Glencoe is one of the most beautiful areas in Scotland, if not one of the most beautiful places on Earth. With such an amazing destination, it’s always good to prepare and make the most out of your visit, so keep reading this Glencoe Guide for everything you need to know before visiting Glencoe.
We visited Glencoe in January 2023, and I could definitely tell it would be equally as beautiful any part of the year. Winter was dramatic and majestic, but I’m sure summer would be equally as ethereal and stunning. No matter what time of year you’re heading to Glencoe, you’re sure to have an amazing time visiting some of the spots below!
If you would like a video glimpse of our trip, make sure to check out my Glencoe reel on Instagram or TikTok!
Glencoe Guide
Glencoe Valley is in the western region of Scotland, and when you think of the Scottish Highlands in your mind, this is the place. The area is known for stunning peaks, rich local heritage, wildlife, waterfalls, wild swimming, and so much more.
Glencoe is a village within the Glencoe Valley, but it’s pretty teeny tiny, so you’re really going to be in this area for the nature rather than any bustling city life. We were there in winter, but the mild weather tendencies of Scotland made it still doable to get outdoors, and there’s even skiing and lots of winter-specific activities to do in the area, so you can really make the most of it no matter what time of year you’re in Glencoe.
Where to Stay in Glencoe
We saw Kingshouse Hotel on TikTok, and we were immediately sold on its stunning location and deer in residence right out front. We stayed for two nights, so we got a Signature Double just so we would have a little more room and an even better view. There’s not a lot going on in Glencoe once the sun goes down, so we wanted to make sure we had plenty of space to read and hang out in the room since the sun sets around 4 in Scotland winter.
Kinghouse Hotel also has a restaurant on site. I was a little skeptical of how good it could be out here in what feels like the middle of nowhere at times, but it was surprisingly good! The prices are on the higher end, but it’s to be expected in a remote location like this. I can see the dining room having a full reservation list during the summer when the sun is out longer, because the view from the dining room is absolutely stunning!
Breakfast is included with the stay, but honestly we found everything offered to be very unappetizing! We couldn’t understand how their dinner could be so good but the breakfast be almost inedible. There were cereals and pastries which ended up being all we ate while we were there, but you really can’t complain because there just aren’t many options in this area.
What to do in Glencoe Valley
Where to even start? There is so much to do in Glencoe Valley, but I will start by recapping what we did on our trip since there’s basically an unlimited number of things you could do here.
Glen Etive Drive
Starting with the absolute must do in Glencoe Valley, the Glen Etive drive entrance is right across the road from the Kingshouse Hotel, making it the easiest ride over there even to time it perfectly for golden hour. We made sure to pack our favorite travel tripod and some snacks, and we set out for a drive on one of Scotland’s most magical roads.
A brief clip in Skyfall was filmed here, and we had so much fun recreating the scene as best as we could haha. We went all the way to the end of the road, and it was more than worth it.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
This is about a 45 minute drive from Glencoe, but it was so cool to see even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan! You might recognize this from the iconic stolen flying car scene. You can even ride the train if you get tickets far enough in advance and aren’t there in winter like we were!
Glencoe Lochan Trail
We had the best time walking this little loop around the lake! It was so ethereal with the snow and frozen water. It’s a super easy walk, so make sure to make time for it even if you didn’t bring hiking clothes.
Wild Swimming
We didn’t do this, but Glencoe is known for Wild Swimming, even in the freezing cold. Just search where to go wild swimming in Glencoe, and lots of options should come up!
Skiing
Glencoe Mountain Resort is really well known for skiing, and even if you’re not up for that or it’s warmer weather, you can take the gondola to the top for an amazing view!
There are even more things to do in Glencoe than I am listing in this Glencoe Guide – check our some ideas from our hotel here!
Where to Eat in Glencoe
I say this with 100% love in my heart, but the Scottish Highlands are often referred to as a food dessert, and I agree. There is food, but you’re going to see a lot of haggis and very traditional food, and restaurants aren’t reliably open. We headed out to so many spots that said they were open online, only to get there and they were closed for the day randomly or the season. This unfortunately led to use eating at our hotel for four meals in a row, but I am going to include some of the spots we had on our list because i had heard good things!
Red Shed Pizza – We planned to get a pizza here and take it to the Lochan trail I mentioned above, but unfortunately it was closed!
Kingshouse Inn Restaurant – We loved everything we got here!
That concludes this Glencoe Guide! I hope you put Glencoe on your Scotland roadtrip list. It’s truly an amazing, beautiful place that I hope everyone gets a chance to see at some point in their lives! Make sure to check out my Fife Arms review as well if you’re looking for another great spot int he Scottish Highlands.
