The valley of Glencoe, in the Highlands of Scotland, is rightly considered one of the most scenic parts of the UK.
Caravanners who want to see stunning vistas will find it certainly delivers. It was formed by volcanic activity and glacier movement in the last Ice Age and is a place of majestic mountains, stunning hiking trails, Highland cattle, fertile gullies and bubbling rivers, most notably the valley’s namesake, the River Coe.
Visitors come for the walking and the wild landscapes, and to appreciate the historical and cultural importance of the area. This was the scene of one of Scotland’s most infamous events, the Glencoe Massacre in 1692, when members of Clan Campbell killed members of Clan MacDonald under orders from William III.
It’s also a location that TV and film fans visit. Here, and at nearby Glen Etive, film fans come to see the locations for Hollywood blockbusters such as Skyfall and Braveheart. But in truth, there is no need for movie razzmatazz – Glencoe’s natural beauty will simply take your breath away.
Where to stay on a tour to Glencoe
First things first – choosing the right campsite to stay at.
Invercoe Caravan & Motorhome Park is a lochside touring park on the banks of Loch Leven near Glencoe. It has pitches with hook-up, as well as cottages and lodges. The dog-friendly caravan site also provides a children’s play area and a launderette.
Alternatively, there is Glencoe C&CC Site, an excellent campsite, near the Glencoe National Trust for Scotland Visitor Centre. It has superb views from all of its 100 pitches, with site facilities including a laundry, a locker room and a drying shed.
A brief 3.5-mile drive from Glencoe on the B863 brings you to Caolasnacon Caravan & Camping Park, a delightful site on Loch Leven. It offers 16A hook-up on a first come, first served basis. It’s ideal for watersports enthusiasts – boating, fishing and scuba diving are all available.
What to do in Glencoe on day 1
9.30am Crafty breakfast
Combine a fortifying start to the day with a spot of gift shopping! Crafts & Things Coffee Shop, in Glencoe Village, provides hot drinks and homebaked food alongside eye-catching paintings, locally produced decorated mirrors, and an interesting and varied selection of books.
11am – Around Loch Leven
Get your bearings with a 20-mile drive around Loch Leven. You’ll be treated to some wonderful views and excellent photo opportunities along the way.
From Invercoe Caravan and Motorhome Park, follow along the south bank in a north-easterly direction on the B863. Take time to pause at the Loch Leven Viewpoint, five miles from the site.
Drive on to Kinlochleven, where you can stop for a wander around the shops and cafés or take a two-mile walk to the spectacular Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall, plunging 60m from Loch Skeen.
1pm – Seafood lunch
Continue your drive around the loch to the Lochleven Seafood Café, where you can enjoy delicious dishes from their extensive shellfish menu, which includes lobster, langoustines, crab, mussels, clams, scallops and oysters.
The restaurant has an informal, relaxed atmosphere, where the finest seafood can be enjoyed in welcoming surroundings.
When you’re choosing your meal, look out for the catch-of-the-day specials, dishes that are based on fresh fish supplied from the local fishing port at Mallaig, which is just 90 minutes away by road.
2pm – Which Way?
Experienced hikers keen to take on a more challenging walking route can pick up the West Highland Way back at Kinlochleven.
This popular trail covers 96 miles in total, running all the way from Milngavie, to the north of Glasgow, to Fort William, in the Highlands.
It’s a steep climb out of Kinlochleven to the pass at Lairigmor, at an elevation of 1000ft, but the reward is fantastic views of Loch Leven below, and once you’re up there, it’s an easy route along the pass for 15 miles to Fort William.
For a more leisurely expedition, you could instead resume your driving tour. Continue around the loch and turn left over the Ballachulish Bridge, heading through Ballachulish – keeping an eye on the loch for views of Eilean Munde (a small island in the middle of the loch, which is the site of a graveyard), and ultimately back to Glencoe.
3pm – Lakeside trails
Those who decided against joining the West Highland Way can enjoy a gentler one-mile walk on the Glencoe Lochan Trail (a lochan is a small loch).
There are several superb routes to choose from here (some of them steeper), but this one has a wide, smooth-surfaced footpath and accessible facilities.
Glencoe Lochan is also a good location for exploring on two wheels and there are cycle tracks around the glen.
If you do decide to ride, look out for the blue cycle route at the bottom of the drive leading to the Lochan car park.
