Glencoe, Loch Lomond and Gretna Green

Our final stay in Scotland was just north of Glasgow on the banks of Loch Lomond. This meant a journey through another glen .... Glencoe.

We travelled south along the banks of Loch Linnhe, a cloudy day, however the views were still beautiful, especially when there was a cloud burst. The Corran car ferry was making its way across the narrowest point of the loch; this on/off boat was very busy as the alternative is a 45 mile journey round Loch Linmhe and Loch Eil.

A cloud burst over Loch Linnhe

Corran Lighthouse

Corden Carferry

Travelling through Glencoe was superb, a road twisting and bending along the valley of the Coe river. It's high peaks are volcanic and the rock formations are so beautiful. High peaks, steep valleys, gorse cover moors, waterfalls: 30 miles of nature at it's best.

Glencoe is a very popular place with walkers and mountaineers, there is a Visitor Centre giving historic details of the many climbers who have accepted the challenge of these mountains.

The Ladies Scottish Climbing Club took its first property lease in 1947 on Black Rock Cottage near Glencoe; this meant women now had somewhere to use as a base when on expeditions and enabled them to climb many more Scottish mountains. Annie Hirst was the first woman to climb all the 'Munros' - the 282 Scottish peaks higher than 3,000 feet.

Sadly Glencoe is also known for the tragic murder of the MacDonald clan on 13th February 1692. A regiment of soldiers, who had been welcomed into the clan's homes, on orders from the Government murdered 38 men, women and children. The Glencoe Massacre is remembered each year with visitors travelling from all over the world for its annual poignant wreath layer ceremony.

The valley

The mountains 

The waterfalls 

Loch Lomond was the last loch we travelled along, pausing half way for our final picnic lunch in Scotland. Our last Scottish hotel was in Balloch, a very small place with a few hotels and restaurants. The River Leven flows through Balloch  joining Loch Lomond and the River Clyde, as it's a navigatable river it was full of small boats and is a starting point for Loch Lomond Cruises.

Loch Lomond

River Leven at Balloch

Our first trip to Scotland has been filled with castles, lochs, mountains, moors, rugged coastline, viaducts, canals, locks and of course whisky.

Hubby and I have had a great time discovering many new things but we couldn't leave without stopping at Gretna Green on our way home. We didn't renew our vows as these days you need to book in, we did however manage a cheeky photo.

Gretna Green

We've been married 29 years and 11 months