Page 275 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Glencoe Visitor Centre brings a steady stream the Fort has carved out
(NTS; %01855-811307; www. of hikers through the a reputation as ‘Outdoor
glencoe-nts.org.uk; adult/child village. It is also the Capital of the UK’ (www.
£6.50/5; h9.30am-5.30pm starting point for walks outdoorcapital.co.uk).
Easter-Oct, 10am-4pm Thu-Sun up the glen of the River The small but fasci-
Nov-Easter; p) provides Leven, through pleasant nating West Highland
comprehensive informa- woods to the Grey Mare’s Museum (%01397-702169;
tion on the geological, Tail waterfall, and harder www.westhighlandmuseum.
environmental and cul- mountain hikes into the org.uk; Cameron Sq; h10am-
tural history of Glencoe, Mamores. 5pm Mon-Sat Apr-Oct, to 4pm
charts the development Scotland’s first Via Mar & Nov-Dec, closed Jan &
of mountaineering in the Ferrata (%01855-413200; Feb) is packed with all
glen, and tells the story www.glencoeactivities.com; manner of Highland
of the Glencoe Massacre per person/family £55/170) – memorabilia. Look out
in all its gory detail. a 500m climbing route for the secret portrait of
equipped with steel lad- Bonnie Prince Charlie – GREAT BRITAIN 20 GREAT GLEN
54 p277
ders, cables and bridges – after the Jacobite rebel-
The Drive » From Glencoe snakes through the crags lions, all things Highland
village at the foot of the glen, around the Grey Mare’s were banned, including
head east on the B863 for 7 Tail, allowing non- pictures of the exiled
miles along the southern shore climbers to experience leader, and this tiny
of Loch Leven to Kinlochleven.
the thrill of climbing painting looks like noth-
(you’ll need a head for ing more than a smear of
2 Kinlochleven heights, though!). paint until viewed in a
cylindrical mirror.
Kinlochleven is hemmed 5 p277
in by high mountains The Drive » Return west 54 p277
at the head of beauti- along the north side of Loch The Drive » At the
ful Loch Leven, where Leven, perhaps stopping for roundabout on the northern
the West Highland Way lunch at the excellent Lochleven edge of Fort William, take the
Seafood Cafe, then head north minor road that runs into Glen
on the A82 to Fort William (22 Nevis; it leads to a car park at
miles). the far end of the glen, 6.5 miles
LINK away.
YOUR
TRIP 3 Fort William TRIP HIGHLIGHT
j Royal Highlands Basking on the shores 4 Glen Nevis
of Loch Linnhe amid
& Cairngorms
Get your fill of Scottish magnificent mountain Scenic Glen Nevis – used
scenery, Fort William has as a filming location
splendour by beginning one of the most enviable for Braveheart and the
with this tour of castles settings in the whole of Harry Potter movies –
and mountains before Scotland. If it wasn’t for wraps around the base
heading west to Glen Coe. of Ben Nevis, Britain’s
the busy dual carriage-
g Britain’s Wild way crammed between highest mountain.
The Glen Nevis Visitor
the less-than-attractive
Side
Explore more of Britain’s town centre and the loch, Centre (%01397-705922;
www.bennevisweather.co.uk;
and one of the highest
natural beauty spots by rainfall records in the h8.30am-6pm Jul & Aug,
taking this trip in reverse country, it would be 9am-5pm Apr-Jun, Sep & Oct,
from Inverness. 9am-3pm Nov-Mar; p) is
almost idyllic. Even so,
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