Glencoe Lochan sits in woodland above Glencoe village, fifteen kilometres south of Fort William, and it is the best easy walk in the area — a small loch with mountains reflected in it, ringed by three short waymarked trails.
It is free, the parking is ample, and none of the routes needs boots.
The wood is not native, and the reason is a good one.
In the 1890s Lord Strathcona — Donald Smith, the Scot who had made his fortune in Canada with the Hudson’s Bay Company and had driven the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway — bought the Glencoe estate. His wife, Isabella, was Canadian, of Cree and Scottish descent, and she was unhappy in Scotland.
So he had the ground around the house planted with North American conifers — Douglas fir, Sitka and other species from British Columbia — and the loch dug, to make a landscape that would look to her like home.
It did not work; she remained homesick. But the wood is still here, and it does look startlingly like coastal British Columbia, which gives the walk its particular character: tall straight conifers, dark water, and Highland mountains behind.
All three start from the car park and are well maintained and well signed.
Yellow — the Lochan Trail. The shortest, level, right around the water. Twenty to thirty minutes. This is the one with the reflections and the classic view of the Pap of Glencoe across the loch.
Blue — the Woodland Trail. Through the surrounding forest, thirty to forty minutes, with some gentle climbing.
Red — the Mountain Trail. The longest and highest, with the most ascent and the best views out over Loch Leven and the mountains. Around forty-five minutes to an hour.
All three together take about an hour and a half at a slow pace, and doing more than one loop is worth it because the views change.
The surfaces are good throughout — no special footwear needed in normal conditions, which makes this an unusual thing in the Highlands.
Still mornings are the point. The loch is small and sheltered, and on a calm day the reflection of the mountains and sky is close to perfect. Wind ruins it.
Autumn — late October — is the best season, when the larch turns and the light is low.
Winter works well too; the paths stay walkable and the wood is quiet.
Free, open at all times.
Parking: free and ample, up the track from Glencoe village.
Facilities: none on site. Glencoe village, a few minutes away, has shops, a café and toilets.
Access: the yellow loch loop is level with good surfaces and is manageable for most; the blue and red trails climb.
Dogs: welcome.
Time: thirty minutes to ninety, depending on how many loops.
Glencoe itself is ten minutes on — the glen, the visitor centre, and the walk into the Lost Valley for those wanting something harder.
Ballachulish and Loch Leven are alongside.
The Glencoe Visitor Centre (National Trust for Scotland) is between the village and the glen.
Yellow twenty to thirty minutes, blue thirty to forty, red forty-five to an hour. All three at a slow pace take about ninety minutes.
No — the surfaces are good and trainers are fine in normal conditions.
Yes, with free parking.
Lord Strathcona planted it with North American conifers in the 1890s to remind his Canadian wife of home.
On a still morning, when the loch reflects the mountains. Late October for the autumn colour.