Glen Coe is one of the most iconic and beautiful spots in the Scottish Highlands. Additionally, it's been featured prominently as a backdrop in the Harry Potter movies, including Quidditch scenes, Hagrid's Hut, the Forbidden Forest, and many more. Hogwarts is located in Scotland, so I don't think it's terribly far away...
It's one of those places where photos do it very little justice. The mountains, of volcanic origins, are astounding to look at, the perspective of how big they are is really mind-numbing. Even the air feels different as you breathe it in - one of the girls I befriended on the tour remarked how "fresh" it felt, and I agree. It was so pure and quiet and incredible all at the same time.
While Glen Coe is beautiful and peaceful nowadays, it hasn't always been that way. Imbedded in its history is a terrible massacre of the clan MacDonald by the clan Campbell on orders of the King, burning homes and murdering dozens of men, women, and children during a blizzard at 5am. Apparently this massacre was George R. R. Martin's inspiration for the infamous "Red Wedding" scene from Game of Thrones. To this day, there remains a grudge against anyone with the last name of Campbell - even the local inn has a sign on their door banning anyone with the name to stay.
Can't you just picture broomsticks or a dragon popping around the corner?!
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