Bucket List: Mythical Glencoe

UK, Scotland, Inverness, Mythical Glencoe

This article was originally published in this blog in October 2017. This relatively short article was a reminisce of my first and only trip to Glencoe in 2011.

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The A82 is a major road that runs between the cities of Glasgow and Inverness in Scotland, UK. Famous landmarks that are located within close proximity to the A82 include Loch Lomond, Glencoe (a.k.a. Glen Coe) and Loch Ness. 

Considered one of the most beautiful places in Scotland, Glencoe is surrounded by mountains in the east from the A82. The village of Glencoe is located at the foot of the valley. In Scotland, Glen usually refers to a long and deep valley with a watercourse running through it. Glencoe is named after the River Coe which runs through it.

Scottish Highlands, Glencoe, Scotland, UK (2011)

Passing by Glencoe on the A82 while travelling to Loch Ness from Glasgow, I listened attentively as my friendly Scottish guide shared the history of this part of the Highlands of Scotland, including the dark episode known as the Massacre of Glencoe.

View of some of the peaks in this part of the Scottish Highlands along the A82, Glencoe, Scotland, UK (2011)

We stopped along the highway to stretch our legs and also to take in the beautiful scenery of the wilderness. Apart from the bitterly cold September wind in this part of the Highlands, the exhilarating views of the mountains framed against the vast wilderness before me were absolutely awesome sights to behold. Sights that were and still are difficult to express, both in words and pictures and are best experienced personally.

Seas of wild lavender as  seen in the foreground of this photograph are common sights in early September, Glencoe, Scotland, UK (2011)

Wild flowers bloomed in the highlands before the onset of winter, Glencoe, Scotland, UK (2011)