Glasgow to Loch Linnhe
The next day, after a satisfying Scottish breakfast, Alex herded us aboard the luxury coach. Our destination for today - The Onich Hotel on the banks of lovely Loch Linnhe. Soon we were cruising up the Great Western Road with our first stop on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
From Loch Lomond, we proceeded on through The Trossachs and Rannoch Moor with a stop at the Glencoe overlook.
It was at Glencoe on 13 Feb 1692 that 30 members of Clan MacDonald were massacred by 120 men from the Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot under the command of Robert Campbell of Glenlyon. Argyll was the historic home of the Campbells having been awarded to Dougall Campbell by Robert the Bruce for his support in the revolution. In a turn of history, the Campbells later became known for their support for the English Crown and, subsequently, for the Rape of Glencoe.
Before heading to the Onich, we made a side trip to Glenfinnan on the shore of Loch Shiel. Here in August of 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie paused to gather his loyal Jacobites before assaulting England in the name of his father, James Stuart. Surrounded by MacDonalds, Camerons, MacFies and Macdonnells, along with MacMaster of Glenaladale who raised his Royal Standard, he set forth to place "the Old Pretender" back on the throne. Thus began the last attempt for the Jameses to regain their dynasty. Eight months later, he would return to the area fleeing the troops of the bloody Duke of Cumberland, never again to set foot on Scottish soil.
Ft William, our last stop for the day, is the location of the staircase lock system known as Neptune's Staircase. It is comprised of eight locks, constructed between 1803 and 1822, with a total lift of 64 feet. It joins Loch Linnhe to the Caledonian Canal which runs from Loch Linnhe to the Beauly Firth at Inverness. It stretches northeast along the Great Glenn connecting the Lochs of Linnhe, Lochy, Oich, Ness and Dochfour.
The next day, after a satisfying Scottish breakfast, Alex herded us aboard the luxury coach. Our destination for today - The Onich Hotel on the banks of lovely Loch Linnhe. Soon we were cruising up the Great Western Road with our first stop on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
From Loch Lomond, we proceeded on through The Trossachs and Rannoch Moor with a stop at the Glencoe overlook.
It was at Glencoe on 13 Feb 1692 that 30 members of Clan MacDonald were massacred by 120 men from the Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot under the command of Robert Campbell of Glenlyon. Argyll was the historic home of the Campbells having been awarded to Dougall Campbell by Robert the Bruce for his support in the revolution. In a turn of history, the Campbells later became known for their support for the English Crown and, subsequently, for the Rape of Glencoe.
Before heading to the Onich, we made a side trip to Glenfinnan on the shore of Loch Shiel. Here in August of 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie paused to gather his loyal Jacobites before assaulting England in the name of his father, James Stuart. Surrounded by MacDonalds, Camerons, MacFies and Macdonnells, along with MacMaster of Glenaladale who raised his Royal Standard, he set forth to place "the Old Pretender" back on the throne. Thus began the last attempt for the Jameses to regain their dynasty. Eight months later, he would return to the area fleeing the troops of the bloody Duke of Cumberland, never again to set foot on Scottish soil.
Ft William, our last stop for the day, is the location of the staircase lock system known as Neptune's Staircase. It is comprised of eight locks, constructed between 1803 and 1822, with a total lift of 64 feet. It joins Loch Linnhe to the Caledonian Canal which runs from Loch Linnhe to the Beauly Firth at Inverness. It stretches northeast along the Great Glenn connecting the Lochs of Linnhe, Lochy, Oich, Ness and Dochfour.
Loch Linnhe to Inverness