Glen Coe
Glen Coe is arguably the most dramatic and best-known glen in the Scottish Highlands, a steep-sided valley carved by ancient volcanic activity and glaciation, flanked by the jagged peaks of the Three Sisters and Aonach Eagach ridge. Beyond the scenery, it's infamous for the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe, when government soldiers billeted with the MacDonald clan turned on their hosts in a brutal breach of Highland hospitality — a history that still colours how the glen is talked about locally and is covered in depth at the excellent Glencoe visitor centre.
The glen offers everything from short roadside walks and waterfall stops to serious mountain routes up peaks like Buachaille Etive Mòr and the Aonach Eagach, one of Scotland's most challenging ridge walks. Even without leaving the car, the drive through on the A82 is one of the most spectacular road journeys in Britain, and it's an easy, essential stop on the route between Glasgow/Fort William and the wider Highlands.
Glen Coe FAQs
In 1692, government soldiers who had been billeted with the MacDonald clan turned on their hosts and killed dozens, a notorious breach of Highland hospitality still marked in local history.
No, there are short, accessible walks and waterfall viewpoints alongside the serious mountain routes, so it suits a range of abilities.
Yes, the National Trust for Scotland runs a visitor centre in the glen with exhibits on the area's geology, history, and the 1692 massacre.
It's about 20-30 minutes' drive south of Fort William along the A82.
Driving the A82 through the glen and stopping at the main viewpoints and visitor centre gives a strong sense of the scenery without any serious walking.
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