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Section 7: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven map
Example stay Tailrace Inn (opens in a new tab)
Cross-check: official Kingshouse to Kinlochleven section . We use their settlement names and amenity list as a cross-check. Distances are from our trail geometry, not their mile table.
The walk
You leave Kingshouse toward Buachaille Etive Mor. The old military road runs beside the A82 to Altnafeadh, at the foot of the mountain. There the Way turns right and climbs the zigzags of the Devil's Staircase to the highest point on the trail, 550 m, marked by a cairn. Views back to the Buachaille and north to the Mamores. Then the path crosses exposed moor and drops a long way to Kinlochleven, a village with a shop at the head of the loch.
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Start of section
Kingshouse
The hotel is the place. Isolated, booked out in summer, and the usual night before the Devil's Staircase.
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Toward Altnafeadh
The old military road leaves Kingshouse and runs toward Buachaille Etive Mor, beside the A82. At Altnafeadh, close to the foot of the mountain, the Way turns right. Miss that turn and you leave the trail.
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The climb
The Devil's Staircase
Zigzags to 550 m, the highest point on the Way, marked by a cairn. The name comes from soldiers hauling kit, not from the grade. The path is clear. Views back to the Buachaille and north to the Mamores.
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Down to Kinlochleven
After the cairn the path meanders across high moor, then drops more than 500 m to sea level. Straightforward, hard on tired knees, especially in the wet. Kinlochleven is a working village: shop, pubs, and beds.
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End of section
Kinlochleven
A working village with a shop, pubs, and beds after the staircase.
Section 7: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven overview
The ground
- Stony path
- Zigzag climb
- Exposed moor
- Long descent
The climb is short and zigzagged. The sting is the long descent and the exposed moor after the cairn. Rannoch was exposure without a climb. The rocky north shore was slow underfoot. This is the steep pull, then a long drop into a village.
Stops
Refreshments
- Kingshouse
- Kinlochleven
Toilets
- Kinlochleven
Before you go
Get there
Arrive
Kingshouse
Citylink coaches stop on the A82 by the hotel. No train.
Leave
Kinlochleven
Local buses. No train.
Southbound, you finish at Kingshouse and leave by coach on the A82.
Opposite direction
Kinlochleven to Kingshouse
If you walk the Way from Fort William to Milngavie, this is the stretch that climbs out of Kinlochleven first, crosses the high moor, then drops the Devil's Staircase to Altnafeadh. Same cairn, same zigzags. Kingshouse is an isolated night under the Buachaille.
End of section
Kingshouse
The hotel is the place. Isolated, booked out in summer, and the usual night before the Devil's Staircase.
Kingshouse to Kinlochleven FAQ
How do I get to the start in Kingshouse?
Citylink coaches stop on the A82 by the hotel. There is no train. Maps and coordinates are under Get there in Section 7: Kingshouse to Kinlochleven overview.
How hard is Kingshouse to Kinlochleven?
It is a harder official section: a short, steep zigzag climb to the highest point on the Way, then exposed moor and a long drop into the village. The name is worse than the grade. Rannoch is the long exposed moor day. The rocky north shore is slower underfoot.
How long does Kingshouse to Kinlochleven take?
Most people take 4–5 hours. It is Day 6 on the 7-day, Day 7 on the 8-day, and Day 8 on the 9-day. The 5- and 6-day walk the staircase as the second half of a longer day from Bridge of Orchy.
Does the West Highland Way go over the Devil's Staircase?
Yes. At Altnafeadh the signed path turns right and climbs the zigzags to a cairn at 550 m, the highest point on the Way. Then it crosses high moor and drops to Kinlochleven.
Where should I stay after this section?
Kinlochleven is the usual night on the 7- to 9-day splits: a shop, pubs, and beds. Book ahead in summer. The 5- and 6-day also sleep here, after a longer day from Bridge of Orchy.
Can I download a GPX for Kingshouse to Kinlochleven?
Yes. Use the GPX button at the top of this page. It is this section's line, for Garmin, Komoot, or your phone. Open the planner if you want a file built around your overnight stops.
Walk this as a day
Used as Day 6 on the 7-day. Open the planner on that preset, then export a full-trip or per-day GPX.
Open in planner Read the 7-day itinerary
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
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