Kinlochleven
Five reasons to visit this perfectly-situated Scottish village
For a walking paradise
1Scotland is just bursting with heavenly hillwalking, and Kinlochleven makes a superb base from which to sample some of the finest. It’s accessible for those travelling up from the south and set in a truly magnificent mountain stage. The celebrated West Highland Way runs through the town on its 151km journey from Glasgow to Fort William. If you’re up for some seriously scary scrambling action, you are positioned slap-bang between the legendary Mamores’ Ring of Steall and the mainland’s sharpest ridge – the Aonach Eagach.
To escape the worst Scottish weather
2Ice Factor is the biggest indoor ice climbing wall in the world and a perfect way to don an ice axe and crampons to hone your winter skills. You can hire all your kit and have some seriously cool fun whatever the weather. There’s also an indoor rock-climbing wall with a range of difficulty.
To try a big and tasty Highlander Burger
3The Bothy Bar has one incredible view down the loch, and it also serves up one helluva burger. The Highlander is a tummy-busting Scottish beefburger with beef marrow for extra flavour, plus black pudding, haggis, relish and smoked Arran cheese on top! Veggies don’t miss out either with a vegetarian haggis patty with mozzarella and mustard mayo. Better get walking after all that!
To go wildlife spotting
4The wilds of the Lochaber area around Kinlochleven is a haven for wildlife. Red deer, golden eagles, peregrine falcons and wild goats are all resident. Take to the water on SeaXplorer’s seasonal tours and there’s a chance you’ll see the rare sea eagle and other seabirds, seals, porpoises and sea otters in the lochs and inlets of the west coast.
For jawdropping scenery
Kinlochleven keeps watch at the head of Loch Leven where the pointy peaks paint their grand reflection on the ripples. Most grand with a dusting of snow on the summits, the town is encased by trees and dwarfed by the spectacular mountain backdrop that surrounds it. A short but steep walk from the town leads you to the Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall, which is one of the most impressive in the region.
5