Scotland Trip, Part 3, Glencoe on Loch Leven

The next part of our trip was from Loch Lomond to the town of Glencoe on the southern shore of Loch Leven.



The following photo is Loch Leven, which is a salt water arm of Loch Linnhe.The next photos are in the town of Glencoe.
The town is on the banks of the River Coe where it enters Loch Leven. The town is famous for the massacre of people of the MacDonald clan in February, 1692. The MacDonalds had not been prompt in pledging allegiance to the new king, William of Orange. They had been given a deadline, and when they attempted to sign papers pledging their allegiance on the last possible day, they had some difficulties meeting with the correct person, who it turns out was Sir Colin Campbell (does that name sound familiar---maybe like Julie's Collin Campbell?) Anyway, they thought they had done what was asked, though they were late. Soon after that a company of men authorized by the king and lead by the Campbell clan went to Glencoe and accepted the hospitality of the MacDonalds for about 2 weeks, then suddenly began the massacre. About 40 were killed and another 40 died of exposure after their homes were burned. The king wanted to use this event as an example of what would happen to anyone who defied his orders. Even today in Glencoe there is hostility toward anyone named Campbell! (Of course, Glencoe people don't mention that the feud with the Campbells was not one-sided in the years before the massacre. Through the years the MacDonalds had raided Campbell territory, too!)

The first pictures show an old bridge over the River Coe.


We spent the night at a really nice, new Bed and Breakfast in Glencoe. The name of it is Alltbeag, which means "little stream". The people that own it, David and Ann Thomson, had owned another B & B there in Glencoe for many years, and then they bought this property that overlooks the Loch. The view from the large picture windows in the living room is breathtaking!
David did most of the construction work of the house himself, and he is proud to show photos of the phases of construction! He was very informative about the history of Glencoe and about the area. He directed us to a fish restuarant across the Loch that evening that served really good food! The restaurant was connected to and owned by a fishing business that has been in Glencoe for years.

The next photos show the view of the Loch from the front of the B&B. In the first one, you can see a small island, which is the burial place of the MacDonald clan. It was used until recent years when there was no more room for burial plots.

The following are photos of pretty purple heather growing along the highway in the Loch areas.