The climb up to the highest point on the West Highland Way is known as the Devil's Staircase but although steep, the going is good. There are then good views on the long descent to Kinlochleven.
Summary
Clear but rough climb out of the head of Glencoe and a longer descent to Kinlochleven
Terrain
Users'
rating
The A82 by the Kings House has Citylink buses between Glasgow and Fort William; Kinlochleven is
served by local buses.
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. Cross the River Etive behind the Kings House and walk along the minor road to a junction. Turn left for almost a kilometre before turning right over a stile and following the path uphill. You are now back on the Old Military Road. Three miles after Kings House is Altnafeidh. From here Buachaille Etive Mor still looks formidable but the hillwalkers' route up can now be seen.
2. The West Highland Way now begins its own stiff climb at it turns to the right and continues up a military road known as the 'Devil's Staircase'. The surface is mostly firm and the gradient eased in places by zig-zags. The summit is at 550m, 305m higher than the Kings House; this highest point on the Way is marked by two cairns. Pause to savour the mountains of Glencoe behind you.
Photo © Bill Copland; CCSA licence
3. Continuing north, crossing the saddle between Stob Mhic Mhartuin and Beinn Bheag, a new vista opens up. The ridges and peaks of the Mamores are backed by the hunched massif of Ben Nevis, with the conical Carn Mor Dearg on the right. The descent now begins, look to the right to see the Blackwater Reservoir. The dam is half a mile long and 100 feet high, and dates from 1905-9. It was builit by 3000 navvies or labourers, using an overhead rope railway in place of roads; the navvies often hiked over the Devil's Staircase for drinking sessions in the Kings House.
Photo ©Pascal De Schepper: CCSA licence
4. As you descend, look ahead and you may pick out the Way running west around the Mamores. Around 3km from the summit you pass the penstock (head of the pipeline) where the pipes carry water steeply down to the village. From here there is still 300m of altitude to lose and the Way takes an indirect route for almost 3km. The descent to Kinlochleven can seem very protracted. The way finally joins the 6-pipe line as it leads to the back of the old Alcan Works, then crosses it and turns right down a track over the River Leven. It then turns left along Wade's Road. After 200 yards, opposite the bus stop, turn left down the riverside path that soon meets Lochaber Road in the centre of Kinlochleven. There are all types of accommodation available here.
Route description is quoted by permission from The West Highland Way © Rucksack Readers 2008.
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