Bidean nam Bian and Lost Valley 12 km
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 7.76 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,858 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 3,858 ft
- Max elevation
- 3,804 ft
- TrailRank
-
81
5
- Min elevation
- 409 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 7 hours 23 minutes
- Coordinates
- 3320
- Uploaded
- September 24, 2018
- Recorded
- July 2018
near Kinlochleven, Scotland (United Kingdom)
Viewed 18717 times, downloaded 370 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
You start at a parking lot in Glen Coe on the scenic highway A82. It can become very busy here, another reason to start early as I did. From the parking lot you descend towards the river Coe, cross the bridge and start your ascent into Coire nan Lochan, the deep valley between the two sisters Gearr Aonach and Aonach Dubh. The clear path rises steeply from Glen Coe. Higher into the valley, there are some waterfalls you pass close by. The peak Stob Coire nan Lochan appears at the end of the valley. At about 655 m you come to a bifurcation below a waterfall and a small canyon: a clear path keeps to the east of the stream ascending towards the east ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochan. I did not take this path (supposedly steeper and more scrambling), but crossed the stream and continued on a less clear path through grassy ground with common cottongrass. This path goes up to a higher valley with some small lakes just below the great Pinnacle and South Buttresses of Stob Coire nan Lochan. Here in this grassy valley, I lost the path a few times, but this did not present any problems. When nearing the western ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochan (higher reaches of Aonach Dubh) you join the path again. On the ridge, the views are great, towards Loch Leven, Glen Coe and Ben Nevis. Once on the ridge, the path disappears again on the scree. Take care because you walk near steep buttresses and loose scree. On the ridge you walk to the summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan at 1115 m with the higher Bidean nam Bian becoming visible towards the south. From the top, you cross to the Bidean nam Bian summit via a ridge with Diamond Buttress slightly to the right. The last part to the summit of this Munro (Scottish mountain above 3000 feet) is quite steep. On the top, the view is great in all directions. From the summit, you walk southeast on the mountain ridge towards the saddle point Bealach Dearg, with great views of the Lost Valley appearing on your left. From the saddle point you could continue straight on to the top of Stob Coire Sgreamhach, another Munro, especially if you are into the slightly compulsive hobby of Munro bagging, and then come back. However, I turned left for the steep scramble down into the eroded scree gully. After the gully, you keep scrambling on scree but the path is well visible. Walking down you keep to the left of the gorge. Further down you cross a stream coming out of a gorge below the ridge between Stob Coire nan Lochan and Bidean nam Bian (a path can be seen climbing up to this ridge, but I did not notice it from the ridge itself). You continue on the left side of the valley until you get down to an almost level valley strewn with boulders. The river flows below the boulders here. A couple of large boulders guard the entrance to the steep valley north. The valley is called Lost Valley because people used to hide cattle here from people travelling through Glen Coe. From the Lost Valley you have to climb a bit on the Beinn Fhada lower reaches before descending steeply through woods and boulders down to the river which you cross on stepping stones. The path passes a waterfall and then Glen Coe opens up before you. The trail passes moorland on wooden planks and brings you to the second bridge of the day across the Coe river. This crossing is accompanied by a climb on metal stairs. On the other side of the river, the view of the three sisters is great. You join the main path through the valley and then climb back to the parking lot.
Waypoints
Information point
0 ft
Aonach Dubh ridge
Here you arrive to the northwestern ridge from Stob Coire nan Lochan (the Aonach Dubh ridge). The views here are great towards Loch Leven, Ben Nevis and Ballachulish.
Mountain pass
0 ft
Bealach Dearg
Saddle point between Stob Coire Sgreamhach and Bidean nam Bian. From here a steep eroded gully marks the start of the trail down into the Lost Valley.
Summit
Intersection
0 ft
Bifurcation
The path bifurcates here. To the left/straight on is a clear path to the eastern ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochan and on the right across the river is a less clear path to the western ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochan. Straight on is a canyon with a waterfall.
Information point
0 ft
Boardwalk through moor
Here wooden planks have been put in the moor, obviously to avoid muddy feet in wet conditions.
Bridge
Information point
0 ft
Buttress
The north face of Stob Coire nan Lochan is a ragged ridge full of steep rock faces. Take care not to get too close to edge!
Information point
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Glen Coe and the three sisters
Here you are in Glen Coe with a great view of the three sisters
Waterfall
Information point
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Path on west side of Coire Gabhail
Here you walk on a trail on the west side of Coire Gabhail
Information point
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Path up to Coire nan Lochan
The path up to Coire nan Lochan is steep but of good quality. The view towards the valley is great.
Information point
0 ft
Ridge down from Bidean nam Bian
Here you walk on the ridge down from Bidean nam Bian with several local peaks before you arrive to the saddle point Bealach Dearg. Lost Valley is on the left.
Information point
0 ft
Ridge to Bidean nam Bian
This is the ridge between Stob Coire nan Lochan and Bidean nam Bian
River
Information point
0 ft
Scree slope
The walk across the ridge leads you across various scree slopes before you reach the summit.
Information point
0 ft
Side river crossing
Here you cross the stream coming from the gorge on the northeast side of the ridge between Stob Coire nan Lochan and Bidean nam Bian.
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Gracias por compartir tu ruta. Nos ha ido muy bien seguirla.
Gracias por el comentario y la revisión, josepmora!
What a beautiful nature and wonderful photos
I was excited to see your pictures
Wishing you all the best, dear friend
Thanks Mehdi! Glad you liked them.
Interested in doing this circuit with my son in August with Wild camping along the way, how long did it take you roughly? he is only 3, do you think it is too risky at any point?
Hello James, it took me more than 7 hours, rests included. You will find scree, steep slopes and rough terrain, and at some points you need to scramble. My guess would be that 3 years is a bit young...
ok thank you, maybe we will explore the lost valley only, or bring a short rope and the harnesses! ;)
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Thanks!!! Excelent description and route, we did it today, not for all people like is it commented, we taked around 7h 30m
Thanks for your remarks, conracas!