Help for filling in Glencoe itinerary

I highly recommend driving along the Glen Etive Road all the way to Loch Etive. This is a 12-mile drive one-way that ends at Loch Etive. The drive is stunningly gorgeous, and the scenery will take your breath away. There is the lush green valley, majestic mountains, the river, the loch, and probably thousands of rhododendrons! This was one of the highlights of our trip.

We had an exceptional dinner at The Gathering, located at the Glencoe Inn, where we stayed. I recommend making reservations. We did have dinner one night at the Clachaig Inn; the menu is standard pub fare. We much preferred The Gathering. It all depends on what you are looking for.

We also rode the chairlift at the Glencoe Mountain Resort. Went about 1/2 way up the mountains for scenic views. There are biking and walking trails here.

Thank you, kmkwoo! I’ve seen people reference the Skyfall road but not being a big James Bond person, I only half paid attention. But I think that is Glen Etive road, and I should have listened more closely!

And I’ll also look at the Gathering! Very much appreciate your suggestions.

sarah.r, yes, when people mention the Skyfall road, they are talking about the Glen Etive Road. It really is spectacular! I think the rhododendrons will be blooming in May.

The car journey from Mallaig itself holds plenty of delights! The Camusdarach beaches on the B8008, a 5 min detour off the main road, are well worth a stroll on a sunny day.Glenfinnan - the viewpoint - are you planning on just a photo of the viaduct or to see the train going over? I assume the former.Car parking gets incredibly busy an hour or so before the train goes over (around 10.50am in the morning but check)and occasionally it’s so busy that they close it.

There is also a boat trip on Glen Shiel at Glenfinnan if of interest and if time suits.

The loop drive round to Kinlochleven is worth doing, gorgeous scenery.Along that road is also the Seafood Cafe which my husband and I usually try to visit when we can.Might need to book for lunch and certainly for dinner.The Clachaig Inn does decent pub food as does the Kingshouse.All 3 places are in sensational locations.

Walkwise - you could simply walk along the old road above the glen which I’ve described in the link below.To me it’s the easiest, flattest, most spectacular little hike in the area.

https://annestravelsandhikes.com/2025/03/10/glencoes-easiest-most-spectacular-walk/

Or go up the Devil’s Staircase, parking at Altnafeidh (gets busy) and follow the good trail upwards.A bit of a steady slog on open moorland, good track and glorious views from the off.You can continue beyond the highest point of the track on a boggier path, very obvious, for 25 mins or so to the Stob Mhic Mhartuinn viewpoint which is terrific.Not including stops and a snack stop, I’d factor in 2 hrs return.It IS uphill but it sounds as if you are ok for that.

Going up the Glencoe chairlift also allows you to walk to a fab viewpoint about 15 mins from where you get off.Can be a little boggy.

Glen Etive is certainly worthy a drive down - in May, the Rhododendrons should be out round the little lochan beyond Dalness though it’s a bit of a rough walk down to the lochan.But the whole area is glorious.

https://annestravelsandhikes.com/2020/08/28/high-summer-in-glencoe-stob-mhic-mhartuinn-hike/

Thanks, Scotlandmac! Great ideas all and appreciate the time it took to reply. I’m hoping the rhododendrons are blooming - we’ve been to Ireland twice in late April/early May and have just missed them blooming in Killarney National Park (although they are terribly invasive to that area, so perhaps I shouldn’t have been a bit sad to have missed them!).

We have been to Glencoe a few times. We stayed at the Kingshouse Hotel which also has an excellent restaurant. It is located right by the entrance to the Glen Etive Road. Here is a scenic drive we did one day (165 miles). We used the B8074 road to get to the Kilchurn Castle viewpoint. That road is mostly flat and follows a pretty stream. We didn't stop to visit Kilchurn this time because Scottish Heritage had it fenced off for restoration. We then continued to Kilmartin Glen which has a stone circle and a very good small museum. On to Oban for lunch, then we detoured slightly to Ardchattan Priory which is a picturesque ruin. We then drove by the Castle Stalker viewpoint (it is Castle Arghhh in the Monty Python Holy Grail movie). Final stop was the Glen Etive road. We drove the entire length to the loch but if you are short of time, the first three miles are the most scenic. If that drive is too long for you, it is 125 miles if you skip Kilmartin Glen (but I wouldn't do that - it is a very interesting site!)