The largest town in Glen Coe, in the Lochaber region of the Scottish Highlands, is called Glencoe or Glencoe Town. The village is a part of Ross, Skye, and Lochaber Highland Council for the purposes of local administration. Here are 10 intriguing facts about Glencoe Village that you might not be aware of.
1. Glencoe Village saw the Massacre of Glencoe.
On the site of the Glencoe Massacre is the settlement. 38 members of the Glencoe Clan MacDonald were slain by forces in 1692. Following the Glorious Revolution, those forces were working in favor of King William III’s administration.
Because the warriors were fed and housed by the Clan for almost two weeks before they betrayed their hosts, treason was implicated.
2. The Weeping Glen is another name for Glencoe Village.
The glen is sometimes romantically referred to as “The Weeping Glen” in reference to the Massacre of Glencoe. The Gaelic Gleann Comhann name for Glencoe, whose Comhann component may have predated the Gaelic language, was in use long before the murder. Unknown is its significance.
3. There is a ferry service in Glencoe Village.
Midway through the eighteenth century, a ferry service was running from Invercoe to Callert House on Loch Leven’s northern side. From there, a path crossed Mam na Gualainn’s shoulder at the height of 475 meters (1,560 feet), after which it descended to the alignment of the former military route connecting what is now Kinlochleven with Fort William. Today, the West Highland Way makes use of it.
The ferry made a connection with a road that followed the River Coe’s north bank up Glen Coe to Kingshouse, which was on the southern shore at Rannoch Moor. Up until a connection with the A82, one mile east of the Clachaig Inn, the lower portions of this road are still in use. They provide an alternate, though single-track, very scenic way into or out of the settlement.
4. Along Glencoe Village, a new road was constructed.
A “new” road was constructed alongside Glen Coe in the 1930s. Along the south bank of the river in the lower Glen, it avoids Glencoe. Drivers no longer used Glencoe to escape ferry lines when the Ballachulish Ferry was replaced by the Ballachulish Bridge in 1975. Lake Leven’s head is where the Ballachulish Bridge is located.
5. Glencoe Village grew beside the main street.
In response, the village grew beside the brand-new main road. The Glencoe Hotel was subsequently constructed in 1939 on what is now the A82. The headquarters of Glencoe Mountain Rescue is located right across the street.
A plaque commemorates Graham Flatters, who lived from 1957 to 1996 and “liked to wander in natural regions,” on the gorgeous white harled building.
6. The A82 connects Loch Leven to Glencoe’s main village.
The main community of Glencoe spans from the A82 to the northeast along Loch Leven’s shore. The only main street in the village is where you’ll find the local store and the post office, which is a few ways down on the other side.
A village hall and St. Mary’s Church are also present. With some practical ideas thrown in for good measure, the homes range in style from classic cottages to more contemporary buildings. Among the household structures, the two thatched croft homes from the 18th century that today houses the superb Glencoe and North Lorn Folk Museum are arguably the most outstanding.
7. There is a museum at Glencoe Village.
The typically thatched Glencoe and North Lorn Museum offer visitors information on crofting, clans, and local history. A local uncovered a stash of 200-year-old swords and pistols that had been kept there by the British Redcoats after the catastrophic battle of Culloden, leading to the establishment of the museum.
8. There is a visitor center in Glencoe Village.
A Glencoe and Glen Etive experience is best started at the visitor center for Glencoe, which is tucked away in a woodland glade. The tales that make Glencoe National Natural Reserve so special can be glimpsed.
The Info Hub offers a plethora of helpful information on treks, the weather, and seasonal wildlife and has a large 3D map. The staff is also on hand to respond to inquiries.
The Glen Exposed is a must-see short film that plays hourly in the theater. Rory McCann, who plays the narrator in Game of Thrones, encourages viewers to donate to the National Trust for Scotland.
The exhibition “Pioneers of the Peaks” is dedicated to the men and women who have advanced climbing techniques in Glencoe’s mountains for more than a century. They also pay tribute to the volunteers who assist them in times of need and the avalanche specialists who observe the snow in the winter.
9. In Glencoe Village, camping is popular.
For campers, there are three authorized campsites in and near the Glen. In accordance with Percy Unna’s ideals and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, wild camping is permitted in some places of the Glen.
However, in the middle of the 1990s, a decision was made to restrict a particular location and forbid wild camping there due to environmental concerns and growing River Coe pollution. East of the Clachaig Hotel is where the area is located. It extends eastward to the intersection of the Old Military Road and the contemporary A82 from the River Coe to the Aonach Eagach.
The river and the Clachaig region have improved as a result of the exclusion.
10. The village of Glencoe draws hikers and climbers.
Due in part to its picturesque features and illustrious past, Glencoe is a well-liked tourist attraction. Walkers and climbers are drawn to it because of its location on the main northbound route (the A82).
The caliber and variety of its winter climbing are well-known. Most of its pathways are quite simple to access from the main road. The waterfalls at The Study in the Glencoe Pass are one of the other attractions.
For experienced hillwalkers, the Aonach Eagach offers one of Scotland’s best mainland scrambles.
