Glencoe Without a Car: How to Visit & What to Do

Can you see Glencoe without a car? As a car-free traveller, Glencoe had always been on my wishlist, but it seemed tricky to do without driving. I decided to put it to the test on a glamping weekend in the glen. 

Glencoe is a steep valley forged by ancient glaciers and volcanic eruptions. One of Scotland’s most famous natural landmarks, visitors tend to see it on a scenic drive winding along the A82. 

It’s a place that road trips are made for. Waterfalls gush down rugged peaks that rise sharply above solitary white cottages. The road bends and weaves, revealing dramatic views round every corner. 

Without a car, Glencoe is less of a road trip and more of a destination. You have more time to experience it and immerse yourself in this jaw-dropping landscape. That said, there are a few logistical challenges as public transport is limited. 

If you don’t want to drive, you don’t have to miss out. Here’s how to visit Glencoe without a car, including how to get there, how to get around, what to see and where to stay. 

How to visit Glencoe without a car 

Without a car, visiting Glencoe works best if you have a nearby base so you don’t have to carry heavy luggage and you have more time to explore the glen. 

The nearest large town to Glencoe is Fort William. While it’s a great public transport hub, you don’t need to stay there. I’ve included a few accommodation options around Glencoe with easy public transport connections further down this guide. 

So, now that you know you need a nearby base, here’s a breakdown of the public transport in Glencoe:  

Getting to Glencoe 

The Scottish Citylink 915 and Ember coaches drive through Glencoe as connecting services from Glasgow to Fort William. Get off at Glencoe Village or the NTS Glencoe Visitor Centre at the glen’s northwest entrance, or Kinghouse at the southeast entrance. 

From Fort William: It’s just a 30-minute journey to Glencoe by public transport, so it’s the quickest and easiest option. The route is also served by the number 44 bus. 

From Glasgow: Coaches take about 2 hours and 30-45 minutes. They are direct services with charging points and toilets on board. 

Book Ember and Scottish Citylink tickets in advance, as these coaches get full and they can’t guarantee availability on the day, particularly in summer. For the number 44 bus, you can just pay the driver when you board. 

Editor’s tip: If I were making this trip from Glasgow, I would take the West Highland Line train to Fort William and get a bus down to my hotel in Glencoe instead. The journey is longer, but it’s much more comfortable and scenic!

Getting around Glencoe 

By public transport: Since Ember and Scottish Citylink are long-distance coaches, they have stops in the villages of Ballachulish and Glencoe but only two stops in the valley itself: Glencoe Visitor Centre and Kingshouse. Make sure you press the bell. 

Unfortunately, you can’t use these services as a hop-on, hop-off for different points of interest in the valley. (Wouldn’t it be good if there WAS a shuttle service…). 

On foot: Since bus stops are limited in the valley, you’ll be doing a lot of walking. There are quite a few scenic hiking trails, but there isn’t a route that runs parallel to the A82 right the way through the glen. The closest option is the West Highland Way, which takes you on a huge detour to Kinlochleven. 

The A82 is pavement-free and very busy, so I don’t recommend walking along the verge. There are far too many narrow sections and tight bends. 

The good news is that the glen’s northwest entrance is now more accessible with the new Glencoe Orbital Track, a pedestrian loop which starts from Glencoe Village. It makes getting around on foot much easier. More on that later!

By bike: You could hire bikes from Glencoe Mountain Resort or Rugged Coast Glencoe, but I don’t recommend attempting to cycle on the A82. As a main transport connection for Scotland, it’s busy with trucks, coaches and tourists. 

So, now you’re probably wondering whether getting around Glencoe without a car is even possible. Yes, it is! 

On my trip, I did a combination of walking and taking the coach. I spent one day on the Glencoe Orbital Track with detours to Glencoe Lochan and Loch Achtriochtan. The next day, I took the coach to Kingshouse and explored the glen’s southeast entrance. 

Travelling down the A82 from Glencoe Village, I sat on the right-hand side of the coach. I was able to see the Three Sisters mountains, Buachaille Etive Mòr and the famous Wee White House. 

Things to do in Glencoe without a car 

Below is a list of places I visited in Glencoe doing a combination of walking and taking the coach. 

Glencoe Orbital Track 

The Glencoe Orbital Track is a new pedestrian-friendly loop which connects the Glencoe Visitor Centre with the village. It’s about 8 miles without detours and takes around 2.5 hours to complete. 

Without a car, the Orbital Track is your pedestrian access to the northwest part of Glencoe, and it features many key points of interest. Starting from Glencoe Village, the route passes the Folk Museum and the memorial to the MacDonald Clan who died during the deadly Glencoe Massacre of 1692. 

After crossing the River Coe, you’ll have the option to do a detour to Glencoe Lochan before following the old village road down towards the visitor centre. The terrain starts to get more mountainous, with steep slopes rising above the road. 

You pass the trailhead for the Pap of Glencoe, a mountain with a distinct, knobbly-looking summit, then Glencoe Youth Hostel. I took a slight detour to find the spot where Hagrid’s Hut was filmed in the Harry Potter films. Elevated above the road, it had a brilliant view of the surrounding forest-covered mountains. 

