Wild Swimming
Allt Coire Gabhail — Lost Valley
The Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) is Glencoe's hidden hanging valley — the MacDonalds' cattle corrie, concealed behind boulders and entered by a narrow gorge. The Allt Coire Gabhail stream that threads through it cascades in cold, crystal-clear pools between huge boulders. This is not a swim for distance — it is a cold-plunge in one of Scotland's most dramatic mountain environments. The 45-minute approach from the car park involves boulder scrambling.
Quick facts
- Type
- River
- Region
- Glencoe & Lochaber
- Grid ref
- NN 168 555
- Entry
- Gravel / pebble
- Depth
- Shallow (wading depth)
- Summer water temp
- 5–12°C
- Midges
- High
- Dogs
- On lead only
Key hazards
- very cold water year-round
- boulder scramble approach requires care
- high flood risk after rain
Getting there
NTS Three Sisters car park (PH49 4HX) on the A82 Glencoe. Follow the signed Lost Valley path — the boulder scramble sections require hands. NTS land; SOAC rights apply.
Parking postcode: PH49 4HX
Safety
The pools are shallow and boulder-strewn — this is a dip, not a swim. Very cold even in late summer (5–12°C). The approach scramble is grade 1 — confidence on steep terrain is needed. Never attempt in high water or after heavy rain.
Best for
- adventure dip
- Glencoe Munros combination
- dramatic mountain photography
Nearby
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:28
- Sunset
- 22:16
- Civil dawn
- 03:22
- Civil dusk
- 23:22
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 June 2026
Common questions
- How hard is the walk to the Lost Valley?
- Moderate with some boulder scrambling. Allow 45 minutes up and 30 minutes down from the car park. It is a genuine mountain walk with steep sections and unstable boulders — not suitable for young children or in wet conditions.
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