Introduction

Glencoe, one of Scotland’s top visitor sites which is located about eighteen miles south of Fort William in the Western Highlands.

The region is famous for a combination of stunning mountainous scenery and an infamous massacre which occurred there in 1692.

Etymology

The word glen comes from the Gaelic gleann which is a valley named after the river that drains it, that is the River Coe. Origin of the word Coe is not clear.

Landform

Glen Coe is a deep glacial trough bounded by steep slopes rising steeply from sea level to summit altitudes over 3000 feet (900 m). Glaciers were present until 10,000 years ago and the resultant steep rock walls prove popular with climbers.

Massacre

Apart from the spectacular scenery, Glencoe is perhaps best known for the massacre which occurred on February 13th 1692 when a detachment of government troops (comprised of members of Clan Campbell), acting on military orders, turned on their hosts, the MacDonalds of Glencoe  and killed at least 38 of the local clan community although the final death toll was probably much higher due to a combination of starvation and hypothermia. A memorial to the 1692 massacre is located in the village, as illustrated in the image below.

Visitor Sites and Activities

Here is a listing of key locations and activities:

• Cruising and fishing trips on nearby Loch Leven.
• Golf at Ballachulish.
• Horse riding.
• Watersports at Ballachulish.
• Safaris (4 X 4)
• National Trust Visitor Centre  (Emphasis on the landscape and ecology).
• Glencoe & North Lorn Folk Museum.
• Skiing and snowboarding (in season).
• Relaxation and leisure activities.
• Photography.
• Hiking and mountaineering.
• Paragliding.
• Open Water Swimming.
• Scenic Glen Etive.

Here is a video clip of a drive through Glencoe’s mountainous scenery.

More Information

For more information on Glencoe and other aspects of Scotland for visitors please refer Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4