Many often envision the stunningly beautiful Glen Coe Valley when they think of idyllic Scottish Highland scenery. Its glacier-carved slopes attract photographers, hikers and walkers, day trippers, and road trippers alike, most of whom won’t want to leave this majestic scenery behind. There is much to see and do in this area of the Scottish Highlands, so we put together this guide on the Top Things to See and Do in Glen Coe, which we hope will help you plan an awesome trip to Scotland’s most famous Glen.
Disclosure: This page (Top Things to See and Do in Glen Coe) may contain product affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. More details can be found on our disclosure and policies page.
You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Scenic Drives and Routes Through the Scottish Highlands
Best Hikes and Walks in Glen Coe
Glenfinnan Viaduct and Jacobite Steam Train Travel Guide
Top Things to See and Do on Skye
Skye’s Best Hiking and Walking Trails
Orientation – Where is Glen Coe and How to Get There?
Glen Coe is a valley (glen) of volcanic origin located in the southern Scottish Highlands, just north of the county of Argyll. The Glen is about a 35 km drive (30 min) from Fort Wiliam. From Oban, it is about a 65km drive (60 min). Getting here from Glasglow or Edinburgh will take a bit longer, roughly 2h and 2h30, respectively.
Not to be confused with the Glen Coe Valley, is the village of Glencoe, the glen’s largest settlement (with a population of about 400 inhabitants). Glencoe lies at the northwestern tip of the Glen Coe valley. A few kilometres west of Glencoe is the village of Ballachulish, a slightly larger village (population of about 600 inhabitants) with more service facilities, which is also viewed as part of the ‘Glen Coe’ area by visitors and accommodation websites although it technically lies outside the glen. Of the villages, Glencoe is definitely the more pleasant to stroll through, however, Ballachulish is where you’ll find restaurants and a grocery store.
The best and easiest way to get to and navigate around Glen Coe is with your own vehicle. For advice and tips on how to drive in Scotland, check out our Scotland Roadtrip Driving Guide.
If you haven’t booked your rental vehicle yet, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Scotland.
If you don’t have your vehicle, joining an organized tour might be the best way to see what Glen Coe and the surrounding area have to offer.
Top Things to See and Do in Glen Coe
1. Drive through the valley and stop at one of the many viewpoints
Although Glen Coe is a paradise for hillwalkers and hikers, the area can still be appreciated from your own vehicle while occasionally stopping to appreciate some of the more scenic spots. All you need to do is follow the two-lane A82 road. Without stops, the drive will take you about 40 min (though the most scenic portion of the drive is the section of road that runs east-west, where you are in the Glen Coe Valley proper and surrounded by mountains on both sides).
As you can see below, there are several viewpoints and signposted parking areas at the side of the road where you can stop to admire the scenery, with the most famous viewpoint being the Three Sisters of Glen Coe viewpoint. Several of these parking areas are also the starting points for some of Glencoe’s most beautiful hikes.
If you do undertake this drive, we recommend early in the morning or late afternoon. During the middle of the day, particularly during peak season, the road can become quite congested. Now this isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you don’t mind the slow down to prolong your time enjoying the scenery, as long as you take into account the longer drive in your itinerary planning. Note that finding parking spaces in your preferred areas might also be more difficult during mid-day.
2. Hike some of Scotland’s most beautiful walking trails
Glencoe is a hillwalker’s and hiker’s paradise. There are so many great trails to choose from, ranging from easy to difficult. We generally like to focus on those that can be done in half a day and maximize the effort-to-reward ratio. Our two favorites to do were the Lost Valley trail (also known as the Hidden Valley trail) and the Devil’s Staircase trail. Neither is particularly long (both can be done in under 3 hours) and both would rate as moderately difficult – the Lost Valley because some light scrambling is required and the Devil Staircase, as the name suggests, because of a section of steep ascent. For additional info on these hiking trails and others, check out our Guide on the Best Hiking Trails in Glen Coe.
3. Take a light stroll through Glencoe Village and Glencoe Lochan
At the western end of Glen Coe lies the picturesque village of Glencoe. It’s essentially just one street with a few cafés, B&Bs and a small museum (Glencoe Folk Museum), but it is worth a pleasant stroll if you have the time. The museum is open from 11 am to 3 pm from Wednesday to Sunday between April and November, costs £3 to enter, and displays a collection of Jacobite artifacts, agricultural tools, domestic items, and displays on the Glen Coe Massacre of 1692.
Parking is available both near the western entrance of the village, just off the main A82 road, and near the start of the Glencoe Lochan Circular Trail.
At the northeastern end of the village lies the pleasant Glencoe Lochan Circular Trail, a lovely 2.4 km path that takes you through a relaxing woodland forest and around a beautiful lochan (small loch). If you would like to walk through the trail and the village, there is a longer 4.7 km trail variant (though the village portion of the trail is simply the village sidewalk). Both trails are relatively flat, though appropriate footwear is still recommended for the lochan section.
