There are so many beautiful Glencoe photography locations but knowing where to get that shot, or where to go to replicate one you’ve seen online can be hard.
Glencoe in Scotland is bloomin’ beautiful! It’s one of those Scottish landscapes that will blow you away with the mountains, lochs, glens, and, if you’re lucky, stags posing for photos.
Whilst a lot of people consider the Isle of Skye to be the best place in Scotland for photography, I’d argue Glencoe is even better.
It’s easier to get to for one, being just a couple of hours away from both Glasgow and Edinburgh!
Below I’ve included some of the best Glencoe viewpoints Glencoe we’ve photographed and loved during our trips to the Scottish highlands, both while we grew up in the UK and while travelling and spending 5 months in Scotland in 2023.
If you’re planning a trip to Glencoe and are looking for the best Glencoe photography locations then look no further (enjoy the scenery is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Glencoe!).
Table of Contents
Best Glencoe photography locations in Scotland
The best time to visit Glencoe for photographers is the winter or autumn.
In spring and summer, the popular photography areas get super busy which means you’ll be competing with other people for space, or waiting for people to move out of your shot.
The winters are cold but they’re not that bad.
Plus, you’ll get snowcapped mountains (or more than on the cap like when we went!).
Photographing Glencoe in autumn also works well. You’ll get that beautiful golden hour light, fewer people, and orange hues from the trees at some of these locations which offer the best views in Glencoe Scotland.
Click this link for the Glencoe photography locations map points.
Glencoe’s white cottages
While a lot of the suggestions for photos and views in Glencoe focus on landscape, this one is a bit different from just having mountains in your Glencoe landscape photography.
There are a couple of white houses as you drive through the valley of Glencoe in Scotland.
These white houses are fairly typical of the area and there are three in particular that make great Glencoe photographs.
The white house with the dark roof stands out against a mountain backdrop and has me wishing I could just move in!
- Location: 1) Black Rock Cottage by Glencoe Mountain Resort, 2) near Loch Achtriochtan, 3) just further north up the road (will be on the left-hand side).
Three Sisters Glencoe
The Three Sisters of Glencoe are three iconic mountains right next to each other.
You can’t miss them. If you’re driving along the Glencoe valley on the A82 you’re sure to go “wow” and the chances are the Three Sisters are somewhere in that shot.
For some of the best photos of the Three Sisters in Glencoe, you’ll want to leave the roadside and take a walk on one of the trails dotted all over the place.
- Location: Either Hidden Valley car park or Three Sisters car park and wander around from there
Loch Tulla viewpoint
Not far north from the town of Bridge of Orchy, the road starts to climb uphill and things get more interesting.
For photographers, this is where you’ll start to get more excited as so many beautiful Glencoe photo locations await!
The Loch Tulla viewpoint is one of the first super impressive photo spots you’ll come across in Glencoe.
This view looks over Loch Tulla with the mountains in the background.
- Location: 4.7 miles from Bridge of Orchy, a large pullout on the left-hand side.
Lochan na h-Achlaise viewpoint
This area was super snowy during our visit but it added a sense of calm to it.
The partially frozen lochan (small lake), with the mountains shrouded in clouds in the background made for some peaceful moments as we drove back down to Edinburgh.
Road to Loch Etive and Buachaille Etive Mor
The road to Loch Etive is becoming increasingly well-known as a great place to photograph Buachaille Etive Mor.
If you’ve seen another photographer’s photos of Glencoe, the chances are they’ve shot Buachaille Etive with a waterfall in the foreground.
This is one of the most photographed spots in Scotland and it’s easy to see why.
To find this photography location, take the Glen Etive road for 1 mile and park up on the left after a small dip in the road.
Cross the road and there are several small trails that will take you to a waterfall with the mountain in the background.
Play around here for some great shots.
While we didn’t actually find this spot ourselves, we loved driving down the road towards Loch Etive.
My husband flew his drone and then just as we were about to turn around and come back, I spotted dozens of red deer.
We spent some time watching and photographing them before they started to head back into the hills.
Driving all the way down the road leads you to Loch Etive which is worth seeing too.
This area is gorgeous and it’s easy to see why Skyfall used Glencoe as a filming location.
Glencoe Valley viewpoint
Our drive north coincided with sunset and despite the fact it was pretty cloudy, this made for some interesting light.
We pulled up at Glencoe Valley viewpoint, grabbed the camera, and started shooting away. You won’t believe these Glencoe views!
The snowy mountains made it feel like we were back home in Canada or in the Alps rather than in the UK!
Other great viewpoints in Glencoe include:
- Rannoch Mor Viewpoint
- Loch Ba Viewpoint
Coe River waterfall
This waterfall is easy to see from the roadside and there were a few photographers taking photos from the bridge.
It’s got a beautiful mountainous backdrop and the waterfall itself is pretty impressive too; look at the color of that water!
Glenfinnan Viaduct
Not actually in the Glencoe area, but not too far away (especially if you’re heading north anyway), is the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
This viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films is a feat of engineering but also a great Scottish photography spot!
Check the train timetables online for the Jacobite Steam Train and get there early to secure the best photo spot since this Scotland photography location has become super busy in recent years.
You definitely won’t be alone if you decide to get photos here as it’s become one of the most popular Glencoe instagram spots, but it’s still a magical spot!
FAQs on the best Glencoe photo locations
Where can I take pictures in Glencoe?
Some of the best Glen Coe photography locations are the Three Sisters, Loch Achtriochtan, and the River Coe. The valley offers scenic landscapes, waterfalls, and historic sites.
Where can I watch the sunrise in Glencoe?
You can watch the sunrise in Glencoe from the eastern-facing slopes or at Loch Leven’s shores, providing unobstructed views of the sun rising over the mountains.
Where is the best view of Glencoe?
The best view of Glencoe is from the viewpoint at the Glencoe Visitor Centre or the A82 road, offering panoramic sights of the valley and surrounding mountains.
Final thoughts on this Glen Coe Photography Guide
With so much beautiful Glencoe scenery, knowing where to go for some awesome pictures isn’t exactly difficult but this guide has looked to provide you with some of the best Glencoe photo spots and the places where you’ll find some of the Glencoe best views.
It’s easy to see why Glencoe is one of the top locations for landscape photography in the UK!
If you’re looking for more things to do in Scotland, be sure to check out my Scotland travel guides. They include the best things to do in Edinburgh, like walking Arthur’s Seat and visiting Leith in Edinburgh, and this guide to what to do in Glasgow for free.
I’ve also got guides to some of Scotland’s other beautiful spots including Glen Affric, the Isle of Skye and the Quiraing walk, what to do in Loch Lomond National Park, and these things to do in the Cairngorms National Park.
Last Updated on September 27, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
Surprised has not mentioned Glencoe Independent hostel in places to stay which has a fully bunkhouse, bothy/cottages, eco cabins and a log cabin and also caravans so it caters for all budgets and is 30 mins walk Glencoe village and 20 min to Clachaig pub.