 night holidays
Days 1-4 & 6: Mon 4 June - for Solos

4 night holidays
Days 1-4: Sat 23, 30 June; Sat 14 July; Sat 11 Aug; Sat 8 Sept; Sat 20 Oct

3 night holidays
Days 1-3: Sat 25 Aug
Days 2 & 4: Sun 7 Oct
Days 5-7: Wed 27 June; Wed 4, 18 July; Wed 15 Aug;
Wed 12, 26 Sept; Wed 10, 24 Oct

Day 1: Arrival day

Meet your leaders who will tell you more about the walks.

Day 2: Kentallen peninsula and the hills around Loch Leven

Easier Walk: The objective today is the peninsula of Rubha Mor, great for spotting birds and seals. From Duror we follow the coast to end at Kentallen Bay. 7¾ miles with 350 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Altnafeadh we ascend Beinn a’Chrulaiste, a superb viewpoint at the head of Glen Coe. We cross onto Meall Bhalach and then descend to end at the old drovers’ inn of Kings House. 7¼ miles with 2,350 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Starting at Ballachulish we ascend onto the main ridge of Beinn a’ Bheithir, then follow the ridge up the steep rocky track to the summit of Sgorr Dhonuill. The descent is on forest tracks to Ballachulish Bridge. 9¼ miles with 3,300 feet of ascent.

Day 3: Hills and tracks around Kinlochleven

Easier Walk: We begin at Kinlochleven, one-time centre of an important aluminium-smelting industry. We ascend past the Grey Mare’s Tail Waterfall up onto the Old Military Road, then continue on to Loch Eilde Mor. The descent is via a stalkers’ path to join the River Leven and a woodland path back to Kinlochleven. 7½ miles with 1,125 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Callert we climb up the ridge and summit of Mam na Gualainn before dropping down into the Lairigmor (Great Pass) to join the West Highland Way to Kinlochleven. 8 miles with 2,750 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: We ascend past the Grey Mare’s Tail Waterfall, then join a stalkers’ track to the summit of Sgorr Eilde Beag and the start of the ridge of Na Gruagaichean. We follow this high-level ridge then descend the south flank of the mountain back to Kinlochleven. 8 miles with 3,925 feet of ascent.

Day 4: Ben Nevis and the hills and glens around Fort William

Easier Walk: From Torlundy to the lower gondola station at Aonach Mor, we follow the lower slopes of Carn Mor Dearg. Traversing open country above Fort William we descend to join the Great Glen Way into Fort William. 8 miles with 800 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Starting at Torlundy we reach the climbers’ hut below the north face of Ben Nevis, contouring below the massive Castle Ridge buttress we reach Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe to join the Pony Track leading to the Nevis Inn in Glen Nevis. 8½ miles with 2,475 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: The Visitors Centre in Glen Nevis is the start of our route today to the top of Ben Nevis by the Pony Track which zigzags its way up the mountain to the summit plateau with panoramic views. We return by the same route. 10¼ miles with 4,500 feet of ascent.

Day 5:

For 3 night holidays arriving today, this is your chance to meet your leaders.

If you have booked a 7 night holiday, today is a free day with no guided walks organised. This is a great opportunity to explore the Western Highlands independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting.

Day 6: Ardgour: Strontian and Garbh Bheinn

Easier Walk: Crossing the Corran ferry we start at the one-time lead mining centre of Strontian following the river through woodland and over moorland and via old lead mines to the Arundle Nature Reserve. 9½ miles with 1,100 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From the lower reaches of Glen Tarbert on Ardgour we climb up through Garbh Choire Mor to reach the summit of Garbh Bheinn. 9 miles with 1,850 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Glen Tarbert we walk upwards through forestry to join the west ridge of Garbh Bheinn to the summit.  We descend over the long ridge of Sron a ‘Gharbh Choir Bhig and back into Glen Tarbert. 6¼ miles with 3,150 feet of ascent. 

Day 7:  Hills and tracks of Glen Coe

Easier Walk: The walk follows the zigzags of the Devil’s Staircase and the West Highland Way from Altnafeadh to Kinlochleven. 6 miles with 1,025 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Today we climb the famous Buchaille Etive Mor, up the steep path on Coire na Tulaich. Then we follow the rocky track to the summit of Stob Dearg before descending into Glen Etive. 7 miles with 2,650 miles of ascent.

Harder Walk: This walk follows the same route onto Buchaille Etive Mor and to Stob Dearg, but then follows the main ridge to the summit of Stob na Broige before descending down the Coire Altruim path and along the Lairig Gartain to the main road. 7 miles with 3,700 feet of ascent.      

Local transport

On walking days you’ll be transported to locations around Alltshellach to start your walk. The cost of all transport to and from the walks is included in the price of your holiday.

Our guests

The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. There is normally a good mix of ages, of new guests and 'regulars' from Britain and overseas, and of people travelling alone, with a partner or with friends.

In the evenings

Your leaders will inform you about the choice of walks for the next day and answer any questions you may have. After a sociable evening meal you could join in an organised activity such as a quiz or a talk about the local area, relax in the bar or use the Country House facilities.