Kinlochleven, United Kingdom

Glencoe (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Comhann) is a hauntingly scenic valley in the western Scottish Highlands, and also the name of the village at its foot, where the glen meets Loch Leven. This page also includes facilities along that sea loch, which stretches nine miles from Kinlochleven at its head to the east, to Ballachulish where it joins Loch Linnhe to the west. The TIC is along the main road by Loch Leven (open daily 09:00-17:00). The term "Glencoe" also applies some miles east beyond the valley of the River Coe, over the watershed into the upper valleys of the Coupall and Etive - the A82 follows this route.

Glencoe, much of it owned or managed by the National Trust for Scotland, is a U-shaped valley carved out by glaciers. It's ten miles long, less than half a mile wide, but with flanks rising sharply to 3000 feet. If you want to ignore central authority then this looks like a good place to be, and the "Hidden Valley" - a wonderful example of a glacial "hanging valley" - is ideal for concealing stolen cattle. But if suddenly one bleak morning the glen is full of furious, death-dealing soldiers, then it's a difficult place to escape from.