Glencoe: top attractions & road trip guide
Glencoe is a narrow, steep-sided glen in the Scottish Highlands, carved by glaciers from volcanic rock and framed by the peaks of the Three Sisters ridge. It is one of Scotland's most photographed landscapes and is remembered as the site of the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe, when members of Clan MacDonald were killed by government soldiers they had hosted.
The glen sits along the A82 in the western Highlands, between Rannoch Moor and Loch Leven, and is a natural stop on a road trip between Glasgow and the Isle of Skye. The single-carriageway road runs directly beneath the mountains, with passing places used on smaller side roads; remember to drive on the left and allow extra time for sudden weather changes.
Top attractions
Three Sisters
Three dramatic ridges of Bidean nam Bian rising above the glen's south side, among the most recognisable mountain views in Scotland.
Buachaille Etive Mòr
A pyramid-shaped mountain guarding the eastern entrance to Glencoe, widely considered one of the most photographed peaks in Scotland.
Glencoe Visitor Centre
A National Trust for Scotland centre with exhibitions on the glen's geology, wildlife, and the 1692 massacre, and trailheads for short walks.
Loch Leven
A sea loch bordering the glen to the south, ringed by mountains and popular for its lochside villages and scenic viewpoints.
Signal Rock
A wooded knoll reached by a short forest walk, traditionally said to be where the signal was given to begin the 1692 massacre.
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