Glen Coe
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-> Glen CoeWalks around Glen Coe
Ordnance Survey Landranger Map No. 41.
A good introduction to the splendours of Glen Coe is the half-day hike over the Devil's Staircase, which follows part of the old military road that once ran between Fort William and Stirling. The trail, part of the West Highland Way and a good option for families and less experienced hikers, starts at the village of Kinlochleven, due north across the mountains from Glen Coe at the far eastern tip of Loch Leven (take the B863). The Devil's Staircase was named by 400 soldiers who endured severe hardship to build it in the seventeenth century, but in fine settled weather the trail is safe and affords stunning views of Loch Eilde and Buachaille Etive Mhor. A more detailed account of this hike features in the leaflet Great Walks: Kinlochleven (no. 4), on sale at most tourist offices in the area.
Leaflet no. 5 in the Great Walks series (Glen Coe) gives a good description of the Allt Coire Gabhail hike, another old favourite. The trailhead for this half-day route is in Glen Coe itself, at the car park opposite the distinctive Three Sisters massif on the main A82. From the road, head straight up the Allt Coire Gabhail to get to the so-called "Lost Valley" which the Clan MacDonald used to flee to and hide their cattle in when attacked. Undoubtedly one of the finest walks in the Glen Coe area not entailing the ascent of a Munro is the Buachaille Etive Beag (BEB) circuit, for which you should check out the Ordnance Survey Pathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks. Following the textbook glacial valleys of Lairig Eilde and Lairig Gartain, the route entails a 1968ft climb in only nine miles of rough trail.
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