The forest around the lochan has an interesting backstory, as it was man-made in a way. After acquiring the Glencoe Estate in 1895, Donald Alexander Smith (Lord Strathcona) and his wife, Isabella Sophia Hardisty, moved from Canada to Scotland. Soon after their arrival, Isabella became increasingly homesick for her ancestral lands in Canada. In an attempt to abate his wife’s depression, Smith had this forest painstakingly planted, and granted it to her as a private refuge.
4. Relive some Skyfall scenes (James Bond) with a drive to Glen Etive
Glen Etive was used as the backdrop of James Bond’s childhood home in Skyfall (however the home itself doesn’t exist).
You should know however that the road that follows the valley floor (often referred to as the James Bond Skyfall road) is a single-track road, meaning that both directions share the same lane, with the occasional passing place to let oncoming vehicles pass (if you are unfamiliar with these roads, check out our guide for tips on driving on single-track roads). If you were to drive the full length of the road it would take you about 40-45 min, at which point you will reach a dead end on the banks of Loch Etive, a huge saltwater loch which connects to the sea north of Oban. The only direction to drive here is back to where you came from, so a complete visit to Glen and Loch Etive will take you about 1h30 to 2h.
5. Enjoy Some Haggis and Beer @ The Laroch Restaurant and Bar
If it’s your first time in Scotland and haven’t tied haggis yet, this is the place to do it. We weren’t quite sure what to expect, but found the haggis dish to be quite delicious – and better than in other places we tried it afterwards. Located in Ballachulish, near the western end of the valley, Laroch’s is also just a great place to relax and unwind after a good day of hiking!
6. Visting the Kingshouse Hotel
Even if you are not staying here, this hotel located at the eastern end of the valley is worth at least a brief visit. First, if you didn’t get that drink at the Laroch Restaurant, the Kingshouse Hotel recently underwent a significant renovation and now has a newly designed large and welcoming bar section. Second, the area around the hotel is often frequented by deer (sadly there weren’t any when we passed by). Third, the views from the hotel parking lot are just insanely beautiful!
Nearby Sights and Attractions
If you are basing yourself near or in Glencoe for more than one night, then you might have time for some excellent day trips to nearby highland attractions.
Summit the UK’s tallest peak, Ben Nevis (near Fort William)
Just 30 minutes from Glencoe, near Fort William, is where you’ll find the highest summit in the UK, the imposing Ben Nevis. Despite its title as the UK’s tallest mountain, it is still a very accessible mountain to hike for most people, mainly requiring a lot of time and some endurance as the main trail is quite straightforward and doesn’t require any scrambling or special gear – if you are hiking in summer. Outside of June-September, you can expect lots of snow on the summit, making it a significantly more challenging hike (you still might find some snow near the summit during the summer months as well. Also know that the summit is frequently much colder, windier, and wetter than at the base, and you will always need to be prepared for changeable weather and potentially freezing conditions, even in summer. So properly research the weather and summit conditions before heading out and plan accordingly.
The trail to the top is 16km in length and starts at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre (parking is £6 for the day (2023). It takes on average between 7 and 9 hours to complete this out-and-back trail where you’ll gain a staggering 1342 meters in elevation.
If you would to experience Ben Nevis from up close without having to climb a mountain, there is a cable car that departs along the northern slope of the adjacent Aonach Mor mountain (650 elevation). The ride up takes about 15 minutes, costs £24.95 (day pass, 2023) and the cable car is open year-round. The base station is located at the Nevis Range Mountain Resort.
Visit the Glennfinnan viaduct to watch the “Harry Potter” train go by
Easily one of the most beautiful railway bridges in the world, let alone the UK, the Glenfinnan Viaduct has skyrocketed to the top of many travel bucket lists since appearing in the Harry Potter films. What makes the setting even more spectacular is when the Jacobite steam train (a.k.a. the Harry Potter train or the Hogwarts Express) passes over the viaduct. Between April and October, it does so 4 times daily (twice in each direction) – so most try to time their visit with a train passing.
The increase in popularity of the viaduct due to the Happy Potter films has unfortunately made planning a visit slightly more complicated. You should aim to arrive at least 45 min before the planned passing of the train (2023) to ensure that you get a parking spot. The first time we came to Glenfinnan we arrived about 30 min early and the parking lot had just hit capacity, and we had no other choice but to turn around. And this is despite the fact they opened a new and larger car park in 2021!
For more information on visiting the Glennfinnan Viaduct, check out our Glennfinnan Viaduct Travel Guide.
Visit the Gateway to the Isles and The Seafood Capital of Scotland, Oban
Oban is a beautiful and charming coastal town, and sadly many do not give it the time it deserves using it primarily as a launching pad for visiting some of the nearby famous Hebrides islands, such as Mull, Iona, Jura and Islay. The town itself is definitely deserving of a full day (if not more): it has a beautiful boardwalk promenade, some of the best seafood restaurants in the country, the curious McGraig’s tower overlooking the town, and is home to the historic Oban whisky distillery (established in 1794).
For more information on visiting Oban and the surrounding area, check out our Oban Travel Guide.
