Glencoe, Scotland

One of the things Brian and I seek when traveling is scenic landscape. We both grew up around mountains, so we especially like that kind of terrain. From the southern end of Loch Lomond, we drove north on carriageway A82 along the west shore of Loch Lomond, pictured above. We were headed for the scenic and historic Glencoe region.

As it was mid-November, we enjoyed viewing the trees' colorful foliage along with snow on the mountaintops. Snow also edged the road in places and sometimes fell mixed with rain, but Brian had no problems driving.

Once we left the shore of Loch Lomond, we continued north and stopped at the Drover's Inn for lunch. This historic pub and inn has been in business since the early 1700s. It is full of quirky items and placards, as well as dusty taxidermy specimens. I had venison stew, which tasted good on a cold day. 

Glimpses of snow-covered mountains always get our attention, but we were also thrilled to tour Scotland during the low-season. Yes, it was cold, but few travelers were on the roads.

An official welcome sign to the Scottish Highlands complete with Loch Tulla in the background. Very few trees remained, a clue that we had gradually gained elevation. Here it is a rugged, windswept landscape.

At a lay-by, we stopped for a break to stretch our legs and hiked up the hill a bit. Our trusty motorhome sits below patiently waiting for us. 

This cleft made in the rock for the road felt like a gateway to the Glencoe area. We found ourselves quite excited for the scenery around each bend in the road. And we were not disappointed. 

This is the famous Three Sisters Ridge of Glencoe. I took over 200 photos that day; you can imagine how hard it is to choose just a few. But this is one of the best that encompasses all three peaks. There is a lovely viewpoint of the Sisters, where I am standing below, with ample parking. Several trails lead from this point, and the River Coe is visible at the foot of the range. Further west along A82 is located the Glencoe Visitor Centre where we enjoyed the exhibits about the region's natural features, the local Search & Rescue Community, and the 1692 massacre of members of the MacDonald Clan. Very interesting! Glencoe's rugged, mountainous scenery alone is worth the drive.