West Highland Way Section 7- King’s House to Kinlochleven

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West Highland Way Section 7- King’s House to Kinlochleven

By Dave Roberts   

on December 17, 2020   No ratings yet.

Posted in Official West Highland Way Route

West Highland Way Section 7- King’s House to Kinlochleven

Further Details

Route Summary:

The penultimate section of the West Highland Way takes you from King’s House Hotel over to Kinlochleven over the Devil’s Staircase.

Start and Finish: Kingshouse Hotel to Kinlochleven

Distance: 14.3 km

Ascent: 411 m

Time: 5 hours

Timings are approximate and depend on the individual. Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Weather Forecast:

Facilities:

There are no facilities once you set off until you reach Kinlochleven. This is the largest village so far, so you’ll have all the facilities here including a well stocked co-op and a cash machine (At The Aluminium Story). There’s the obligatory pub, or two at the Tailrace Inn, Highland Getaway Inn and the Bothy Bar, as well as a good choice of accommodation. There’s also Chiller’s Bar & Grill at the Ice Factor.

Public Transport:

There’s a bus service between Kinlochleven and Fort William – the N44 by Shiel Buses. So you could base yourself at either location for the final couple of sections.

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Keep an eye out for:

Devil’s Staircase

Views down to Glencoe and the Mamores

Ice Factor National Ice Climbing Centre in Kinlochleven.

The Aluminium Story for those who want to know more about the use and extraction of this metal.

Recommended WHW Maps: 

West Highland Way Guidebooks:

Scottish Highland Guidebooks:

Businesses on this section of the West Highland Way: 

West Highland Way Section 7- King’s House to Kinlochleven Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

Download file for GPS

West Highland Way Section 7- King’s House to Kinlochleven

This is the penultimate section of the West Highland Way between King’s House Hotel at the head of Glencoe, up the Devil’s Staircase and on to finish the final official night in Kinlochleven over the Devil’s Staircase. The section sets off easily along the old military road along the flanks of Beinn a Chrulaiste before climbing up the Devil’s Staircase to around 500m height.

What’s more surprising at this stage is that this crosses the far end of the Aonach Eagach ridge, but it’s just grassy knolls at this end! With this high point of the Way under your belt, you can admire the view down Glencoe and towards the Mamores ahead. The remainder of this section is a steady, downhill plod to Kinlochleven, albeit a rather lengthy one.

Kinlochleven is probably the most of civilisation you’ve seen since you’ve set off, with numerous bars (mentioned above) as well as a well stocked shop. Don’t celebrate just yet, there’s still one more leg to go before your walk is finished and you don’t want to be completing that with a hangover!

 

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

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