• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer

ZigZag On Earth

Plan unforgettable road trips!

  • FRANCE
    • CORSICA
    • NORMANDY
    • PARIS
  • EUROPE
    • ANDALUCIA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • GREECE
    • ICELAND
    • ICELAND WINTER
    • PORTUGAL
    • SCOTLAND
    • SLOVENIA
  • REST OF WORLD
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • OMAN
  • EBOOKS
  • TIPS
  • PUZZLES
  • ABOUT

Scenic Loch Leven (Glencoe, Scotland) – Visit tips + Photos

Last updated on July 15, 2019 By Claire, the Travel Planning Geek

Loch Leven Glencoe in Scotland is one of the most scenic lochs in Scotland: a narrow arm of sea water surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the Highlands. Below you can discover it in photos and video and get tips plan your visit.

Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland Travel
Quick Navigation
Around Loch Leven in Video
Planning tips - Loch Leven Glencoe (Scotland)
View from the South Coast
Kinlochleven and the end of Loch Leven
North Coast stop 1
Driving around Loch Leven Highlands
Best views of Loch Leven
From the Ballachulish Bridge

Navigate back to the complete Travel Scotland Guide

Share0
Tweet0
Pin0

This article contains affiliate Links (info on the Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.


Around Loch Leven in Video

Let's start with a short video that will give you an idea of what driving around Loch Leven in Glencoe looks like on a beautiful day. And below you will find practical information and photos taken at each stop.

A detour worth driving

Loch Leven Glencoe is located in the heart of the National Trust. It is a sea loch, an arm extending from Loch Linnhe to Ballachulish. It's length is 14.1 km and its width varies from 200 m to 1.6 km. As it is quite narrow and surrounded by the Munro and peaks of Glencoe, it is one of the most scenic lochs in Scotland and, I think, one of the top Scotland Attractions.

Most people, excited after driving through Glencoe and looking forward to getting to the isle of Skye, then to miss completely this magnificent loch. I think it is worth the small detour around it for stunning views of the Scottish Highlands like this one:

Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 19

Loch Leven - Highland views


Planning tips - Loch Leven Glencoe (Scotland)

Getting to Loch Leven Highlands

  • Glencoe and Loch Leven are a 2h50min drive from Edinburgh, a 2h drive from Glasgow and a 30min drive from Fort William.
  • Glencoe to Kinlochleven on the South Coast via B863 takes 15 minutes without stopping
  • Kinlochleven to North Ballachulish via B863 on the North Shore takes 16 minutes without stopping
  • Be careful there is another loch Leven between Perth and Edinburgh. My google maps select it by default. in Wikipedia it is named as Loch Leven (Highlands).
Loch Leven Map

Loch Leven Glencoe - Google Map Data @2017

The beautiful Loch Leven Glencoe (with the GPS coordinates of the best stops) is included in my eBooks:

Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!

small Scotland Road Trip Guide ebook cover

15 Maps, 150+ locations, 170+ photos
LEARN MORE

Cover Road Trip Edinburgh to Skye

8 Maps, 60 Features locations, 115+ photos
LEARN MORE

Visiting Loch Leven Glencoe

  • The road going around Loch Leven is B863
  • The road is in good condition and has 2 lanes all the way.
  • Kinlochleven at the end of the loch offers many accommodations. See my Scotland Accommodations Page for information about where I stayed

Loch Leven Walks

I did not have time to complete any but Loch Leven offers some great day hikes as well as shorter ones:

  • The 2h Grey Mare's Tail and Mamore Lodge Trail that goes to a waterfall, the old lodge and give views of Loch Leven (185 meter ascent)
  • The 1h easy walk around the Ballachulish Slate Querries (easy but less wild)
  • The 5h Pap of Glencoe trail - very steep with 716m ascent but with wonderful views of the area. Photos in the user's reports on the link above.
  • The 6h Garbh Bheinn Trail, also a steep one with 865m ascent. Photos in the user's reports on the link above.
  • The 6h Blackwater Reservoir trail with an ascent of 550m taking through the forest to a dam.

