Climbing up tears

Glencoe Valley is a tourist attraction in the Highlands, for which Scotland has been famous for years. Over a decade ago, her landscapes served as the set of the next part of the saga about the little wizard - she became the star of the film "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban".

In Scottish Gaelic, Glencoe means "valley of tears." The name can be explained in part by the topography of the valley (its slopes are very steep and angular) and in part by its history. At the end of the 17th century, a bloody murder of the villagers by the army of the English monarch, William III, took place there. Thus, the king took revenge on the population for refusing to take the oath of allegiance after suppressing the Jacobite uprising. Like the Katyn massacre in Polish-Russian relations, the Glencoe massacre has cast a dark shadow on relations between Scotland and England for many years.

At the entrance to the valley there is a McDonald's Tears waterfall, which is a kind of monument to the tragic day. Those interested in the event of February 13, 1692 can learn more about it at the local museum.

Munro's Valley of Tears

Glencoe also has a second face. The region is very popular with mountain climbing enthusiasts. They cannot be surprised - the landscape is dominated by the lonely giant Buachaille Etive Mor , a mountain over 1000 m above sea level. The summit of the "Great Shepherd Etive" has tempted many daredevils, and his competitors had to accept the fact that there is only one queen. Nevertheless, both Buachaille Etive Beag and the sisters of the ascension: Beinn Fhada, Aonach Dubh and Gearr Aonach cannot complain about the lack of interest from tourists. There will be a large group of admirers for each of the peaks. The valley is a true paradise for mountaineers. Within it, there are as many as eight peaks exceeding 3,000 feet, which corresponds to 914.4 meters. Such hills are referred to as the so-called Munro's , named after Sir Hugh Munro, author of the 1891 list.

In addition to mountain climbing, the Glencoe valley offers the possibility of many hours of walks along routes running through forests and surrounding lakes. Those willing will be able to rent a bike without any problems and get to know the area from the saddle. And there is a lot to admire - Glencoe enjoys the opinion of not only one of the oldest, but also one of the most beautiful and picturesque Scottish valleys.

The Rannoch Moor, adjacent to the Rannoch Moor valley, is exceptionally beautiful, with extensive moors, lakes, hills and areas covered with gnarled pine trees. It is even more attractive as it is not so easily accessible - you have to make an effort to get there.

Campsite in Glencoe

There are at least a few campsites in the region, so finding a suitable place for everyone will be easy. In the heart of Kinlochleven, there is the Blackwater Hostel and campsite , offering tourists a camping site, places in en-suite rooms, camping pitches, well! even a glamping overnight stay. And all the year round, thanks to which those who want to relax in the vicinity of the valley can enjoy the charms of the region in many ways. In winter, slopes covered with a thick layer of snow await them, and in summer - many opportunities for contact with nature. Be it while walking with a camera in hand, or while practicing mountain biking, fishing on Lake Leven, canoeing or climbing.

In 2015, Glencoe not only felt the weight of human feet, she was also imprinted with poetry. On its slopes, the verses of Walter Scott's poem "On the massacre of Glencoe" were displayed, thus commemorating the 323th anniversary of the tragic events. Whoever was here then could see the words "Revenge for blood and treachery!" Shining in the darkness. and feel the sad magic of the Valley of Tears.