  
    Hidden Valley Guided Hike
Glencoe: Scotland

4km (2.5 miles)
372m (1,220 feet)

Join me on a guided hike to The Hidden Valley in Glencoe. The route follows the river through a stunning forested gorge (Coire Gabhail) past waterfalls and over stepping stones to the atmospheric Hidden Valley - the views are phenomenal!

This half day hike usually takes 2.5-3.5 hours. Along the route I’ll tell you about the local area: Gaelic mountain names and translations, the history of The Hidden Valley and the Massacre of Glencoe.

I’ve had the pleasure of guiding solo travellers, groups & families from all around the world to The Hidden Valley, have a look at my reviews.

Hidden Valley terrain & fitness

I guide clients on The Hidden Valley a few times a week and most people are comfortable with the route. However, some find the uneven & rocky terrain challenging.

The route, sometimes called The Lost Valley, is mainly path, but there are a few tricky rocky sections to keep it interesting: a large rock slab to cross (involves mild scrambling i.e. hand on rock), a steep rocky section with a wire handrail, a boulder river crossing and a metal staircase. I’m there to help guide you through it if needed.

There are no handrails or fences so a short section of the narrow path has an exposed drop. A few clients have found this challenging.

Fitness wise, it’s suitable for most people, but there’s nearly 400m of ascent so it’s a physical challenge for some. There’s no hurry though, we can take our time.

Hidden Valley start point

If you have your own car, I’ll meet you at the Three Sisters car park. If not, I can take up to 4 passengers in my car. I drive down from Fort William so I can pick you up there, or anywhere along the route to Glencoe.

I frequently guide clients who come up for the day on the bus from Glasgow, Edinburgh or other towns to the south. See FAQs below for public transport options.

Hike start times for the Hidden Valley

As it’s a half day hike, I run two start times: 9am and 2pm. However, in peak season (mid-July to mid-September) I only run Hidden Valley hikes in the morning, ideally pre-9am, as the car park get’s full early and, to put it bluntly, is like the Wild West all day!

Outside of peak season, I can accommodate start times outside of the 9am & 2pm slots.

Prices & Booking Info

Glencoe Hiking Tours

If you’d like to combine a selection of short hikes in Glencoe, have a look at my Glencoe Hiking Tours.

Tours can include The Hidden Valley plus other forest trails & waterfall walks like An Torr, Glencoe Lochan, Brecklet Trail & Inchree Falls.

Hidden Valley Hike FAQ

Is The Hidden Valley hike family friendly?

I generally have a minimum age limit of 12 years old as the terrain is fairly tough. I have guided families with younger children, but the hike generally takes longer. Contact me if you’d like to take children younger than 12 years old.

I have one booster seat for my car (UK legal requirement for children shorter than 135cm).

Is The Hidden Valley hike pet friendly?

So far, nobody has asked to take their dog but I’ve hiked the route with my friends Jack Russel and other than the large rock slab that most people find tricky, it was no problem. I see people walking their dogs on the trail all the time so feel free to bring your dog.

Can I get to The Hidden Valley by public transport?

You can get close! Both Ember & City Link come through Glencoe from Edinburgh & Glasgow. There’s no bus stop at the Three Sisters car park so I recommend getting off at Glencoe Village (City Link call it Glencoe crossroads). I can meet you at the car park across the road which has public toilets.

The Glencoe Visitor Centre bus stop is a few minutes closer to the start point, but it’s just a road junction with nowhere easy for me to wait for you.

I highly recommend pre-booking the bus as it’s cheaper and some clients have had payment issues on the day and missed the bus.