Friday, June 7, 2013

Glencoe Scotland

Glencoe Village  is the main settlement near Glen Coe, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. It lies at the north-west end of the glen, on the southern bank of the River Coe where it enters Loch Leven a salt-water loch off Loch Linnhe).

A view of Glencoe
The term 'Glencoe Village' is a recent one (appearing on a few road signs only in the last 20 years to differentiate it from Glen Coe itself), however the setting near the Glen Coe valley is quite historic as it is near the site of the Massacre of Glencoe in the 1690s, in which MacDonalds and Hendersons were killed by a group of Scots, who were a mixed company. The leader was a Campbell, and knowing the hatred between the MacDonalds, and the Campbells, they knew the Campbells would take the blame for the masacre, even though there were only a handfull of Campbells in the group. Acting on the orders of King William II. The village is not actually in Glencoe but occupies an area known as Carnoch. Native Gaelic speakers who belong to the area always refer to the village as A'Charnaich, meaning "the place of cairns". Even today there is Upper Carnoch and Lower Carnoch. A small hospital - currently empty - with emergency services at Fort William 16 miles away, lies at the southern end of the village just over an arched stone bridge.
Within Glencoe Village there is a small village shop (now a Nisa), Episcopal Church of Scotland kirk, Glencoe & North Lorn local history museum, Post Office, Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team centre, an Outdoor Centre, numerous quality bed and breakfast establishments, and a small primary school. Several eating establishments are around including the Glencoe Hotel, Glencoe Cafe and The Clachaig Inn situated in Glencoe village. Glencoe is also a popular location for self-catering holidays; with many chalets, cottages and lodges available for weekly and short break rental. Also located in the village, but along the A82, is the Glencoe Visitor Centre, run by the National Trust for Scotland. This modern (constructed in 2002) visitor centre houses a coffee shop, store, and information centre.
The village is in the historic county of Argyll, although this part of Argyll now lies in The Highland Region.
The village sits near the entrance to Glen Coe and is surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery and is popular with serious hill-walkers, rock and ice climbers. It has been seen in numerous films, including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as the home of Hagrid, and the 2012 James Bond movie Skyfall.


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