Later, you pass the Clachaig Inn, which is a good spot for lunch. I took another quick detour to Loch Achtriochtan for views of rugged mountains and Achnambeithach Cottage. The route then turns north, curving around Signal Rock and following the A82 up to the visitor centre, then back to the village. 

NTS Glencoe Visitor Centre 

You can’t get a true understanding of the history and geology that makes the glen so special without a visit to the Glencoe Visitor Centre managed by the National Trust for Scotland.

Set in a woodland glade at the glen’s northwest entrance, the visitor centre can be reached from the village via the Orbital Track. It’s free to visit and chat about the local area with the friendly staff.  

There’s a cinema with a short film narrated by Rory McCann, which reveals how the iconic landscape was formed by a supervolcano millions of years ago and shaped by ancient glaciers. A true land of fire and ice!

Grab a hot drink or treat from the cafe, then head outside to the replica of a 17th-century turf house to see how the local Highlanders used to live. Set against a dramatic mountainous backdrop, it feels like a glimpse through time. 

Glencoe Lochan 

Glencoe Lochan is one of the easiest and most scenic short walks in Glencoe if you don’t have a car. A 25-minute walk from Glencoe Village, the small loch surrounded by ornamental woodland was created by Lord Strathcona in the 1890s to emulate the Canadian Rockies for his homesick wife. They ended up returning to Canada…

Although artificial, there’s nothing fake about it. The tranquil lochan is enveloped in pine trees, overlooked by the hulking shape of Beinn a Bheithir and the Pap of Glencoe peeking above the canopy. It’s a haven for wildlife. On a cool day in early March, I saw ducks on the water and a frog hopping along the shore, and the faint sound of a woodpecker echoed through the trees.  

There are several walking trails to explore from the car park, including a mountain trail up a rocky incline that gives you views of the lochan from above. Another waymarked trail winds down through towering redwoods and sequoias while a flat, accessible-friendly path laps the lochan. 

Glencoe Mountain Resort 

Glencoe Mountain Resort is set on the Meall A’Bhuiridh Massif at the southeastern entrance to the glen, where the valley widens onto Rannoch Moor. It was Scotland’s first commercial ski area, and it’s now a popular destination for year-round outdoor activities. 

In summer, you can go mountain biking and tubing or do a treasure hunt around the resort. In winter, it’s popular with skiers and snowboarders as it has some of the longest and steepest runs in Scotland. You can also go sledging down a gentle slope for free from December to April. I did this on my glamping trip in March. 

You take a chairlift to reach the summit, and return tickets cost £20 for adults and £15 for children. It was absolutely freezing and windy when I did it, but the views of Glen Etive and Rannoch Moor were phenomenal. 

To get there without a car, you’d take the Ember or Scottish Citylink to Kingshouse and walk about 20 minutes up a lane to Glencoe Mountain Cafe and Bar at the base of the resort. On the way, you’re treated to a stunning view of Buachaille Etive Mòr and Blackrock Cottage. 

Loch Achtriochtan 

Loch Achtriochtan is a small, shallow loch in the heart of Glencoe Valley, and it’s absolutely mesmerising. It’s ringed by rugged mountains that are reflected in the water on a still day. Even when the cloud hung low over the peaks, it was still beautiful. Perhaps even more so. 

On the edge of the loch is a solitary white house with a waterfall tumbling down from the mountains above. This is Achnambeithach Cottage, one of the most photographed views in Scotland. 

I visited the viewpoint on a detour from the Orbital Track. You have to cross the A82 to reach the small car park. There’s a bridge across the river to the cottage, but I don’t recommend crossing it or getting closer than the car park. Although it’s a landmark, it’s still someone’s home and no one likes a snoop!

Glencoe Village 

The easiest place to visit in the valley without a car! While tiny, don’t overlook Glencoe Village. Set between the River Coe and Loch Leven, it has a handful of fantastic places to eat, like Moss and gift shops such as Crafts ‘n’ Things and the Winter Thistle. 

Head down to the water’s edge at the Loch Leven Viewpoint, and if you have young kids, they can play at the playground in the Hidden Garden. Normally, you can have a look inside the Glencoe Folk Museum, but it’s currently closed for refurbishments. 

Along the riverbank are two memorials dedicated to the lives lost during the World Wars and the Glencoe Massacre. Each one is marked with a Celtic cross. 

Car-free hiking in Glencoe  

Glencoe is renowned for hiking, but you don’t need to miss out if you’re not driving. A couple of trailheads you can reach on foot or by public transport include: 

• Signal Rock and An Torr – the 1.5-mile loop takes around an hour to complete and leads you through scenic woodland in the central part of Glencoe. The trailhead is near the Clachaig Inn on the Orbital Track. 
• Pap of Glencoe (Sgòrr na Cìche) – a proper hike that starts from the village; it takes about 5 hours to complete and has some rocky scrambles towards the summit. The panoramic views down to Glencoe Village and Loch Leven make it worth the effort. 
• Devil’s Staircase – the highest point of the West Highland Way with steep climbs and views down towards Buachaille Etive Mòr. This is an out-and-back trail, and to start it, join the West Highland Way at Kingshouse Hotel. 

