Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) up Bidean nam Bian: route map, distance and time
1,149 m · Highland
Bidean nam Bian is the highest mountain in Argyll, a complex Munro of ridges and corries rising behind the Three Sisters of Glen Coe.
A rocky path through a gorge into the Lost Valley, then a steep climb to the bealach and along the ridge to the summit.
Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) at a glance
| Distance | 6.7 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 1,161 m |
| Time up | 3h 15m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Three Sisters car park, Glen Coe |
| Start grid reference | NN 149 568 |
| Summit grid reference | NN 143 542 |
Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
How long Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 3h 45m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 3h 15m | 4h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 4h 0m | 5h 40m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:59, sunset 18:11. Start by 12:36 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 08:01, sunset 18:08. Start by 12:33 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Bidean nam Bian summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Sunday 18 October
Clear sky, up to 3°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -8°C, summit wind 12 mph gusting 19 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:59, sunset 18:11.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Overcast, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 29 mph gusting 37 mph, 12% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 08:01, sunset 18:08.
Best day of the next seven for Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail): Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 19 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 74% (Excellent), best around 06:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Bidean nam Bian forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Bidean nam Bian?
Before you go, also check: MWIS West Highlands forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · SAIS Glen Coe avalanche report.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -8°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Bidean nam Bian
Bidean nam Bian is the highest mountain in Argyll, a complex Munro of ridges and corries rising behind the Three Sisters of Glen Coe. More about Bidean nam Bian, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Munro, Marilyn, historic county top, county top.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Stob Coire nam Beith (1,107 m), 0.6 km north-west
- Stob Coire nan Lochan (1,116 m), 0.8 km north-east
- Stob Coire Sgreamhach (1,072 m), 1.3 km south-east
- Beinn Fhada (952 m), 1.6 km east
- Beinn Maol Chaluim (906 m), 1.8 km south-west
- Beinn Fhada NE Top (931 m), 2.1 km east
Challenges that include Bidean nam Bian
More walks from Three Sisters car park, Glen Coe
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Coire nan Lochan from Glen Coe up Stob Coire nan Lochan
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NN 149 568, the summit at NN 143 542), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail): questions and answers
How far is Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail)?
Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) is 6.7 km one way to the summit of Bidean nam Bian, with 1,161 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 13.4 km.
How long does Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) take?
About 3h 15m to the summit of Bidean nam Bian and 4h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 5h 40m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail)?
Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) starts from Three Sisters car park, Glen Coe. The grid reference is NN 149 568.
Is Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first.
What time should I start Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) today?
By 12:36 at the latest. Sunset on Bidean nam Bian today is 18:11, Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) takes about 4h 35m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail)?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).