Scenes from Scotland A journey up through Glencoe These photographs were taken by me in the summer of 2003 and January 2004. Yes, you guessed the tartan is different again:-)This is the tartan of the Clan MacDonald. Why?? Because Glencoe was the site of a famous massacre in Scottish History. The Massacre of Glencoe. Following his succession to the throne, William III tried to get all the clans to swear an oath of allegiance by 1 January 1692. After much hesitation the Jacobite clans of the west Highlands agreed to do so, but MacIain of Glencoe, chief of a small branch of Clan Donald, left his journey too late and arrived in Inveraray after the deadline. The government decided that the rebellious clan must be punished, and sent the loyal Campbell Earl of Argyll's Regiment to Glencoe,( they were pro-English), already hated the MacDonald's and had battled with them on numerous occasions in the past. The Campbells were sent to stay with and receive hospitality from the MacDonald's. They spent two weeks there awaiting their orders. On 5 February the fateful orders arrived and early the next morning the soldiers turned on their erstwhile hosts, killing MacIain and 37 of his clansmen. Some escaped to the snow covered hills and died there, but some survived, the rather inept attempt to massacre them all. Glencoe is known as the Glen of Weeping. Now scroll down for some views of Glencoe.  Glencoe is a great valley which cuts right through the western highlands of Scotland from the shores of Loch Leven to the west, to the great moor of Rannoch to the east. It is a steep-sided valley climbing steadily south east from the village of Glencoe on the sea-loch, Loch Leven. It eventually emerges from its enveloping mountains onto the wet plateau of Rannoch Moor ten miles away and at an altitude of over 1000 feet. As you drive up into the Glen the scenery is spectacular though a bit daunting, as it is totally un inhabited and in this day and age of reliance of such things as mobile phones, well don't even think about breaking down as the mountains block all the signals:-) As you drive on, on one side you see this beautiful rockface, liberally covered with waterfalls and on the other side the spectacular mountains shown below.   As you continue to climb, turn round and look down and you see that wee white bridge down there. That is turn your head, not the car, or you may find your self down the bottom again:-)  Whew, we made it, and am I glad I was driving not walking:-) We have now emerged onto the wet plateau of Rannoch Moor ten miles away and at an altitude of over 1141 feet. Some beautiful views up here but what goes up must come down, so down we go.  I took this photograph just to show how quickly the weather can change The mists blowing in over the mountains are bringing a violent rain storm.  This picture and the one below were taken minutes after that storm blew in. The mountain range includes Scotland's highest mountain. Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis stands 4490 feet high.   There we are, back down at sea level and the beautiful Loch Leven. Please press next to find yourself in Glencoe in the winter months. Jeaney:-) Next Home Bumblebee Designs ©2003-2004-2005 All rights reserved. Designed & Maintained by Jeaney | |