Lochaber
Buachaille Etive Mor (Stob Dearg) and the Devil's Staircase — Parking
Altnafeadh · Grid ref NN 221 563 · No charge published
Quick facts
- Grid reference
- NN 221 563
- Spaces
- A small informal lay-by; no space count is published.
- Cost
- No charge published
- Surface
- gravel
- Drive from Glasgow
- 1h 40m
- Drive from Edinburgh
- 2h 10m
Parking charge: No charge published — an informal lay-by on the A82 with no operator, so there is nobody to quote; check the signs on site.
From the car park
The informal parking area at Altnafeadh sits on the north side of the A82 at the foot of the Buachaille. The path crosses the River Coupall by footbridge and climbs directly into Coire na Tulaich — a steep, rocky ascent of approximately 600m to the summit plateau. The final section to Stob Dearg (1,021m) involves easy scrambling.
Heading for the top? Buachaille Etive Mòr weather — wind, cloud & which forecast to use →
The walk
The Buachaille Etive Mor ('Great Herdsman of Etive') is one of Scotland's most iconic Munro massifs. Stob Dearg (1,021m) is the dominant northern top. The usual round of both Munros, up Coire na Tulaich, is around 11km with 1,100m of ascent — strenuous but rewarding, requiring hillwalking experience. The full traverse to all four tops is a serious mountain day. The mountain also hosts major climbing routes on its Rannoch Wall. The other walk from this lay-by is the Devil's Staircase, which climbs the zigzags on the north side of the road onto the highest point of the West Highland Way at 550m. Thru-hikers meet it as day six, Kingshouse to Kinlochleven, 14km with 350m of ascent; as a day objective from Altnafeadh most people go up to the pass and come back the same way, because continuing to Kinlochleven leaves you a long way from your car with no easy way back. It is a pass rather than a summit and appears on no hill list, though the small top of Stob Mhic Mhartuin sits just off it for anyone wanting a cairn.
Facilities
- None at the lay-by
Busy times
The small Altnafeadh lay-by fills early on fine summer weekends, so an early start is essential. Midweek in May or September offers the best conditions and manageable numbers.
Getting here without a car
Scottish Citylink 915 (Glasgow – Fort William – Uig) and 913 (Edinburgh – Fort William) have a timed stop "Glencoe, at Chairlift Road End" — the Glencoe Mountain road end on the A82 (bustimes.org, read 28 Oct 2026). That is not at Altnafeadh: from the stop it is a walk of several kilometres west along the busy A82. Check citylink.co.uk for the current timetable.
Winter access
The A82 Rannoch Moor section is vulnerable to drifting snow and occasionally closes. Coire na Tulaich holds significant avalanche-prone snow in winter — the funnel shape concentrates debris. In icy conditions the coire is a serious winter climbing route. Check the SAIS Glencoe forecast.
Overflow parking
Do not park on the A82 itself — dangerous and illegal. The Kings House Hotel, about 4km east, has its own car park for guests (ask permission). The Study car park (NN 169 564) for Glencoe centre.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:26
- Sunset
- 16:41
- Civil dawn
- 06:46
- Civil dusk
- 17:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Is Buachaille Etive Mor suitable for beginners?
- No — the Coire na Tulaich route is steep, rocky and involves easy scrambling near the summit. It is not suitable for inexperienced walkers or those without appropriate footwear and navigation skills. In winter or wet conditions, the coire becomes hazardous.
- Can I get to the Buachaille by public transport?
- Partly. Citylink 915 and 913 stop at "Glencoe, at Chairlift Road End" on the A82 (bustimes.org, read 28 Oct 2026), which leaves a walk of several kilometres along the A82 to Altnafeadh. Check citylink.co.uk for current timetables.
- Why is the Buachaille Etive Mor car park always full?
- The informal Altnafeadh lay-by is small for one of Scotland's most popular Munros. Arrive early, or ask permission at the Kings House Hotel, about 4km east.
- What are the Buachaille's four summits?
- The ridge has four named tops from north to south: Stob Dearg (1,021m, Munro), Stob na Doire, Stob Coire Altruim and Stob na Bròige (953m, Munro). A traverse of all four is a serious mountain day.
- Where do you park for the Devil's Staircase?
- The same informal lay-by at Altnafeadh on the A82 that serves the Buachaille — small, with no published charge and no facilities. The zigzags start on the north side of the road, opposite the Buachaille path.
- Is the Devil's Staircase a hard walk?
- Not by Glen Coe standards. It is a steady zigzag climb to 550m — the highest point on the West Highland Way — on a good path. The difficulty is logistical rather than physical: walking it end to end drops you in Kinlochleven, a long way from Altnafeadh by road, so most day walkers go up to the pass and return the same way.
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