Pssst… want to see what getting around Glencoe without a car is like in practice? Take a look at my YouTube video below:

Where to stay in Glencoe without a car 

As I mentioned, it’s a good idea to have a base in Glencoe as it takes much longer to get around and you’re confined to coach timetables. The accommodations below are all on coach or bus routes: 

AOSI Si Lodges

I stayed here on a car-free glamping weekend in Glencoe in March. Just outside of Ballachulish, this B&B is housed in a renovated 19th-century rectory and has luxury glamping lodges on the grounds. Each one is kitted out with sumptuous beds and a freestanding bathtub. 

Kingshouse Hotel 

Set at the southeastern entrance to Glencoe Valley, Kingshouse Hotel has rooms and a more budget-friendly bunkhouse. Its restaurant and bar have wide windows with views of Buachaille Etive Mòr. Deer tend to hang around outside as they’ve become used to tourists feeding them (I don’t recommend doing that).

The Glencoe Inn 

The Glencoe Inn is a cosy 4-star inn in Glencoe Village. It has modern rooms and suites for couples and families, and an elegant dining room. In the evenings, retreat to the Whisky Snug for a dram by the fire. 

Glencoe Camping and Caravanning Club

Camping in Glencoe without a car? The Camping and Caravanning Club has a small site next to the National Trust Glencoe Visitor Centre, so you could take a small tent with you on the coach. Check the luggage restrictions before you pack and pick up enough food to last several days at the supermarket in Fort William. 

Places to eat in Glencoe 

There aren’t many places to eat inside the valley itself, but there are a few options you can get to without a car, including: 

Clachaig Inn

I stopped at the Clachaig Inn for lunch while I was on the Glencoe Orbital Track. The award-winning establishment has two bars, a bunkhouse and all-day dining. Its menu features hearty pub classics with a Scottish twist, like fish and chips, burgers and haggis, neeps and tatties. 

Kingshouse Hotel 

The restaurant at the Kingshouse Hotel is open for breakfast and dinner, serving dishes made from ingredients sourced from the surrounding estate. An all-day menu is also available at the more casual Climber’s Bar, while the Way Inn offers grab-and-go lunches for hungry hikers. 

Crafts & Things 

Crafts & Things is a cafe, gift shop and art gallery in Glencoe Village. Open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm, it serves hot breakfast rolls, pastries, cakes, hearty soups, tea and coffee. I stopped here for a coffee on my way to Glencoe Lochan, and my partner picked up some cosy new walking socks in the gift shop. 

Moss Glencoe 

Located in Glencoe Village, Moss Glencoe is a restaurant where every dish tells a story through its local, seasonal ingredients. It has a warm, relaxed atmosphere, and each plate is thoughtfully put together. It’s open in the evenings from Wednesday to Friday and from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday. 

The best tours of Glencoe 

If you’ve read this far and are now wondering if there’s an easier way to see Glencoe without a car that doesn’t involve so much walking, I’ve got you! I recommend booking a tour with Rabbie’s, an award-winning small group operator with no more than 16 passengers. 

Glencoe features on a number of its tour itineraries, including: 

• Oban, Glencoe, Highland Lochs & Castles tour from Glasgow – I’ve done this one, and it was my favourite tour (I’ve done about 6!). Your guide drives along Loch Lomond to Inveraray, then Oban, and finally Glencoe, with stops at the visitor centre, Achnambeithach Cottage and the Three Sisters Viewpoint. 
• Magical Highlands: Glencoe and the Glenfinnan Viaduct tour from Edinburgh – this day trip combines the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct with a drive through Glencoe with a few stops. 
• Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands – departing from either Glasgow or Edinburgh, this day tour includes a few stops in Glencoe, like Achnambeithach Cottage, as well as Loch Ness and Pitlochry. 

Book directly with Rabbie’s and get 15% off any tour with code LLT15 at checkout. 

Final thoughts 

Yes, you can visit Glencoe without a car. I spent a glorious weekend glamping and roaming the valley. I felt like I saw beyond the A82, walking down lanes most people miss and seeing the light change on the mountains. 

However, the reality is that it does require some logistical planning. You can’t see everything, and there isn’t pedestrian access the whole way through the valley, unlike the A82 for drivers.

If you don’t mind the exercise, the best way to get around is a combination of walking and taking the coach. The Glencoe Orbital Track gives you a scenic loop around the northwest part of the valley, linking scenic places like the visitor centre, Loch Achtriochtan and Glencoe Lochan. 

The Scottish Citylink or Ember coach can take you right the way through the glen to Kingshouse, offering the same views drivers get. Sit on the right-hand side down and the left-hand side up for the Three Sisters of Glencoe, Buachaille Etive Mòr and the Wee White House. 

If you prefer a simpler option with less walking but plenty of iconic views, book a day tour with Rabbie’s and have a local guide drive you instead.