| Glen Croe | |
| Type: | Glen |
| Map: | Scotland |
| Map Relief: | yes |
| Location: | Cowal, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. |
| Grid Ref Uk: | NN2304007297 |
| Formed By: | glacial erosion |
Glen Croe (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Gleann a' Chrò) is a glen in the heart of the Arrochar Alps on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland. The glen is surrounded by large and rugged mountains characterised by huge boulders. The Croe Water flows through the glen and into Loch Long.[1]
Glen Croe is located to the north west of Loch Lomond and Loch Long, draining into the latter. At the head of the glen is the pass leading to Glen Kinglas. The A83 road runs the length of the glen, passing the viewpoint at Rest & Be Thankful. Glen Croe is situated entirely within the Argyll Forest Park in Cowal.[2] [3] The glen is also within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
The mountains on either side are:
The glen was formed by glacial erosion and has repercussions today, as many areas are still unstable.[4]
The A83 is prone to landslides, including the section within Glen Croe. The A83 is a main road to the west coast of Scotland. On 8 October 2023, ten people were airlifted off the road by helicopter, as they were trapped by seven separate landslides along a short section of the road.[5] [6]
When the A83 is closed, traffic is diverted onto the single track military road that runs in the bottom of the glen, till the steep incline at the head of the glen called Rest & be Thankful.[7]
The old road through the glen seen in the photograph (very top of article) is part of the military road that ran from Dumbarton to Inveraray. The old road was built in the 1740s under the supervision of Major William Caulfeild. A stone inscribed Rest & Be Thankful was erected around 1749, after this section of road was completed. The rest and be thankful refers to a steep incline on the old military road, that precedes, entering the pass through too Glen Kinglas.[8]
See also: Rest and Be Thankful Speed Hill Climb.
From 1906 until 1970, motor racing events, including hill climbs and rally stages took place here.[9]
Gilleasbaig Mac an t-Saoir composed a song called 'Oran Ghlinne Chro', detailing the sadness he felt when the gamekeeper moved his flock out of the glen to make room for deer and sport hunting. Written in 1914.[10]