Glencoe

Glencoe is a broad Highland glen in Argyll, carved by ice-age glaciers between the mountains of the Black Mount and the Ballachulish peninsula. The glen's defining feature is the Three Sisters — three massive spurs of Bidean nam Bian (1,150m) that descend steeply into the valley floor, their scree slopes and dark basalt faces forming one of the most dramatic mountain panoramas in Scotland. The A82 runs the length of the glen, providing successive viewpoints that change character with each kilometre. The valley floor is managed by the National Trust for Scotland; several waymarked trails begin from car parks along the road, including the Lost Valley walk up into the hidden Coire Gabhail — a natural hanging valley where the MacDonald clan historically hid cattle. The Glencoe Visitor Centre at the western entrance explains the geology, ecology, and the events of the 1692 Glencoe Massacre, when members of the MacDonald clan were killed by government soldiers who had been quartered among them — a defining event in Highland memory. Glencoe Mountain Resort on the north side of the glen operates in winter. Photography of the Three Sisters from the main road lay-bys and from the River Coe footbridges captures the classic views. A typical scenic drive with stops at key viewpoints takes 2–3 hours; adding a walk such as the Lost Valley hike (3–4 hours round trip) extends the visit to a full day.