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'Glencoe' actually has two spellings, both referring to different things. Glen Coe is the actual name of the glen itself, whereas Glencoe, or Glencoe Village, refers to the eponymous village.
The area around Glencoe is famous for its landscape - it is home to some of the most spectacular mountains in the UK. The glen is a U-shaped valley formed by Ice Age glaciation. It is about 16 km (10 miles) long with the valley floor less than 700 m (0.4 miles) wide, with towering mountains rising sharply from the valley floor to heights of around 900 m (3,000 feet).
It was also the site of the historic Glencoe Massacre that took place on 13th February 1692.
When William III replaced James II on the British throne in 1689, he offered peace, on condition of their taking an oath of allegience within a certain date, to the rebellious Scottish clans that remained loyal to the latter. The MacDonald chief dithered but arrived for submission on the last date. Some procedural wrangles followed and his opponents wanted to teach him a lesson, even though he was allowed to take the oath.
Earlier, on their way home from the Battle of Dunkeld, the MacLains of Glencoe, a sept of Clan MacDonald, together with their Glengarry kinsmen, looted the lands of Robert Campbell of Glenlyon. He was ultimately forced to take an army commission. Robert Campbell and his men were billeted in Glencoe and accepted the traditionally warm hospitality of the MacDonalds. At some point during their stay, Captain Campbell received orders to "put to the sword all under 70". Thirty-eight men were killed, and forty women and children died of exposure after the village was burnt. Some of the officers refused to execute their orders and broke their swords in protest.
The glen is virtually uninhabited.
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Some of the other villages worth visiting in the area of Glen Coe:
* Ballachulish - with an old slate quarry
* Kinlochleven - on the [wiki=12a11a3198135f822f86c72b62bb41fc]West Highland Way[/wiki] with Aluminium Story Visitor Centre and a new Ice-climbing wall. This is a good starting point for walks in the southern Mamores.
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By car
Drive along the A82 and you'll pass through it.
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By bus
Regular local buses operated by Stagecoach [url=http://www.stagecoachbus.com]]run from [[Fort William[/url]] and Kinlochleven to Glencoe Village. Scottish Citylink coaches [url=http://www.citylink.co.uk]]from [[Glasgow[/url]] (and [wiki=03cf54d8ce19777b12732b8c50b3b66f]Edinburgh[/wiki] during the summers season) to [wiki=586e5fa25c16bd09e3e9cfc7cc269360]Fort William[/wiki], [wiki=82e3f02e96a1e0f406947afbf3ad2389]Kyle of Lochalsh[/wiki] and [wiki=881f32366cabc700634e3df10bc7bee9]Skye[/wiki] pass through the glen itself and stop in Glencoe Village several times a day. In addition, Citylink coaches running between [wiki=6e1eab3b8657c93fd95a3280469eb281]Oban[/wiki] and Fort William stop in Ballachulish several times a day.
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Coach Tours
A large number of tourists visit the area in coaches from Edinburgh or Glasgow. In many cases, Glencoe and Loch Ness are clubbed together for the tour. Listed below are some of the tour operators. Prices mentioned are for Glencoe and Loch Ness tours.
* Scotline Tours offers 1 day tours from Edinburgh in luxury buses with knowledgeable guides. Office: 87 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1SG. Price (including entrance to Urquhart Castle): £33 for adults, £28 for students/seniors, £18 for children. [http://www.scotlinetours.co.uk/]
* Heart of Scotland conducts 1 day tours from Edinburgh. Telephone: +44 131 558 8855. Price: £32, discounted £30 (students, over 60’s, under 12’s)[http://www.heartofscotlandtours.co.uk/]
* Destination Scotland conducts tours from Edinburgh, same day return or night halt at Fort Augustus. Price: £30 for 1 day trip, £65 for 2 days trip. [http://www.destination-scotland.com/tour/]
* Visit Scotland conducts 2 day coach tours from Edinburgh. Price from £125. Commentary in 6 languages, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese [http://www.visitscotland.com/sitewide/sightseeing]
* Timberbush Tours, 555 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2ND, Reservations +44 131 226 6066 (7am to 10 pm), Fax +44 131 220 0174. E-mail: tours@timberbushtours.com, conducts tours from Edinburgh, Price: £32 for 1 day tours, £65 for 2 days tours with night halt at Fort William. They also conduct tours from Glasgow, Price: £32 for 1 day tours [http://www.timberbush-tours.co.uk/]
* Scottish Tours organizes 1 day/2 day tours from Edinburgh (Gate J, Edinburgh Bus Station, North St Andrews St., Edinburgh) and Glasgow (Platform 6, Buchanan Bus Station, Glasgow), Cost 1 day tour Adult £ 31.00, Child £ 26.00, 2 days tour with night halt at Inverness - Guest House, Single £ 140.00, Twin £ 125.00, Hotel, Single £ 170.00, Twin £ 150.00. [http://www.scottishtours.co.uk/]
* Scottish Highland Tours,Telephone +44 1397 704901, offers taxis and cars from Fort William.[http://www.mackins.co.uk/dev/highland-tours]
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It's a walker's area.
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Glencoe Museum [url=http://www.glencoemuseum.com],]Main Street PH49 4HS in the village.
The new National Trust visitor centre [url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/glencoe/visitorcentre/[/url]]- it gives an explanation of the geology and history of Glencoe, and also an explanation of the work of the National Trust.
