West Highland Way: Kings House Hotel to Kinlochleven

Directions

Leave the Kings House Hotel and use the bridge just behind it to cross the River Etive. Head north for a sixth of a mile down a track until it ends at a T-junction with a surfaced track at NN259549. Turn left down this track and follow it westwards for a little over half a mile. Shortly before it meets the A82(T) turn right through a wooden gate to join a rough path.

This path follows the Old Military Road as it slowly ascends west-northwestwards to summit at a height of 310 metres before descending slowly back towards the main road. On the way it crosses a couple of wooden gates; it passes another to approach the A82(T). The path heads northwestwards with the road on the left, passing through a series of gates as it squeezes between the road and some farm sheds. It eventually crosses a footbridge to reach Altnafeadh (NN220563). Pass the house and cross another footbridge over the Allt a’ Mhain to approach a lay-by.

After the wooded area ends a path leads off the road and up the hill to the right, initially along steps. This soon curves to the left to cross a footbridge over a gorge that carries the Allt a’ Mhain downhill and continues uphill with the stream on the left. At first the ascent is relatively gradual as it follows the burn, but it soon steepens and the path starts to zigzag as it ascends. This part of the path is known as the Devil's Staircase and is nowhere near as hard as it looks, even with a heavy pack. A couple of cairns mark the top of the climb, which is situated in a pass between the summits of Stob Mhic Mhartuin to the west and Beinn Bheag to the east. At 548 metres this is the highest point on the West Highland Way and there are some lovely views available of the Mamores ahead to the north and the hills of Glen Coe behind to the south.

From the top of the Devil's Staircase the path starts to descend slowly to ford the Allt a’ Choire Odhair-Bhig. On the other side it climbs uphill once more to cross a ridge before descending to reach a bridge over the Allt a' Choire Odhair-Mhoir, where it turns to take a more northwesterly direction. It soon reaches a track next to the building that houses the top of the pipes that carry water from Blackwater Reservoir down to the Kinlochleven power station) at NN202605. This is the start of a long slog downhill, a slog which is only enlivened by the bridge that passes the attractive waterfall and dam of the Allt Coire Mhorair.

After the bridge the track becomes less steep as it continues to descend, eventually paralleling the pipeline that lead down into Kinlochleven; the track and pipeline descend together towards the site of the old aluminium factory at Kinlochleven, which was demolished in the early 2000’s. Just before the site of the factory the West Highland Way turns off to the right, crossing a bridge over the pipes. A rough path then descends to reach a bridge over the River Leven at NN192617.

Cross the bridge, and on the northern side turn left to join a good track that parallels the river; this soon becomes Wades Road that leads northwestwards into Kinlochleven. As Morrison Crescent comes in from the right, turn left down a surfaced path that heads along the northern bank of the river into the centre of the town. It soon meets the B863 road at NN187619.

Places of interest

Transport

Public transport between the Kings House and Kinlochleven is difficult; Highland Country offers a bus servicee between Kinlochleven and Glencoe village. After this it gets more difficult; it may be easier to walk the eight miles through Glen Coe back to the Kings House.

If you wish to go by bus, then Citylink services 914 will take you to Tyndrum, and 978 from Tyndrum to Kings House. There is only one service a day that is really convenient for this journey, so care needs to be taken.

As usual, Traveline Scotland is an excellent resource for planning public transport journeys.

Other walk accounts

This leg is mentioned in the following web pages:

• Kingshouse to Kinlochleven (WalkHighlands)
• Kingshouse to Kinlochleven (JButler)
• Kingshouse to Fort William (BritishWalks)
• Kingshouse to Kinlochleven (AdventureJournal)

Map information

Landranger (1:50,000)		Explorer (1:25,000)
Landranger 41 (Ben Nevis, Fort William & Glen Coe)	or	Explorer 384 (Glen Coe & Glen Etive)