You know, I may be a bit old fashioned, but when I was a lad, if you wanted to walk somewhere round here, you picked your spot on the map and set off. You can still do it to-day. Some of these walks still have that characteristic, others are on well maintained paths.
5 minutes
Cuil Hill. Park beside the Duror Hall. Take the track to the top of the small hill on Ardsheal. See Ben Nevis to the North East, Ardgour to the West, Mull to the South West, Loch Linnhe to the North and to the South. What else could one ask for?
10 minutes
Cuil Bay. South 2 miles, turn right just past the shop park at the end of beautiful Cuil Bay. Walk around the headland as far as you wish. There is an old ruined Highland Village on the West of Ardsheal according to the map but we have not found it.
15 minutes
Glencoe Lochan, above the Hospital. Drive over the little Glencoe village bridge, turn left and follow the road up to the car park. It is a beautiful spot for gentle walking, around the hill and in the woods or just sit by the lochan and contemplate nature.
Several forest walks, and hill walks all signposted.
15 minutes
The old road walk at Glencoe. Stay dry on the little forest road going from Glencoe to Signal rock. Its lovely. Past the Youth Hostel, you’ll come across the Clachaig Inn.
Good for meals, Climbers Bar in the back has character. Opposite is the Clachaig Gully one of the good climbs of the Glencoe area. Beside the hotel is the entrance to Signal Rock where the signal for the start of the massacre of the Macdonalds was given. Most of the householders escaped over the hills by the way, very cold night in mid winter that it was. Many of the Campbell soldiers could not bring themselves to do the dirty deed and gave them warning. It was not the killing that upset the Highlanders so much as the breach of the ancient rules of hospitality. The soldiers had been staying in the Clan houses.
15 minutes
The Pap of Glencoe. Find the old road at Glencoe (above). Drive to the end of the woods on the left. Go through the gate cross the fields and up the hill. You’ll be puffed out at the top. Allow 2 hours for the walk. Strenuous at times. Rumour has it that a piper carried the news of the Glencoe Massacre from the Pap.
15 minutes
Glencoe National Trust Centre offers guided walks in all over Glencoe with the local Ranger. On east side the Glasgow main road just past the Glencoe village by-pass, look for the sign
20 minutes
Callart Forest
The best place to view your own mountain behind you, Beinn Beithir, is from the signposted, forest walk on the North side of Loch Leven. Cross the Ballachulish bridge, turn right towards Kinlochleven, go 2 miles – it is on the left at the forestry entrance.
20 minutes
Stiff walk and scramble up the river this, but romantic and exciting. The Macdonalds ran Glencoe for centuries and spent a lot of their time thieving cattle from other clans and running them back to the Glen. When the other clans came looking, the cattle could never be found. The reason is that there is a high Glen called the Hidden (sometimes the Lost) Valley, with a steep path leading to it. That is where they drove the cattle, and that is where the walk goes.
Go up the A82 Glencoe road, stop at the 2nd car park on the right. Go down first to the valley floor, turn left, cross the river at the wooden steps. Well defined path, up by the river, but it will take you an hour or more to get up to the valley. Later, the MacDonalds were in the vanguard of Canadian settlers, many of them trapping beavers and getting furs for the Hudson Bay Company. Resolute Clan the MacDonalds. 1,000 years ago, they were the Lords of the Isles after all.
25 minutes
Two walks at the top of Glencoe. For the first one, park beside a large cairn. The Buchaille Etive Beag is the smaller mountain and is a true mountain trek, but no climbing or scrambling is involved. You’ll need to follow the path on the OS map. Allow a full day, great views at the top. Don’t do it in the mist, you’ll lose your way because the path is not well defined. Maps, compass, spare clothes, food, boots, tell someone where you are going, for this one. It’s the “Full Monty ”walk.