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 approach from the car park is a steep mountain path with rough, rocky sections where you need your hands.
Quick facts
- Type
- River
- Region
- Glencoe & Lochaber
- Grid ref
- NN 159 548
- Entry
- Gravel / pebble
- Depth
- Shallow (wading depth)
- 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
Car park on the A82 below the Three Sisters in Glencoe. Follow the Lost Valley path — the rocky sections require hands. National Trust for Scotland land; access rights apply.
Safety
The pools are shallow and boulder-strewn — this is a dip, not a swim. Very cold even in late summer. The approach needs confidence on steep, rocky terrain, and the path crosses the burn. Never attempt in high water or after heavy rain.
Best for
- adventure dip
- Glencoe Munros combination
- dramatic mountain photography
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:26
- Sunset
- 16:41
- Civil dawn
- 06:46
- Civil dusk
- 17:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026
Common questions
- How hard is the walk to the Lost Valley?
- Moderate, with rough rocky sections where you use your hands. It is a genuine mountain walk with steep ground and boulders — not suitable for young children or in wet conditions, and the burn crossing can be impassable after rain.
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