This short but steep walk visits the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall, which is one of the most impressive in the region. The route then climbs up the hillside and visits an old Lodge (until recently a hotel but now closed) before returning to Kinlochleven
Bog Factor
Easy to follow paths though very steep, rough and rocky on the way up.
Kinlochleven.
Regular buses to Kinlochleven from Fort William.
NN188623
The walk begins from the car park adjacent to St Paul's Church in Kinlochleven; it is signed 'Grey Mare's Tail' from the main road. Follow the path from the edge of the car park into the woods; signed for 'Spean Bridge' and 'Corrour Station'. The original path and car park were a gift from Alcan (the company that operated the aluminium works and the hydro electric station that powered it, around which Kinlochleven had been built earning the nickname "electric village"); however the smelter closed in 2000 and the current path has been built using EU funds. Almost at once the path reaches a t-junction; turn left here, and then ignore a rougher park forking off to the right.
Keep on the gravel-surfaced new path as it winds gently uphill and between two gateposts, eventually crossing a footbridge. On the far side, turn left to detour and visit the waterfall, which is only a couple of hundred metres away. The thundering fall of the Grey Mare's Tail, are hugely impressive, with the Allt Coire nam Ba flowing off a sheer cliff in a single leap of almost fifty metres. Head back to the footbridge, this time going straight on.
The path follows the stream for a short distance until reaching another junction. Turn left here. Almost immediately the path begins climbing steeply uphill and becomes rough and rocky in places, with considerable erosion. The ascent is fairly short-lived however and there is soon a good view over Kinlochleven. At the next junction, turn left (white waymarkers).
The path now climbs gently up the grassy hillside, with stunning views down the length of Loch Leven to the Pap of Glencoe.
The path then crosses a footbridge before climbing again and meeting a tarmac road. The former Mamore Lodge hotel (now closed down) is situated just to the right along the road. The lodge was built in 1903 for Capt Frank Bibby, who made his fortune in the Liverpool shipping industry. The aluminium works company built the lodge in return for the grant of additional land to house workers back down in the town. To continue the walk, head down the tarmac road to the left.
Follow the road downhill for almost a kilometre until a clear path crosses it. This is the West Highland Way, although it isn't signed at this point. Turn left down the path and follow it through the trees until it fords a small stream (stepping stones); just beyond it reaches the road on the outskirts of Kinlochleven. Turn left along the road, turning left again onto Wade's Road. Follow the road round to return to the start.
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