Glencoe Orbital path

Summary

This easy walk takes in Glencoe village and Massacre memorial, then heads up the glen passing Loch Torren and the Clachaig Inn, before returning via a cyclepath past the Glencoe NTS visitor centre. Although the second half is within earshot of the busy A82, there are great mountain views, and optional detours to visit the site of Hagrid's Hut (from the Harry Potter films) and to take in Loch Achtriochtan. If the detours are omitted this reduces the distance to just over 10km.

Grade

Bog Factor

2.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Mainly off-road paths, but some sections of minor road, shared cycle path. The optional detour to Loch Achtriochtan (on a cycle path) crosses the very busy A82.

Getting there

Start

Glencoe village car park.

Public Transport

Buses (local and Citilink) to Glencoe village.

Start Grid Ref

NH981577

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 12.75km / 8 miles
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Ascent: 170m (Profile)

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Explorer 384 - Glen Coe

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

Start from the car park in Glencoe village (turn off the A82 and then immediately right into the village and the car park and toilets are on the right). The bus stop is on the main road here. If the car park is full the walk can also be started from the Pap of Glencoe car park (on the back road up the Glen), the An Torr/Signal Rock car park or National Trust for Scotland Glencoe Visitor Centre (charge) both off the A82 up the glen. Start by turning right along the road through the village passing the village hall and museum (currently closed). Just before the bridge turn right to detour to the Glencoe Massacre memorial.

Stage 2

Pass a number of houses and after a slope the large memorial can be visited on the right. On 13 February 1692 Government forces brutally killed around 30 members of Clan Macdonald for failing to pledge allegiance on time (it was pledged but too late) to the new monarchs following the Jacobite rising of 1689. The massacre was swift and brutal with over 600 troops involved to prevent people escaping and to burn homes as a warning to other clans. Continue the walk by returning back to the village road and turning right to cross the bridge over the River Coe.

Stage 3

Take the next road on the left signed for Glencoe Lochan and almost immediately turn right onto a path signed Glencoe Orbital. When it ermerges at a car park continue ahead to rejoin the signed path. Continue until it reaches the path end and rejoins the minor road up the glen passing a house entrance and the track up towards the Pap of Glencoe on the left. After a short distance take the path off on the left at a bend and follow this up the glen, crossing the road a couple of times and passing the youth hostel and Red Squirrel campsite.

Stage 4

Pass above Torren Lochan (on the opposite side of the road) and ignore the two small paths on the left. If you want to detour up to the Hagrid's Hut viewpoint where the Harry Potter film scenes were shot, the path to take is the larger 3rd path on the left (signed). The hut is no longer there but the spot has good mountain views and overlooks Torren Lochan - follow the rough path for 0.25km uphill until an obvious stony flat area before retracing your steps back to the Orbital Path.

Stage 5

Continue the walk by following the road to pass the Clachaig Inn. Immediately after the pub car park take the path on the right marked with a Glencoe sign. Cross boardwalk. You can detour to the right at a path junction to visit the Signal Rock , where a fire is said to have been lit to signal the start of the Glencoe Massacre. To continue the Orbital, cross the bridge over the River Coe and keep ahead to the An Torr/Signal Rock car park. Head through the car park and just before the A82 road the main Orbital path turns right to return down the glen.

Stage 6

However, for a classic view of the Glencoe mountains, you can detour to Loch Achtriochtan by turning left and following the cycle path. The detour is an easy 1km each way but involves crossing the very busy A82 at the end to reach the Loch Achtriochtan car park and viewpoint on the far side

Stage 7

If you've done the detour, retrace your steps to rejoin the Orbital route at the entrance to the Signal Rock car park. The route now follows an off-road path close to the A82 but with good views. Eventually the route dips down to pass under the road (turn back if the route is flooded here, there is a light warning system) and soon turn left to continue on the cycle path until the entrance to the NTS Glencoe Visitor Centre is reached.

Stage 8

Turn left to make a short detour to visit the centre, run by the National Trust for Scotland. It includes an exhibition, shop and cafe, as well as a beautiful reconstruction of a 17th century turf house. To continue on the Glencoe Orbital return towards the A82 and turn left to continue on the track on the far side of the entrance road.

Stage 9

The track heads towards the caravan site; turn right just before the site is reached onto a cyclepath once more (signed Path to Village). Take the next right and soon the shared cycle route runs adjacent to the A82 for a noisy but scenic return. After the petrol station use the traffic lights to cross the main road and return to the car park at the start, there is a great view over Loch Leven to the left.

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