You can expect to see mountain peaks and beautiful redwoods as you make your way around the tranquil lochan.
7pm – Clachaig Inn
Live music and great food make this wonderful inn (pictured left) a must-visit on your tour of the area. To start, try the haggis with Scotch whisky sauce or perhaps the oak-smoked West Coast salmon. For mains, how about the Highland game casserole, or a dish of lentil, sweet potato and spinach curry? Incidentally, the nearby Clachaig Gully was the location for Hagrid’s hut in the Harry Potter films.
What to do on day 2
9.30am – Start planning
Begin your day with a stop at the Glencoe Visitor Centre, which explains the history of the region, including the notorious Glencoe Massacre. The centre also has
an information hub with a 3D map to help you plan your activities. There’s a shop, and the Highland Coo Café, where you can grab a spot of breakfast.
10.30am – The name’s Bond…
Imagine your tow car is an Aston Martin and take a spin along the A82, for fantastic views of the area’s most popular landmarks, some of which featured in the James Bond film Skyfall.
First stop, the Three Sisters viewpoint (what3words: ///loses.proofread.sandpaper), for the classic view of the three ridges (or sisters) on Bidean Nam Bian.
Next up, moving on to the Meeting of Three Waters, aka Glencoe Falls (what3words: ///developed.padding.hears), where water collects from three sources. There are more views of Glencoe (what3words: ///reverted.voting.mindset) along the way, before you reach the famous Wee White House (what3words: ///reforming.alley.settled), or Lagangarbh Hut.
Not far from here, you’ll find the Devil’s Staircase, a short walk up the mountain (what3words: ///remix.clown.mastering).
12pm – Time to refuel
Stop for lunch at the Climbers Bar in the Kingshouse Hotel, where there’s a good bar menu and a crackling fire. Here, you can refuel on venison burgers, fish finger sandwiches and pan-fried gnocchi.
1pm -Glen Etive
Head south off the A82 towards Glen Etive, stopping first at the Buachaille Etive Mór viewpoint (///summit.sunbeam.smile) for another knockout view. Note that once
you leave the A82 going south, the road narrows to single-lane.
From here, it’s onwards to Glen Etive (what3words: ///booklets.veto.statement) and the dramatic Skyfall Waterfall.
2pm – Mountain high
Head for the hills at the Glencoe Mountain Resort (access is via a single-lane road with passing places), where you can take a chairlift from the valley up to 2200ft in just 12 minutes. You can enjoy the views at the top of the chairlift or continue walking up the mountain for three-quarters of a mile for views of Glen Etive. A return ride costs £17 for adults, £12 for children over five.
3.30pm – Walk on!
Visiting Glencoe is all about the hiking and the views, so you’ll want to dedicate a bit of time to some proper hiking.
Where to begin, though? You can get good advice at the Glencoe Visitor Centre, which shows the best routes to be found in the Glencoe National Nature Reserve.
Walkhighlands has excellent guidance to trails such as the historic Signal Rock and the Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail).
AllTrails also provides a full list of walks, with handy descriptions and information.
8pm = Scottish fine dining
Time to treat yourselves to a final slap-up meal at the Laroch Restaurant and Bar, in Ballachulish. You’ll find plenty of Scottish classics, such as mussels and venison. There’s often live music here, too.
What’s on in Glencoe
Great Glencoe Challenge
- 5 July 2025
Get your walking boots on for a 26.2-mile trek in some of Scotland’s finest scenery, from Glencoe to Ben Nevis. Entry fee £115 per person, in three instalments.
Watch out for…
Glencoe Folk Museum reopening
Set in 19th-century heather-thatched cottages and with a focus on the history of the area and its people, Glencoe Folk Museum was closed for redevelopment during 2024. Building is scheduled to start in spring 2025; the museum is due to reopen in the following October.
If you’d like some more travel inspiration for other parts of the UK, we have some other top ideas for you. For instance, enjoying 48 hours in Windsor will allow you to take in plenty of green spaces while only being less than an hour from London. Alternatively, embark on a 48-hour tour to Talgarth, Bannau Brycheiniog on the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons to take in the beauty of South Wales. The pretty coastal town of Ballycastle is also a great seaside destination, with plenty of mysterious landscapes to explore.
Lead image: Aubrey Stoll/Getty Images
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