Why visit Glencoe?
Stunning scenery
With mountains, waterfalls and a fabulous location on the banks of Loch Leven, the village of Glencoe sits in a spot that’s surrounded by some truly spectacular scenery. This is a place where you’ll want to make sure that your camera or phone is fully charged at all times – even a short walk to the shops or the local pub involves some pretty special views.
A handy Highlands base
If you’re looking to explore those Highland landscapes in full, this pretty little village makes a great alternative to bigger places like Fort William and Oban – thanks in part to easy access via the A82. Big hitters like Ben Nevis and the Glenfinnan Viaduct (aka the Harry Potter railway bridge) are within easy reach, and you can also use the village as a base for outings to Rannoch Moor, Loch Sunart or even the island of Mull.
Activity and adventure
That main road passing through means that it’s easy to take in the scenery on a road trip if you like – but really there’s no better way to take in the full picture than to be out in the open air. There are all sorts of options around for walks and hikes, from gentle lochside strolls to more challenging mountain climbs, and activity providers around town also offer things like paddleboarding, canyoning and mountain bike tours. Nearby Glencoe mountain has more options all year round, including summer tubing and winter ski runs.
Essential things to do in Glencoe
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Take a walk or drive through Glen Coe to look up at the triple peak known as the ‘Three Sisters’
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Take a sea kayak out on Loch Leven for scenic views and wildlife spotting
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Play a round of golf by the loch at Woodlands Golf Course, listed as one of the top 50 nine-hole courses in the world by Golf Magazine
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Bag a munro or two: Stob Dubh and Stob Coire Raineach both have good paths, making them a couple of the easier climbs around
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Come along in winter to tackle Scotland’s longest and steepest ski run at Glencoe Mountain
Unexplored Glencoe
Tales of the past
Housed in a couple of thatched 18th-century cottages, the Glencoe Folk Museum is surely one of the country’s cutest little museums. Inside you can learn all about the Glencoe Massacre and see an eclectic collection of artefacts that tell the story of this storied village.
Into the wild
There’s a real wealth of wildlife in the moors and peaks around Glencoe, but it can be elusive unless you know where to look. The best way to boost your chances of spotting a red deer, a wild mountain goat or a golden eagle is to join a Land Rover safari with rangers from the national nature reserve – they run weekly from April to October and will give you expert insight on the area’s wild residents.
Scottish spirit
It’s tempting to think that Scotland’s drinks industry is all about the whisky, but that’s not the case here in Glencoe. In a gorgeous lochside spot a little way outside the village, Pixels Distillery creates premium gins and rums, and invites visitors to take distillery tours (with samples of course) or to create their own blends at gin school or rum school sessions.
Here’s how
Going hand in hand with those outdoor activities is a whole lot of great places to stay in the open air. Pick a Glencoe campsite and you can spend even more of your holiday looking out over the loch or gazing up towards the mountains.
Our range of campsites around Glencoe includes everything from simple grass pitches to smart glamping locations. Use the tick box filters to find a place that suits you – maybe you’d like to do a bit of fishing on site, or could use a play area to keep the kids busy while you stare at the views?
Alternatively, have a look at some of our most popular collections below:
If Glencoe isn’t quite right for you we’ve got lots more tempting spots to pick from around the Scottish Highlands and Islands – how about looking out for the monster at Loch Ness or sampling the whiskies around Grantown on Spey? Alternatively, pick a spot near one of our favourite hiking trails in the Highlands.
Planning to organise a grand tour of Scotland? Pick up some ideas from our guide to camping in Scotland, and then browse our full list of campsites in Scotland.
