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 Argyll. 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.

Tourism, walkers and climbers

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. It is famous for the quality, and variety of its winter climbing, most of its routes being comparatively easy of access from the main road.

Related Topics:
A82 - Climbing

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Other points of interest include the Study at the Pass of Glencoe; the cave of Ossian, where tradition says that he was born. The Iona cross was erected in 1883 by a Macdonald in memory of his clansmen who perished in the massacre of 1692. There is car parking at the scenic waterfalls in the Pass of Glencoe, which was used as the location for "The Bridge of Death" in filming Monty Python and the Holy Grail, attracting Monty Python pilgrims. Sets for the third Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, were built near to the bottom of Clachaig Gully, north of the Clachaig Inn. There is a folk museum in Glencoe village.

Related Topics:
Ossian - 1883 - Massacre of 1692 - Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Monty Python - Harry Potter - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Clachaig Inn

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Many walkers come to Glen Coe on the West Highland Way following the old military "Wade road" over Rannoch Moor which crosses the River Etive at the Kingshouse hotel. From there it is about 2 km (1.2 miles) to the head of the glen, then about 2 km into the glen the Way ascends the Devil's Staircase, a steep, boulder-strewn "cut" (352 m high) which is part of the old military road and drove road north across the hills to Kinlochleven.

Related Topics:
West Highland Way - Wade road - Rannoch Moor - Kingshouse - Km - Devil's Staircase - 352 - M - Kinlochleven

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For hillwalkers there are several good routes on the Bidean nam Bian (1150 m) massif which forms a complex Y-shaped hill with several lesser tops, including Stob Coire Sgreamhach (1072 m) which also has Munro status. One attractive way in to these tops ascends from the Pass of Glencoe up along the Lost Valley to the ridge. Both Buachaille Etive Beag (958 m) and Buachaille Etive Mor (1022 m) also offer opportunities to hillwalkers.

Related Topics:
Bidean nam Bian - Stob Coire Sgreamhach - Munro - Buachaille Etive Beag - M - Buachaille Etive Mor - 1022

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Rock climbers concentrate on the Buachaille Etive Mor (1018 m), often called simply "The Beuckle", and on the various routes on the Three Sisters (shoulders of Bidean). For adventurous experienced walkers, the finest mainland scramble in the UK is the Aonach Eagach. This extended scramble boasts two of Scotland's trickiest Munro hills, Sgor nam Fiannaidh (996 m) and Meall Dearg (951 m). The Aonach Eagach ridge terminates at the Pap of Glencoe (741 m).

Related Topics:
Buachaille Etive Mor - 1018 - M - Scramble - Aonach Eagach - Pap of Glencoe

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The "Glencoe ski centre", also known as the White Corries, is actually on the hill of Meall a Bhuiridh (1108 m) which lies on the east side of Glen Etive, outside Glen Coe proper.

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