Guide to Hiking The Hidden Valley In Glencoe
The Hidden Valley in Glencoe is one of our favourite walks in the Scottish Highlands — a true bucket list hike. Here’s everything you need to know, from where to start to how to tackle its surprisingly tricky terrain.
Written by: Trev Summits | July 2026
I’m Trev, a local Mountain Leader who guides visitors on hikes in Glen Coe. I guide people on The Hidden Valley hike a few times a week. Here are my thoughts and some information about the hike.
The Hidden Valley, also known as the Lost Valley, is the best low-level hike in Glen Coe. It’s a lovely forest gorge walk with fantastic scenery. Once you reach the hidden valley, the views are spectacular. It has a remote atmospheric vibe!
However, The Hidden Valley has rough / uneven terrain and a few tricky sections, the large rock slab towards the top being the most difficult. I’ve had clients who have found it easy and loved it, and clients that have struggled with the terrain and not made it.
If you’d like to book me as a guide on The Hidden valley, here are some options:
Other booking Options: Viator (Tripadvisor) | Summit-Scotland.com
How long is the Hidden Valley hike?
The route is 4km (2.5 miles) plus 372m (1,220 ft) of ascent.
How many Hours to hike The Hidden Valley?
Around 2.5-3.5 hours, depending on how fit you are, how long you stop for and your speed over the tricky sections.
How difficult is The Hidden Valley?
That’s subjective as it depends on your fitness and experience level. From my experience, it’s achievable for anyone that’s relatively fit with some hiking experience. There are a few tricky sections that won’t be comfortable for everyone; a few steep rock slabs to climb a metal staircase.
In recent years a steel cable has been added to the initial rocky climb out of the gorge, and large boulders have been added to make the river crossing easier.
Where do I park for The Hidden Valley hike?
The large Three Sisters viewpoint car park is free. However, it’s a very busy car park so I recommend getting there early to get a parking space, especially in peak season (mid-July to mid-September plus some of May).
I frequently struggle to park after 9am and it’s full until around 6pm. Outside of peak season, you can usually get a space but I still recommend being their pre 9am.
Public transport to the Hidden Valley hike
Unfortunately, no buses stop at the Three Sisters car park. Both Ember & City Link come through Glencoe from Edinburgh & Glasgow, but the closest stop is The Glencoe Visitor Centre.
You can walk all the way to The Hidden Valley on the Glencoe Greenway then onto the path that tracks the main road. However, it’s a 18km (11 mile) round trip.
The taxi companies in Glencoe are notoriously unreliable and don’t take advance bookings. Quite a lot of my clients book me purely because I can give them a lift from Fort William or Glencoe Village. They don’t necessarily need a guide!
The Hidden Valley weather forecast
Here are some mountain forecasts closest to The Hidden Valley. The Glencoe Mountain Resort (ski centre) is at 360m and the maximum altitude on the walk is 385m.
The Hidden Valley OS Maps Route and .gPX File
Here’s my personal OS Maps route that I use. I recommend using OS Maps in the U.K. You can get a 14-day free trial. If you have a preferred digital mapping app, you can take the trial of OS Maps and export the .gpx file.
The Hidden Valley Hike Description
Leave the car park and follow the path to the left.
There’s a metal staircase leading to the wooden bridge across River Coe then a steep rocky slab up the other side. There’s now a wire rope handrail as this is slippery when wet.
Continue to follow the path and cross over the stepping stone boulders.
The main tricky bit is the large boulder that needs to be climbed. You can go straight up the diagonal crack or look left behind the tree (small climb then onto the large boulder to the right). Most of my uneasy clients prefer this way.
If you head down to the Hidden Valley floor, remember to return on the path you came, not into the valley itself. That route has very large boulders and tough terrain plus is liable to flood in heavy rain.
Around half way back you’ll see a split in the path and a stone staircase up to the left. Take this for a great view onto Aonach Eagach. It descends back to the main path but it’s steep and slippery in the wet.
Should I hire a guide for The Hidden Valley?
If any of the above information concerns you but you still want to hike The Hidden / Lost Valley (or you just need a lift!), I advise walking with an experienced local guide. I walk with clients on the Hidden Valley route every week, and I’d love to accompany you too.
Other booking Options: Viator (Tripadvisor) | Summit-Scotland.com
Other Hikes in Glencoe
Here are some other hikes in Glencoe that I recommend:
The Pap of Glencoe: there’s some scrambling at the top but you get epic views from The Pap.
The Three Sisters: tough and technical but arguably the best hike in Glencoe is The Three Sisters.
Buachaille Etive Mòr: the most famous mountain in Glencoe, “The Buckle” is shorter and less technical.