Lochaber
Glencoe / Bidean nam Bian — Parking
Glencoe NTS Visitor Centre · Grid ref NN 111 575 · PH49 4HX · Charged — check the charge on site
Quick facts
- Grid reference
- NN 111 575
- Postcode (satnav)
- PH49 4HX
- Spaces
- The visitor-centre car park; no space count is published that we could read.
- Cost
- Charged — check the charge on site
- Surface
- tarmac
- Drive from Glasgow
- 1h 50m
- Drive from Edinburgh
- 2h 20m
Parking charge: Charged — the National Trust for Scotland runs the visitor centre and its car park. NTS's site refuses automated requests (HTTP 403, 28 Oct 2026), so we could not read the current tariff or the member terms; check the charge on site.
From the car park
The Visitor Centre sits on the south side of the A82 with clear signed access. The car park is directly behind the building. Waymarked trails start here, including the walk to Signal Rock and woodland paths. For higher routes into the Glencoe mountains, the Visitor Centre is a good orientation point but most summit approaches require driving to specific lay-bys or Altnafeadh.
Heading for the top? Glencoe weather — wind, cloud & which forecast to use →
The walk
From the Visitor Centre, the Signal Rock path is a short woodland walk to the viewpoint. Further up the glen, the Meeting of Three Waters car parks on the A82 give access to the Coire Gabhail (Lost Valley) path — one of Scotland's finest hidden valleys. Bidean nam Bian, the highest peak in Argyll, and the Aonach Eagach ridge — Scotland's finest mainland ridge — are both within 20 minutes' drive along the A82.
Facilities
- Visitor centre (NTS)
- Information
Busy times
The Visitor Centre is busy throughout the summer season and at weekends year-round. The A82 through Glencoe is one of Scotland's most scenic drives and attracts tourists who may not be walking, so expect it to be busy from mid-morning in summer. For hillwalking from Altnafeadh or the Study, arrive early on summer weekends.
Getting here without a car
Scottish Citylink coaches stop at the visitor centre itself: the 915 (Glasgow – Fort William – Uig) and the 913 (Edinburgh – Fort William) both have a timed stop "Glencoe, at Visitor Centre" (bustimes.org, read 28 Oct 2026). Check the current timetable before relying on it. Local connections within the glen are very limited.
Winter access
The A82 through Glencoe is a trunk road and is gritted and treated during winter weather. It occasionally closes briefly following heavy snowfall or avalanche risk from the flanking slopes, particularly between Altnafeadh and the Study. The NTS Visitor Centre remains open in winter. High routes in the glen (Aonach Eagach, Bidean) are serious winter climbs requiring full mountaineering equipment.
Overflow parking
Altnafeadh (NN 221 563) for Buachaille Etive Mor — free, limited. Glencoe Village car park. A82 laybys (check restrictions).
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:27
- Sunset
- 16:41
- Civil dawn
- 06:46
- Civil dusk
- 17:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to be an NTS member to park at Glencoe Visitor Centre?
- No — anyone can park. The National Trust for Scotland charges for the car park, but its website refused our requests (28 Oct 2026), so we could not read the current tariff or the member terms. Check the signs on arrival.
- What walks start from Glencoe Visitor Centre?
- The Signal Rock viewpoint, the woodland paths, and the lower glen paths are all accessible from the Visitor Centre car park. For major routes (Bidean nam Bian, Aonach Eagach, Lost Valley), drive to specific starting points along the A82 — the Visitor Centre staff can advise on current conditions.
- Is the Aonach Eagach safe to walk?
- The Aonach Eagach ridge is Scotland's finest and most technically demanding mainland ridge walk — involving genuine Grade 2–3 scrambling that cannot be reversed easily once started. It is not suitable for inexperienced walkers. Guides are available from Glencoe Mountain Sport in the village for those who want to attempt it safely.
- Is there a café at Glencoe Visitor Centre?
- We could not confirm it: the National Trust for Scotland's site, which carries the visitor centre's facilities and opening times, refused our requests (28 Oct 2026). Check nts.org.uk in a browser before you go.
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