Lost Valley, Glencoe

The Lost Valley — Coire Gabhail in Gaelic — is a dramatic hidden corrie in the heart of Glencoe, its flat, boulder-strewn floor once used by the MacDonalds of Glen Coe to hide rustled cattle, and reputedly a place of refuge in the aftermath of the infamous 1692 massacre.

The route starts from the large car park halfway up Glen Coe, opposite the celebrated view of the Three Sisters — arrive early, as the car park fills with coaches and can become genuinely busy. A path drops down to the old track through the glen; turning left, a well-worn path branches off to the right and climbs steadily through birch woods on a rocky staircase, with the way becoming rougher and steeper as height is gained. The Allt Coire Gabhail must be crossed on stepping stones, potentially tricky or impassable in spate — don't attempt the crossing if the water is more than knee-deep. Beyond, a narrow rocky staircase and some mild scrambling lead up through the wooded gorge overlooked by the Three Sisters, with towering rock walls rising on either side.

The final approach opens onto the landslip's shoulder, giving the first stunning view down into the hidden valley itself — a flat, ice-scoured basin littered with fallen boulders the size of houses, the largest single rockfall feature in the whole of Britain, enclosed by the great rock walls of Gearr Aonach and Beinn Fhada, with the Munro peak of Stob Coire Sgreamhach visible at the head of the glen. It's well worth exploring the flat valley floor before retracing the same route back to the car park.

This walk should not be underestimated despite its popularity — the steep, rocky path involves genuine mild scrambling and demands care throughout, particularly on the stream crossing and the descent, which can become slippery in wet weather.

The Three Sisters car park in Glen Coe is free; Glasgow to Fort William and Skye buses pass along the A82.