Glen Coe

Glen Coe is a glen in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies in the southern part of the Lochaber area of Highland Council Area, and is considered part of the traditional county of Argyllshire. It is often considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in Scotland, and is a part of the designated National Scenic Area of Ben Nevis and Glen Coe.

Beginning at the north-eastern base of Buchaille Etive, it takes a gentle north-westerly trend for 10 miles to its mouth on Loch Leven, a salt-water arm of Loch Linnhe. On both sides it is shut in by wild and precipitous mountains and its bed is swept by the River Coe - Ossian's "dark Cona" - which rises in the hills at its eastern end. About half-way down the glen the stream forms the tiny Loch Triochatan.

Towards Invercoe the landscape acquires a softer beauty. Here Lord Strathcona, who, in 1894, purchased the heritage of the Macdonalds of Glen Coe, built his stately mansion of Mount Royal.

Glen Coe is a very popular tourist destination - partly because of its scenic qualities and historical associations, partly because it is on the main road north - the A82 - and also because of its attraction for walkers and climbers. Rock climbers will predominate on the Buachaille Etive Mor (1018 m) and on the various routes on the Three Sisters. For adventurous walkers, the finest mainland scramble in the UK is the Aonach Eagach. This extended scramble boasts 2 of Scotland's trickiest Munro hills, Sgor nam Fiannaidh (996m) and Meall Dearg (951m). The Aonach Eagach ridge terminates at the Pap of Glencoe (741m).

To the south of the glen lies Bidean nam Bian (1145m), a complex Y-shaped hill that also has an additional of Munro status in the shape of Stob Coire Sgreamhach (1072m). The other major hill on the south side of the Glen is Buachaille Etive Beag.

Points of interest are the Devil's Staircase, a steep, boulder-strewn "cut" (352 m high) across the hills to Fort William; the Study; the cave of Ossian, where tradition says that he was born, and the Iona cross erected in 1883 by a MacDonald in memory of his clansmen who perished in the massacre of 1692.

About 1 mile beyond the head of the glen is Kingshouse, a relic of the old coaching days, when it was customary for tourists to drive from Ballachulish via Tyndrum to Loch Lomond. This old inn still welcomes visitors, and thrives on the tales of walkers who have just crossed Rannoch Moor, and climbers and skiers down from the glen's peaks.

To the south on the other side of the road from the Kingshouse is the entrance to the Glen Coe ski area, known locally as the White Corries.

One mile to the west of the Glen lies the village of Ballachulish, known in the past for its slate quarries, which have been worked since 1760. The village of Glencoe lies about 2km to the east of Ballachulish, at the point where the river Coe enters Loch Leven.

Well known descendants of the MacDonalds of Glen Coe include author George MacDonald. Well known residents include Hamish MacInnes, veteran of Mount_Everest expeditions, climbing consultant for such films as the Eiger Sanction and a mountain rescue pioneer.