IT is the site of one of Scotland's most infamous and tragic episodes, which saw men and women cut down in their dozens by soldiers they had welcomed into their homes.

Yet all that remains of the lost settlements of Glencoe is windswept moor, heather, and the lingering memory of communities put to the sword and forced to flee in the dead of night, or later cleared from the land by uncaring landlords.

Now plans are underway to bring back the sights, sounds and smells of the vanished inhabitants back once more and show visitors how the people of the glen lived their lives before the government troops arrived.

The Herald:

The forbidding landscape in winter

Glencoe was the scene of one of Scotland’s most infamous murders of the clan era when the state backed the killing of the MacDonalds clan who called the glen their home after their chief tried but failed to meet a deadline to pledge allegiance to King William II.

Soldiers from the Earl of Argyll's regiment, who had been staying in the glen and enjoying the famous Highland hospitality of those who lived there, suddenly turned on their hosts on the morning of February 13, 1692.

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Estimates vary, but it is thought around 38 men, women and children of the MacDonald clan were slaughtered during the orgy of violence, while homes were put to the torch and livestock seized.

Many others were said to have died from exposure as they fled across the mountains, ill-clothed and unprepared.

In the years that followed the area was largely given over to sheep farming, with the remaining inhabitants forced to move.

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has announced a new project in the West Highland glen which will investigate three lost villages and build a replica of a traditional turf house.

The project will involve the local community in Glencoe and focus on three ‘forgotten’ sites: the townships of Inverigan, Achnacon and Achtriochtan.

One of the settlements, now covered by grass, scree and heather, was home to 60 people in 1692.

The Herald:

The hunt for the 'lost villages' is on

Achtriachtan is one six settlements in Glencoe that appear on Roy’s 18th century military maps but which disappear from documents by the 19th Century after the townships were cleared for sheep.

Achnacon was the mustering point where Sergeant Robert Barber gathered his men in the early morning of the massacre and prepared to sweep the valley.

NTS archaeologists will not only uncover those settlements but provide new insight into the time leading up to the Highland clearances.

It could also provide fresh information on the massacre and the fates of its victims.

But first substantial sums need to be raised, and the NTS is issuing a public appeal for backers.

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“Never before has this type of work been carried out at Glencoe,” said Neil Oliver, historian and president of the National Trust for Scotland, “We now need to raise £300,000 to bring this project to life.

“This will support our archaeological work and enable us to recreate two turf houses, using traditional methods and materials wherever possible.

“We need the public’s help to do that and as a charity, we rely on donations to help us share the stories of iconic places like Glencoe."

The Herald:

Mr Oliver added: “With your support we can bring alive the sights, smells and sounds of the 17th century and help us to remember those who lost their lives in the troubled times that shaped Scotland’s history.

"This project will also help us celebrate the resilience of the Highlanders and their way of life, now and for generations to come.”

This latest project follows the £1 million refurbishment of the Glencoe Visitor Centre in May, which tells the story of the history and wildlife of the glen while providing an immersive experience for visitors.

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The new centre also includes a new film screening area, exhibition space, café and information hub with 3D features.

Simon Skinner, chief executive of the NTS added: “It has been an exciting year for Glencoe, one of the most significant and spectacular treasures cared for by the National Trust for Scotland and which is known the world over for its outstanding beauty.

“We’ve invested heavily in telling the area’s incredible story and the new centre has been very well received by visitors.

"The glen attracts thousands of people every year from all over the world and this latest project is an opportunity to share even more of its history.”

The Herald:

The visitor centre has been refurbished

More than 210,000 people visited the Glencoe Visitor Centre in 2018. This latest project is part of the conservation charity’s five-year plan to enrich Scotland’s built and natural heritage.

Fundraising for the project is now underway.
A donation of £25 will allow the National Trust for Scotland to purchase specialist archaeological equipment, allowing community volunteers to unearth the glen’s history.

£50 will help to bring Glencoe’s stories to life and £100 will help source traditional materials to build the turf houses and create a visitor experience.