The Clachaig Inn – Signal Rock and the Boots Bar
A few hours.
The route
The Clachaig Inn stands on the back road through Glen Coe with the walls of the glen rising straight above it, and its Boots Bar has long been where walkers and climbers end the day.
Across the river is the wood of An Torr, with waymarked paths to Signal Rock. Spend an hour among the trees while it's light, then cross the footbridge to the fire.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Woodlands Glencoe, 5 miles away. Sleeps 2.
The day
Glen Coe
A woodland walk on the floor of the glen while the light lasts, then a few minutes on foot over the river to a bar with a fire going.
About three hours
Signal Rock and An Torr
Park at the An Torr car park, beside the A82, and check the sign for any charge. Paths waymarked by the National Trust for Scotland run through the wood, and Signal Rock is signposted about two thirds of a mile in. The story goes that a fire on the rock gave the signal for the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692, though no account written at the time says so. Allow an hour to an hour and a half. The paths go up and down and are slippery after rain, so wear boots. From late October the sun sets before 5pm, and before 4pm in December: be out of the wood in daylight. The inn is eight minutes' walk from the car park, over the footbridge across the River Coe, so the car can stay where it is. Bring a torch for the way back.
About 8 min on foot
Clachaig Inn
A drink
The Boots Bar is the one to go to in walking clothes: a big open fire among stacked logs, slates underfoot, a tree trunk standing in the room and a bar top set on a row of barrels. Real ales and a very long list of Scottish whiskies are poured in all three of the inn's bars. The bars open all year, from 11am to 11pm and a little later at weekends, with alcohol served from 12.30pm on Sundays. The kitchen runs from noon to 9pm. There is often live music in the Boots Bar, and the inn's website lists what's on. The Boots Bar and the Snug are for over-18s; families use the Lounge Bar, where under-18s need an adult with them. Dogs are welcome in every bar. Whoever drives keeps to soft drinks, or book one of the inn's rooms and leave the car till morning.
If it rains
The wood gives some cover in a shower, but its paths are slippery when wet: in heavy rain keep to the shortest waymarked loop, or go straight over the footbridge to the fire.
Clachaig Inn, walkers' pub in the glen.