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When we left Oban we drove along an incredible road that crossed wonderful bridges, that led us near lakes, mountains and fjords. Here it started the Scotland of the postcards that you have in mind before coming here. Not only you enjoy the spots that you visit, but also are the journeys and roads a marvel. In addition the roads have numerous viewpoints to park your car and admire the landscape. |
Along these mountainous spots at northern Scotland, called the Highlands, some civilizations lived, and they contributed to the configuration of the Scottish nature. The first Indo-Europeans that reached the island (United Kingdom) were the Picts. Afterwards other Celtic tribes came between the 6th and 3rd century B.C., pushing the Picts to the north of the island (Scotland). The recently inhabitants of the island were the Britons, and they called Welsh to the western mates. Julius Caesar tried to conquer the island in 55 and 54 B.C., but he forgot about this idea when he saw the poor lands. A century later Claudius returned to invade it, except for the north, where the Picts lived. After the numerous sackings carried out by the Picts, the Roman emperor Hadrian visited the island in 122, and ordered the construction of the Hadrian's Wall , that covered the distance between the east and the west coasts along 116 km. The wall still remains and can be visited. In the 407 A.C. the Romans left the island since they weren't able to contain the revolts.
Through six centuries many peoples fought for the control of Scotland , the Picts, the Britons, Scots (from Ireland ), until in the 9th century Kenneth MacAlpine, a Scot (Scot-land) managed to join all the kingdoms. The new reign was mainly Celtic.
The national symbol is the cardoon, and it comes from this period. Since the 8th century devastating Viking incursions were very common. According to the legend the Norwegian Vikings attacked a Scottish camp at night, but when they crossed a cardoon's land they began to shout due to the pain. The Scottish waked up and killed the Vikings. Apart from these legends, the Vikings succeeded in the colonization of Scotland and they were perfectly integrated.
The clans and the highlanders were key in most of the happenings of the country and they were essential for the history of Scotland.
Here it happened a sad drama. The inhabitants of the Scottish Highlands were very loyal to the Stuart family and they didn't recognize the king. One of the heads of the McDonalds swore faithfulness with a week delay. As reprisal all the clan was killed in Glencoe in 1692 while they slept. |
The arrival in Glencoe is impressive. It is a village located in an empty valley  surrounded by mountains, a strange and attractive landscape, almost from another world.
We walked around Glencoe enjoying the scenery with an ice cream. There is a popular museum in a rural house that we ignored. The village has little of interest. |
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