| Glencoe's spring sky looked bleak; wrathful clouds | | | | breaking his conversation with an elderly gentleman |
| glared, threatening imminent showers. Columns of | | | | on the opposite side of the bar. |
| light penetrated the cloud, stood as sentinels guarding | | | | "Heading for the village," I replied and grabbed the |
| entrance to the sweeping valley. The scent of | | | | nearest chair to soothe my aching limbs. "Coke |
| springtime was in the air; a new harvest was | | | | please." |
| approaching. | | | | Refreshed and revitalised, I continued my trek along |
| Animals all around were preparing their nests for new | | | | the forsaken road, twisting and turning with the |
| siblings and a busy summer. The echoes of songbirds | | | | contours of the land. |
| and their merry tunes sang throughout the valley; the | | | | Glencoe's history can be traced back over 5,000 |
| season of courtship was upon us. | | | | years. Perhaps most infamous was one macabre |
| A crisp breeze was a reminder of a recent winter; | | | | night during the early hours of 13th February 1692. |
| Glencoe was still adjusting to the new season. The | | | | The resurgence of the Jacobites worried King William |
| wind was the only sound of an otherwise silent | | | | the Third and he ordered all clan chiefs to declare |
| valley. | | | | their allegiances no later than 1st January 1692. |
| Ahead, a small cluster of trees were dwarfed by the | | | | Maclain of Glencoe however was delayed and didn't |
| gargantuan mountainside rising steeply from the flat. | | | | sign until 6th January 1692. Unaware of the decision |
| Foliage managed to climb about a third of the way | | | | to punish him and his men, Maclain returned to his |
| up the mountain face before conceding to the | | | | land believing all was well. |
| barefaced rock. It looked impossible to climb; the | | | | Campbell of Glenlyon led a group of 128 soldiers who |
| dominant face was almost vertical. | | | | stayed with the Macdonalds for 12 nights before |
| As the clouds began to clear, the cool, shallow | | | | murdering 38 of them as they slept during the early |
| waters to my right reflected an ever changing sky. | | | | hours. Studying this tranquil landscape, it's hard to |
| The lake was fringed by marshland and navigable only | | | | imagine such a brutal event ever taking place. |
| by the local wildlife. | | | | Despite its barren appearance, the land is teeming |
| I continued my march along the lonely valley road | | | | with wildlife; nature accompanies my every step. In a |
| and soon encountered a public house, wonderfully | | | | world seemingly awash with terror and violence, it's |
| isolated from civilization. It was cast in shadow as the | | | | good to know these places still exist. Away from the |
| sun hid behind the mountain peaks, threatening to | | | | rigours of city life, Glencoe has evolved as nature |
| emerge and flood the valley with light. | | | | intended. |
| "Passing through?" enquired the barman politely, | | | | |