Glencoe
The names Glencoe and Glen Coe tend to be used interchangeably. Strictly speaking Glencoe is the name of the village at the heart of the Glen Coe region in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands. However the name Glencoe is often used to refer to the Glen itself which is named after the river Coe.
Glencoe is a desolate area with a fierce natural beauty. There's relatively little in the way of tourist accomodation however there are a number of guest houses as well as bed and breakfast accomodation. The Clachaig Inn hotel and pub is situated to the west of the glen and is popular with walkers and climbers.
Massacre
Glen Coe is most famous - or infamous - for the Glencoe Massacre. This took place in 1692 and was not just a massacre but a cowardly example of "Murder under trust". Almost forty members of the clan Macdonald were killed on the day and another forty died later as a result of the attacks. The reason for the killings was that the Macdonalds were not thought sufficiently loyal to the rule of William and Mary.The Lord Advocate John Dalrymple ordered the Argyl Foot Regiment, led by Captain Robert Campbell, to visit the Glencoe area and arrange to stay with various Macdonald households. The cover story for the mission was that the soldiers were there to oversee the collection of taxes.
The regiment were accepted as guests in the Macdonald homes and given hospitality for some two weeks. Then, on 13th February 1692, the soldiers were ordered to: "fall upon the M'Donalds of Glencoe and put all to the sword under seventy". They followed orders, turned on their hosts and slew them. Many Macdonalds were killed as they slept.
The Macdonalds and the Campbells had hardly been friends before this incident, but the Glencoe Massacre ensured that their feud would continue for centuries more.
Ghosts
Many people believe that ghosts are the spirits of the unquiet dead, especially those who have died in violent, unexpected and treacherous ways. If that's true then the Macdonalds of Glencoe fit all the criteria for haunting the area.That said, the Glen is surprisingly quiet of specific ghosts. It's said that the Macdonald spirits return each year on the February anniversary of the massacre and can be heard weeping and wailing. There have also been reports of unexplained figures such as a lone piper.
Even if the spirits of the Macdonalds don't often show themselves they may still be present. Anyone who has visited Glen Coe will know that the place has a very special atmosphere. It wouln't surprise me to learn that there's something supernatural in the very air itself.
