The penultimate section of the West Highland Way takes you from King’s House Hotel over to Kinlochleven over the Devil’s Staircase.
There are no facilities once you set off until you reach Kinlochleven. This is the largest village so far, so you’ll have all the facilities here including a well stocked co-op and a cash machine (At The Aluminium Story). There’s the obligatory pub, or two at the Tailrace Inn, Highland Getaway Inn and the Bothy Bar, as well as a good choice of accommodation. There’s also Chiller’s Bar & Grill at the Ice Factor.
Ice Factor National Ice Climbing Centre in Kinlochleven.
The Aluminium Story for those who want to know more about the use and extraction of this metal.
There’s a bus service between Kinlochleven and Fort William – the N44 by Shiel Buses. So you could base yourself at either location for the final couple of sections.
This is the penultimate section of the West Highland Way between King’s House Hotel at the head of Glencoe, up the Devil’s Staircase and on to finish the final official night in Kinlochleven over the Devil’s Staircase. The section sets off easily along the old military road along the flanks of Beinn a Chrulaiste before climbing up the Devil’s Staircase to around 500m height.
What’s more surprising at this stage is that this crosses the far end of the Aonach Eagach ridge, but it’s just grassy knolls at this end! With this high point of the Way under your belt, you can admire the view down Glencoe and towards the Mamores ahead. The remainder of this section is a steady, downhill plod to Kinlochleven, albeit a rather lengthy one.
Kinlochleven is probably the most of civilisation you’ve seen since you’ve set off, with numerous bars (mentioned above) as well as a well stocked shop. Don’t celebrate just yet, there’s still one more leg to go before your walk is finished and you don’t want to be completing that with a hangover!