We also have a separate Guide on the Top Attractions to Visit Between Oban and Glen Coe, which highlights several castles, churches and scenic viewpoints that are just off the road on the drive between Oban and Glen Coe.
Take a stroll along the Caol Beach boardwalk and visit Neptune’s Staircase
The path highlighted below is actually part of the Great Glen Way, a 125km trail connecting Fort Williams to Inverness. The trail section we suggest taking starts at Caol Beach, a 10-minute drive from Fort Williams. We recommend parking in the Caol Shopping Centre car park, located a very short distance from the beach-side promenade.
The section along Caol Beach is a lovely lochside promenade, close to where Lock Linnhe and Lock Eil merge. On a clear day, you’ll get stunning views of Ben Nevis towering over the landscape.
As you continue along, you’ll come across the Corpach Shipwreck. These are the rusty remains of a fishing vessel originally known as the “MV Dayspring”, which was built in 1975, but that was subsequently renamed Gold Harvest. The boat was retired in 2009 and moved to nearby Camusnagaul Bay. On 8th December 2011, a nasty storm caused the raiser chain which kept the vessel moored in Camusnagaul Bay to break, and a few hours later the local coastguard was on hand to help control the landing the beach between the villages of Corpach and Caol, where the boat as been stranded ever since.
Shortly thereafter you’ll reach the end of the shoreline trail, which then turns inland to follow the Caledonian Canal. After about 20 min, you’ll reach the end point of this walk, an impressive flight of eight locks on the Caledonian Canal known as Neptune’s Staircase. Built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822, it is the longest staircase lock in Britain. Walking this complete route will take 1h20, including return. If you just want to enjoy the promenade and see the shipwreck, you won’t need more than 30 minutes.
How Long Do You Need in Glen Coe?
Short answer: it depends. It depends primarily if you are content with just driving through the valley and stopping at one (or many) of the several viewpoints along the way. Many visit Glencoe this way while making their way further north (or south) and that’s perfectly fine. But if you want to be able to soak some of the beautiful scenery and perhaps go on a hike or two, then you’ll want to spend at least a full day. If you want to see everything we’ve listed above, you’ll probably need three days or more.
Driving through itinerary
If you are just driving through, we do recommend making a few spots to enjoy the scenery from outside your vehicle. We particularly recommend making at least these four stops when making your way across the valley.
One-day itinerary
With just one day in Glen Coe, we would suggest either two half-day hikes (such as the Lost Valley and the Devil’s Staircase) or one half-day hike combined with a stroll through Glencoe Village and the Glencoe Lochan. And if you really wanted to, you could probably do all three in a day without rushing too much, you’ll just have walked a lot. You can then cap the day off with a stop at either the Kingshouse Hotel or the Laroch Restaurant and Bar.
Two-day (or more) itinerary
With an additional day in Glen Coe, you have many options in front of you. You can do some additional trails within Glen Coe itself, such as Signal Rock, Pap of Glencoe, Buachaille Etive Beag, Lairig Gartain, or Buachaille Etive Mòr. Alternatively, you can head north to either tackle Ben Nevis (or cable car you way up), or take a road trip to visit the Glennfinnan Viaduct. Or if you are in the mood for some seaside views and a historic distillery, head southwest towards Oban. Both Oban and the Glenfinnan Viaduct are roughly 1 hour from Glen Coe (but in opposite directions).
When is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Glen Coe?
We generally recommend travelling during shoulder season, the weather is generally pleasant and attractions & trails are less busy. But in the Scottish Highlands, there’s another significant reason to avoid July & August: the midges.
What are midges? They are tiny flies that like mosquitoes, like to bite. Though they are smaller and their individual bites are less bothersome than those mosquitoes, they can more than make up for it by the size of their swarms. You will typically find midges all over the Scottish Highlands, mostly between late May and early September, with July and August being the worst months. They tend to be most active early in the morning and during the early evening, but can be a nuisance at all times of day.
A winter visit can be equally beautiful with the peaks covered in snow, but the weather is even less predictable than usual, driving conditions could potentially be hazardous, and the days are much shorter. Hiking should only be undertaken with the proper gear and/or by experienced winter hikers.
As a result of these considerations, we would suggest that the end of May, early June, September, and early October are the best times of the year to visit Glen Coe.
Preparing a trip to the Highlands?
You might be interested in these pages:
Best Hikes and Walks in Glen Coe
Glenfinnan Viaduct and Jacobite Steam Train Travel Guide
Top Things to See and Do on Skye
Skye’s Best Hiking and Walking Trails
Preparing a trip to Scotland?
You might be interested in these Scotland pages:
10-Day Scotland Roadtrip Itinerary (Edinburgh and Highlands)
Scotland Driving Guide and Tips
7 of the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
Best Things to See in the Scottish Highlands
Best Hikes to do in the Scottish Highlands
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steves Scotland
Lonely Planet Scotland’s Highlands
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.
e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
—–
Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Guide on the Top Things to See and Do in Glen Coe and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
—–
You might also be interested in these related pages:
