Glencoe, Loch Lomond, Glasgow Day 9 #VisitScotland #goaheadtours #peoplemakeGLA
Another early morning for us as we head to Glasgow, our final destination on this wonderful tour of Scotland. Our journey is winding down for some folks, others have opted to stay a few days longer in Glagow but before that we visit Glencoe and Loch Lomond.
Glencoe is perhaps Scotland’s most famous and most scenic glen. Glencoe is also arguably Scotland’s most historic glen, and it was recently voted as Scotland’s most romantic glen.
Historically its best remembered for the tragedy that began on 27th August 1691, when King William III in London offered a pardon to all Highland clans who had fought against him or raided their neighbors. But it was on the condition that they took the oath of allegiance before a magistrate by 1st January 1692. The alternative for failing to comply was death. MacDonald Clan Chief, MacIain of Glencoe, reluctantly agreed to take the oath, but mistakenly went to Inverlochy in Fort William instead of Inveraray near Oban. He finally reached Inveraray on January 6th, well after the deadline.
MacDonald naively believed that, despite this delay in taking the oath, he and his clan were now safe. But unknown to him, a force had already been assembled at Inveraray and given orders to exterminate the whole clan. The force left for Glencoe on 1st February, led by Captain Robert Campbell of Glen Lyon, a man with a grudge against the MacDonalds. Campbell asked for quarters for his 130 soldiers and, unaware of what was planned, the poor MacDonalds entertained them for 10 days.
On the night of the 12th February, Campbell received orders to kill all MacDonalds under seventy years of age at 5 am the next morning. In the early hours of a cold winter’s morning the soldiers rose from their beds and set about the massacre of their hosts, with whom they had been living on friendly terms. It was this act of treachery in response to hospitality that makes this massacre such a heinous crime. Although only forty were killed, many more escaped to the hills only to die of hunger and exposure.
To this day the Campbell's are blamed for the massacre.
While visiting the site, we stopped for a group photo
Again we're buzzed by the Peugeot Commercial, this time our coach IS stopped in the road while their get the right shot.
Motoring again we make our way to Loch Lomond, a beautiful highland lock (lake) lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. The loch is 24.5 miles (39 km) long, it is the largest freshwater loch in Scotland and has more than 30 islands, the largest of which is Inchmurrin. The Loch Lomond and Trossachs area of Scotland was awarded National Park status in July 2002.
A quick espresso at the Coach House Coffee Shop in Luss and we're back on the road to Glasgow.
Libby spots a Brew Dog across the street and some us make a beeline toward it. Lunch was yummy. And I got to sample some
I also got to meet a stoat! Yup beer in a stoat.
Back at the museum,we meet up with our local guide, Jenny and we're off for a brief world-wind tour of the museum and Glasgow.
(Jay and I decide that if we don't book an another guided tour for Saturday we will return to the Kelvingrove and experience it at a slower pace.)
Jenny takes us quickly through the museum, the historic Clyde River waterfront, the Cathedral, the famous terracotta fountain and George's Square. She also points out a few very interesting landmarks.
Our day ends at the Red Onion for a farewell dinner.
Some folks will be leaving us and returning home, the rest of us have two more days of Scotland and we can't wait.
More images from Day 9: http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/Scotland-2015/Western-Highlands/Glencoe-Loch-Lomond-Glasgow/
Next up: Kelvingrove Art gallery and Museum, The Glasgow Necropolis and Drygate Brewery.
Edinburgh and the Castles of Scotland
Day 9 March 27 Glencoe, Loch Lomond, Glasgow Tour, Brief Kelvingrove Museum
March 19-30, 2015
Copyright ©2015 Nancy Nutile-McMenemy
www.photosbynanci.com
Tour images: http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/Scotland-2015
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