The Lost Valley

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Between the Three Sisters, which dominate the south side of Glencoe, are two valleys. The western one, Coire nan Lochan, is almost entirely open to view but the eastern one, Coire Gabhail, was blocked many years ago by a massive landslide near it's mouth, and as a result is a secret hidden place. It is said that one of the local clans used to hide rustled cattle here, though they must have been very athletic animals to be able to enter the valley. Maybe the translation of the Gaelic name, 'corrie of capture or booty' supports this.

These days it's a lovely place to go which is fairly near the road but completely hidden from it, with a true wild mountain feel. The obvious large car park in Glencoe is the place to start, and an obvious path winds down to a bridge over the Coe (GR 174554). The river is in a deep gorge here and could not be crossed without the bridge, though in recent years there have been mutterings that it contravenes the original bequest of this land to the National Trust for Scotland and should be removed.

Once over the bridge the path climbs steeply up and crosses a deer fence at a large stile. It is followed through some woodland and branches at one point, though the two parts rejoin later. Soon it levels out and the path crosses the stream and rises over the boulder choke along a narrow ledge some 20' up. This ledge is quite wide enough for one person but interesting if a party is travelling in the other direction. It is also possible to make a route through the jumble of large boulders and so avoid the ledge.

The first view of the hidden valley is quite remarkable for it's flat green floor. Further back the floor starts rising, gradually at first and then more steeply up to the Col between Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire Sgreamhach, which was promoted to full Munro status in 1997. It's well worth walking to the start of the steeper sections as here the streams are in deep gorges with dramatic waterfalls and dark pools. However, take care not to slip! When you are walking back out of the valley there are fine though constricted views across Glencoe to Am Bodach.