Approximately 15 miles South of Fort William, Glencoe is well known for its ski slopes and stunning mountain and moorland scenery. However there is far more in the way of history surrounding this small village than mere snow and views. In 1691 King Willam III ordered clan chiefs to sign an allegience to him by the 1st January 1662. Maclan of Glencoe (a kinsman of the Clan MacDonald) was called away to Inveraray and was delayed in signing the oath, he did not sign it until the 6th of January. On his return home he found over 40 of his villagers and women dead and the village in ruins. Ordered by King William a group of 128 soldiers under the Campbells of Glen Lyon, all of whom had lived in friendly terms with the inhabitants for 12 days, had attacked the village and put the villagers to the sword. The double treachery of abusing Highland hospitality and the fact that most of the inhabitants had already signed the oath has led to centuries of animosity between the Campbell ... < more >