View from the South Coast

In the evening we drove along the South East Cost from the town of Glencoe to Kinlochleven at the end of the Loch. This side has not many views as you mostly see trees. But I found a couple of stops along the road.

This first stop was just on the side of the road:

Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 1
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 2
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 4

Driving a little bit further you will find parking with a picnic area. After that stop there is a small mound with great 360° views. Here are the pictures of Loch Leven taken at the end of the afternoon. It seems I did not write down the GPS coordinates but you cannot miss it as you drive on B863.

Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 5
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 6
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 7

Kinlochleven and the end of Loch Leven

At the end of Loch Leven is the town of Kinlochleven. It is bigger than I expected. It is a big stop for people doing hiking and multi-day hiking in Glencoe.

This is a sea Loch so its end is under water or not depending on the tide.

Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 8

Kinlochleven accommodations

If you have the time, I recommend spending the night in Kinlochleven, surrounded by the mountains of the Highlands.
Check out the accommodation options.

I stayed at the Allengrange B&B where I enjoyed beautiful views and a delicious breakfast. Below are my photos with the view from my window 🙂
Check out more photos and latest prices

Glencoe Accommodation Kinlochleven

North Coast stop 1

One of my favorite stops was not long after leaving Kinlochleven. For those looking for a place to stay, at this spot we saw motorhomes and campervans.

There is a large parking. 

Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 9
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 10
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 11

Driving around Loch Leven Highlands

On the North Coast of Loch Leven, the road goes closer to the water and there are less trees. You get better views of this magnificent loch.

Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 12

Sometimes you spot a place to park and you can admire the view.

Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 16
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 14
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 15

Best views of Loch Leven

Then there is a series of cleared coves where you can see some of the best summits around. It is just across from the town of Glencoe.

Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 17
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 20
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 19
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 21
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland 22

From the Ballachulish Bridge

At the mouth of Loch Leven, where it joins Loch Linnhe is a bridge that allows you to reach Fort Williams faster. However I strongly recommend driving around the loch if you have time.

Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland Bridge 1
Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland Bridge 2

View of Loch Linnhe from the bridge:

Loch Leven Glencoe Scotland Bridge 3

Want to see more of SCOTLAND?

PREVIOUS: 

GLENCOE LOCHAN WALK

NEXT: 

CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK

Travel Scotland Destination Guide

Isn't this loch magnificent?

Share0
Share +10
Tweet0
Pin0

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Cairnholy Chambered Cairns Scotland – photos and planning info
Read More 
Scenic Glen Etive Road (Scotland) – Tips + Photos + Loch Etive
Read More 
Photographing Buachaille Etive Mor (in Glencoe Scotland)
Read More 
Glencoe Lochan Walk (Scotland) – Photos + Planning Tips
Read More 
Loch Leven Scotland - Loch Leven Glencoe Kinlochleven

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. graham drew says

    April 15, 2019 at 12:09 PM

    great set of photos I love this area and lucky enough to live near Glasgow and when I can I love the drive to Fort William the scenery is dramatic and always different

    Reply
  2. Geoffrey Riley says

    May 5, 2020 at 2:08 AM

    Most beautiful scenery that we have seen. Fort William and surrounds are amazing and we enjoyed it very much on our 7 week car trip of Brittain..

    Reply
    • Claire, the Travel Planning Geek says

      May 5, 2020 at 10:03 PM

      It is a beautiful area, I agree 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

Search

Follow us on Facebook

Follow up on Pinterest

Website in French: ZigZagvoyages.fr

Website in German: ZigZagreisen.de

Privacy / Terms of Use / Disclosure Policies / Refund policy

Become an affiliate for the ZigZag road trip guide

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ZigZagOnEarth.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.uk and Amazon.ca

Copyright © 2021 ZigZag On Earth · Log in

If you continue browsing this site we assume you agree with the use of cookies in this website.OkRead more