Glen Orchy

Glen Orchy is a long, narrow valley in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It stretches for about 17 kilometres from Bridge of Orchy to Dalmally, following the River Orchy through the Caledonian Forest. The glen has no villages, only a few scattered buildings. Two waterfalls, Eas Urchaidh and Eas a’ Chathaidh, lie within its bounds. The B8074 road runs the full length of the glen, linking Bridge of Orchy with Dalmally. Beyond Dalmally, the valley continues west as the Strath of Orchy towards Loch Awe. The glen was once the heartland of Clan Gregor until the clan was outlawed in 1603 by King James VI. A New Zealand settlement was later named Glenorchy in its honour. The poet Duncan Ban MacIntyre lived here and wrote about the landscape. In 1995, the film Rob Roy showed the bridge at Glen Orchy as the spot where Rob Roy MacGregor was to be hanged. A local shinty team, Glenorchy Camanachd, plays in Dalmally. Visitors find a quiet, wooded valley with few signs of modern life. The River Orchy winds through ancient pine and oak woods, and the two waterfalls add rushing sound and spray. The road offers easy walking or cycling along the glen floor, with views of the surrounding hills. At the eastern end, Bridge of Orchy marks the start of the route, while Dalmally at the western end has the shinty club and a few houses. The whole valley feels remote yet accessible, a place where the past lingers in the names and stories.