Fury over clans massacre mock-up

The massacre was infamous in Highland history

The two clans involved in the infamous Glencoe massacre have attacked a tourist attraction over plans to recreate the battle as entertainment.

Edinburgh Dungeon want to spend more than £250,000 on a mock-up of the event, complete with corpses.

But both the Campbells and the MacDonalds clans say they are furious the massacre, in which about 38 MacDonalds were butchered, has not been taken seriously.

The Glencoe massacre sparked a massive feud between the clans and has become one of the most infamous events in Highlands history.

The Glencoe Massacre happened way back in 1692 and the Campbells and MacDonalds are basically friendly these days

Godfrey MacDonald
chief of Clan Donald

In the feature, to be called Clan Wars, actors playing terrified survivors will take tourists to a mock-up Glencoe, littered with the blood-covered corpses of kilted MacDonalds.

They will then be taken to a croft, where special effects will include smells of burning timber, shaking walls and windows, and a slaughtered Macdonald falling through a trap door.

Both the Campbell¿s and the McDonalds fear the tourist attraction will poke fun at the massacre, which is still a sensitive issue 311 years on.

Edinburgh Dungeon, which was criticised at the end of last year for its Satan's Grotto attraction, says it has written to clan chiefs and will consider any suggestions.

The massacre occurred after MacIan of Glencoe, the chief of a branch of the Clan Donald, failed to sign an oath of loyalty to King William.

'Strong views'

The Duke of Argyll, chief of the Clan Campbell, said that the venue had been unfair to his clan, depicting them as villains when many in their regiment came from all over Scotland.

The Duke said: "I know that the Dungeon is in the business of entertainment but the facts about Glencoe are freely available and I would implore them to present an accurate historical account of what happened."

And Godfrey MacDonald, chief of Clan Donald for more than 30 years, insisted he and the Duke were now close friends.

Lord MacDonald said: "It sounds like a chamber of horrors.

"I have been high chief of the Clan Donald for more than 30 years, and there is nothing I can do about it.

"The Glencoe Massacre happened way back in 1692 and the Campbells and MacDonalds are basically friendly these days.

"I know the Duke of Argyll very well. We are friends, but people these days can manipulate and do anything they want with history.

"Some people have very strong views but the massacre will live on in history."

Mark Oakley, marketing manager for the Edinburgh Dungeon, said: "We want the depiction to be as accurate as possible.

"We have written to the Duke of Argyll and Baron Godfrey MacDonald and we will consider any suggestions they have to make."