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The best way to experience Glencoe is to walk. Recommended walks include:
* The Lost Valley: A walk into a hidden hanging valley (2 hours round trip)
* Buchaille Etive Mor: This is the big mountain that you see as you enter Glen Coe from [wiki=c71ed05b062da6ceb95a6589f0cdaf7b]Rannoch Moor[/wiki]
For the more experienced:
* The Aonach Eagach ridge is regarded as the most thrilling scramble in the mainland UK. On the other side of the Glen are the three sisters of Glencoe and above them Stob Coire am Lochan and Bideann nam Bean. There are numerous walks on this side but be wise and find one from a guide book rather than making up you own route. Bideann has seen more than its share of accidents.
* Glencoe is also an excellent rock climbing venue.
Do not forget that rock climbing is a potentially dangerous activity and it is essential to be well equipped. Advice and maps can be found at the Glencoe Visitor Centre.
* The Glencoe Chairlift - fabulous views of Glen Coe to be had. £10.00 per adult. An exhilarating experience.
* The National Trust for Scotland organizes various events, such as Wildlife Walk £10, Spring Wildflower Walk £5, Storytelling Walk £2, Massacre Land Rover Safari £15, workshops, film festivals and so on in and around Glencoe periodically. Check what is on. [http://www.glencoe-nts.org.uk/]
* Glencoe Outdoor Centre, Carnoch House, Glencoe Village, Argyll PH49 4HS, Phone: +44 1855 811350, Fax: +44 1855 811644, Email: gocbook@aol.com, Website: [http://www.glencoeoutdoorcentre.org.uk/]] Outdoor activity centre. Activities (depending on the season) include skiing, hill walking, climbing & abseiling, archery, orienteering, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing and team-building exercises. From a half-day’s instructed activity session to a week’s multi-activity course or longer. Good dormitory-style accommodation for groups of up to 35. Licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (Phone +44 29 2075 5715), Open: January to November. Price range: £99.88 - £235.00, price per head, based upon arrival Monday lunchtime and departure Friday lunchtime, includes full board accommodation, provision of activity equipment and tuition. They will quote individually for adult and family groups. For those who prefer more luxurious accommodation, they can arrange rooms at local hotels and offer some courses on a non-residential basis.
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Clachaig Inn, 2 miles from Glencoe Village
* Kingshouse Hotel, at the other end of the Glen on the [wiki=12a11a3198135f822f86c72b62bb41fc]West Highland Way[/wiki]
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Climber's Bar in the Clachaig Inn: Live music, real ales and extensive whisky collection
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Glencoe Youth Hostel, Ballachulish, Glencoe, PA39 4HX, Tel: +44 1855 811219 E-mail: glencoe@syha.org.uk. Website: [url=http://www.syha.org.uk/SYHA/web/site/Hostels/Glencoe.asp]syha.org.uk[/url], 62 Family Bunk Rooms, £ 8.50-9.50.
* Blackwater Hostel and Campsite, Lab Road, Kinlochleven, Argyll, PA40, Telephone: +44 1855 831253 Fax: +44 1631 740549. Email: black.water@virgin.net. Website: [url=http://www.blackwaterhostel.co.uk/]Blackwater Hostle[/url], 39 Family Bunk Rooms. Open: All year. £ 10.
* Dorrington Lodge, Tigh-Phuirt, Glencoe, Argyll PH49 4HN, Phone: +44 1855 811653, Fax: +44 1855 811995, Email: info@dorrington-lodge.com. Website: [url=http://www.dorrington-lodge.com/]Dorrington Lodge[/url] £25 per person, per night. (High season) £20 per person, per night. (Low season). Full Scottish Breakfast included in price. Credit cards accepted: None. Open: January to November. Strictly no smoking.
* Scorrybreac Guest House, Glencoe, Argyll PH49 4HT, Phone: +44 1855 811354, Fax: +44 1855 811024, Email: info@scorrybreac.co.uk, Website: [url=http://www.scorrybreac.co.uk/]Scorrybreac Guest House[/url]. In beautiful woodland surroundings just outside Glencoe Village. Bed and full cooked Scottish breakfast costs from £21 to £26 per person per night. Open: January to December. Some credit cards accepted.
* Lyn Leven Guest House, Ballachulish, Argyll PH49 4JP Phone: +44 1855 811392, Fax: +44 1855 811600 Email: Lynleven@amserve.net Website: [url=http://www.lynleven.co.uk/]Lyn Leven[/url] Guest house lies adjacent to A82 Glasgow/Fort William Road, overlooking Loch Leven, Glencoe only 1 mile. Indication of price: from £25 to £29 per person per night for bed & breakfast sharing a double/twin room. Open all year.
* Strathassynt Guest House, Ballachulish, Argyll PH49 4JB, Telephone: +44 1855 811261 Fax: +44 1855 811914 Email: info@strathassynt.com. Website: [url=http://www.strathassynt.com/]Strathassynt Guest House[/url] B&B Tariff: 1st October to 31st March £19 to £22 per person per night, 1st April to 30th September £22 to £26. A 10% discount is generally available for stays of three nights or more and children are charged at half price when sharing a room with two adult guests. Just off the A82 and right next door to the Tourist Information Centre. Some credit cards accepted.
* Fern Villa Guest House, Ballachulish, Argyll PH49 4JE, Telephone +44 1855 811393, Email: ghfernvilla@aol.com. Website [http://www.fernvilla.org.uk/]. Prices from £20 per person per night. Open all year. Beautiful Victorian Villa.
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[wiki=c71ed05b062da6ceb95a6589f0cdaf7b]Rannoch Moor[/wiki]
* [wiki=586e5fa25c16bd09e3e9cfc7cc269360]Fort William[/wiki]
* [wiki=39af5c4159278dde0a7510397211dcda]Loch Ness[/wiki]
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