Glencoe Tourist Information

Glencoe Massacre Campbells MacDonalds

Glencoe is an awe-inspiring mountain landscape and a must-see on your way through the Highlands. It is just south of Fort William and leads east from Ballachuillish. Following the A82 east will bring to the stunning bog and mountain landscape of Rannoch Moor.

It is renowned in Scottish history for the Glencoe Massacre. The feuding Campbells and MacDonalds had long had run-ins over cattle rustling and the Campbells attempts to extend their territory. Eventually the two clans found themselves on two different sides during the Jacobite uprising. The MacDonalds supporting the Royalist cause whereas the Campbells became involved in the Government's cause. The Government offered all clans a pardon if they swore allegiance to William III. When Clan Chief Alistair MacDonald missed the deadline by going to Inverlochy instead of Inverary, the Government's allies started plotting the downfall of the clan to make an example of them. On 1 February 1691 a force led by Captain Robert Campbell was sent to kill the whole clan. Naively thinking they were safe, the MacDonalds put up the soldiers for 10 days extending traditional Highland hospitality. On the night of 12 February orders were given for the soldier to kill all MacDonalds under 70 years of age. Early in the morning the soldiers mounted their attack and killed 40, many more MacDonalds fled to the hills and ended up dying of hunger and exposure. These events have always seemed to be the worst kind of treachery - taking the Clan's hospitality and then turning on them in such a way.

There is a monument to the fallen MacDonalds in the Glencoe village. Signal Rock, where the order was given to begin the massacre stands just a few hundred yards west of the Clachaig Inn on the north bank of the River Coe.

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Glencoe Village Scotland - Harry Potter Movie Location

Glencoe village has several accommodation choices including hotels, B&Bs, camping and a YHA hostel.

Nearby, signposted off the A82, is the National Trust for Scotland Glencoe Visitor Centre. This has recently been modernised and now provides a light, airy centre that has an exhibition room that gives you lots of information about the area and its geology and wildlife, a weather centre where you can check on the forecast before setting out on walks and hikes, a cafe with outdoor seating, toilets and a shop. Check the National Trust Glencoe website for information on opening times and further details of Glencoe.

There is also a Tourist Information Centre in Ballachulish that not only has information on the Glencoe area, but you can hire fishing tackle or have a coffee and cake in the coffee shop. Ballachulish Tourist Information Centre, Ballachulish, PH49 4JB. Tel: 01855 811 866. Email: info@glencoetourism.co.uk

Glencoe has also been used as a location for the third Harry Potter movie, The Prisoner of Azkaban. A set was actually built near Glencoe Village including Hagrid's hut using views of Torren Lochan and the Signal Rock forest with the rugged hills of the glen as a backdrop.

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Glencoe Geology & Wildlife

Today Glencoe is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The mountains are remarkable for their geological interest and form part of Lochaber Geopark, the second Geopark in Scotland. The designation of Geopark aims to protect the area's geology while at the same time promoting the understanding of the geology alongside sustainable tourism.

The Visitor Centre has an interesting exhibition which helps explain how Glencoe was formed and how volcanoes formed many of the pinnacle shaped mountains we see today.

The habitats in Glencoe include heather moorland and the internationally rare habitat, blanket bog. In the summer the hillsides are shades of greens and yellow from the cotton grass and bog asphodel. Higher up the mountains provide nooks and crannies for mountain specialists like mountain avens and purple saxifrage.

Golden eagles and red deer are often seen here along with otters and water voles along the rivers that run through the area. For birdwatching you might catch a glimpse of ptarmigan and snow bunting on the tops or ring ousels, meadow pipits and skylarks lower down. During the summer the less common Scottish argus and pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies make an appearance in the warmer weather.

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Glencoe Mountain Resort

Glencoe was the first commercial ski area in Scotland to opened in 1956 with its overhead ski lift on Meal A'Bhuiridh. It now has seven lifts and 19 runs, so not a massive ski area, but when snow lays it's enough for some skiing and snowboarding. You can buy day lift passes or season passes and equipment hire and ski and snowboarding lessons are also available. Check the Glencoe Mountain Resort webpage for more information. Click on "Winter Activities" for up-to-date news and lift pass prices.

The Glencoe Mountain Resort runs throughout the year and it has recently developed a downhill mountain bike track. The chairlifts have been adapted so you can take your bikes up. There is also all the mountain biking opportunities around Fort William and at the Nevis Range Mountain Centre. You can hire bikes at Glencoe Mountain Bike Centre, Clachaig Inn, Glencoe. Tel: 01855 811252. Email: bikes@glencoescotland.co.uk

During the summer the mountains are also host to Munro baggers, hillwalkers and those enjoying more leisurely walks on the lower slopes. The Glencoe area is estimated to attract 150,000 hillwalker visits every year and there are 20 major climbing sites to keep you happy. The eight Munros on the National Trust area are: 8 Munros on those - Bidean Nam Bian, Stob Coire Sgreamhach, Sgurr nam Fiannaidh, Meal Dearg, Stob na Broige, Stob Dearg, Stob Coire Rainneach and Stob Dubh.

Try the links right for some suggested walks. Fraser's Online Munro Guide has details of walks and climbs all over Scotland as well as some gorgeous photos.

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The West Highland Way - Kinlochleven to Fort William

The West Highland Way also passes through Glencoe from the Bridge of Orchy up to Fort William crossing through the wild landscape of Rannoch Moor.

The West Highland Way is a long distance route covering just over 95 miles from Milngavie near Glasgow to Fort William. It was Scotland's first long distance route completed in 1980. It generally takes 7-8 days and there is some hill walking along the route.

There is a wide choice of accommodation all the way along the route so you can plan a whole walking holiday doing it in stages or just picking off sections depending on where you're based.

Accommodation in this area can be found in Kinlochleven, Glencoe and Ballachuilish.

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The Ice Factor Kinlochleven Glencoe

For rainy days or if you want to give climbing a try, check out The Ice Factor in Kinlochleven at the eastern end of Loch Leven. They have indoor climbing walls, a bouldering facility and the biggest indoor ice climbing facility in the world. There are also a bar and cafe, sauna, steam room and conference room, good for team building events.

The also run outdoor and indoor climbing courses and open instruction on rock climbing or ice climbing. The can also organise private guides for the surrounding mountains. Check their website for more information or give them a call to find out what's on when you visit.

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