Glencoe House (Argyll)

“Luxury in the heart of Scotland’s Highlands…This historic mansion offers both tranquillity and out- door [sic] adventure.” That sounds wonderful, and indeed Glencoe is a fantastic place for getting out and seeing wildlife. The Hotel even points out that “In the immediate vicinity, there are endless opportunities to walk, climb and mountain bike or stroll along a beach. Wildlife tours are also available on our doorstep whether by Landrover or by boat together with adventure sports for those who like to get their adrenaline pumping.” But, this is Scotland, a country whose ‘hospitality sector’ really seems to have sold its soul to the shooting industry…look a little deeper and we find ‘Country Pursuits and Hunting‘. Now we get to the heart of the matter: “Glencoe House, built by Lord Strathcona in 1896, works in close partnership with West Highland Hunting to provide inspiring and unique hunting experiences…a hunting trip with West Highland Hunting will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable of your life…as well as deer, West Highland Hunting can organise winged game including grouse, ptarmigan, wildfowl and woodcock and top drawer fishing for salmon, sea and brown trout.” At least some of the fish probably get put back in the water and live another day, the deer and the birds (including the Red listed Woodcock, a species of great conservation concern in the UK) offered by Glencoe to its customers as a ‘country pursuit’ won’t be so ‘lucky’…