Glen Coe (glen=valley, Coe=narrow) is a beautiful valley with the town of Glencoe at its head. Through the valley runs the River Coe and some of the most awesome scenery in all of Scotland. The mountains on either side are clothed in soft green with harsh, gray stone breaking through to create fantastic outcropping and rugged cliffs. The valley is revered by the outdoorsy type for both its hiking and climbing opportunities and is mostly owned by the National Trust for Scotland who have recently build a beautiful new Visitor Centre.

Despite its beauty, the valley was the location of one of Scotland most infamous historical events; the massacre of a clan of McDonalds in 1692. The English government had offered pardon to all highland clans who would sign an oath of allegiance to King William III by Jan 1, 1692. In a last ill fated act of defiance, the chief, Alastair MacDonald, of the Macdonalds of Glencoe waited till the last day to walk to Fort William to sign the pledge. When he reached For William, However, the man he needed to see was absent and the chief was sent on to Inverness. By the time he signed the pledge, it was several days late, but due to the circumstances it was accepted.

The English Parliament, however, decided to reject his signature in order to make an example of "that dambable sept" and sent Campbell of Glenlyon to billet his soldiers in the valley. Unknowing of the duplicity, the MacDonalds entertained the soldiers in their homes. Ten days later on Feb. 13, the soldiers turned on the MacDonalds while they slept, killing 45 (including the chief and his family) and causing over 300 to flee into the snow covered hills where an unknown number were killed by the elements.

A Few Quotes

Orders signed by King William III included this statement about the MacDonalds of Glencoe-

If M'Kean [MacIain Macdonald] of Glencoe and that tribe can be well sparated from the rest, it will be a proper vindication of the publick justice to extirpate that sept of thieves.

The orders sent to Campbell of Glenlyon -

You are hereby ordered to fall upon the Rebells, the MacDonalds of Glenco, and putt all to the sward under seventy. You are to have a special care that the old fox [Alasdair MacIan Macdonald] and his sones doe upon no account escape your hands. You are to secure all the avenues thatt no man escape. This you are to putt in execution at fyve of the clock precisely. - Major Robert Duncanson