Sir Michael Palin, the renowned Monty Python comedian and travel documentarian, has declared that three areas on Scotland's west coast are among the most beautiful places he has ever encountered. Despite visiting over 100 countries across six decades, he holds these Scottish locations in particularly high regard.
Palin's Scottish Favorites
The 83-year-old, who has traveled from the North Pole to the South Pole and from the Sahara to the Himalayas, shared his deep affection for Scotland in a recent interview. He first fell in love with the country during his Monty Python days, spending considerable time filming there with Terry Jones.
Speaking to The Times, Palin said: "For all the extraordinary places I've seen, one of my favorites remains much closer to home. Scotland first revealed itself to me through Monty Python. Terry Jones and I spent a lot of time filming there and I fell completely under its spell. The west coast in particular remains one of the most beautiful places I know."
Glencoe, Rannoch Moor, and the Islands
Palin specifically praised Glencoe, Rannoch Moor, and the Scottish islands. He noted that these areas possess a grandeur rivaling anywhere in the world, yet they feel welcoming rather than intimidating. "You feel welcomed into the landscape rather than overwhelmed by it," he added.
Glencoe, located within Lochaber Geopark in the Highlands, is a village with fewer than 400 permanent residents. It sits on the banks of Loch Leven at the mouth of the famous glen. The area is a prime destination for hill walking, climbing, and water sports like sea kayaking and canoeing. Its dramatic scenery has served as a backdrop for films such as Braveheart, Harry Potter, and the James Bond movie Skyfall.
Rannoch Moor is a vast 50-square-mile expanse of wild, boggy moorland in the Scottish Highlands. Approximately 82% of the landscape is water and bog, making it the largest continuous blanket bog in Britain. The moor is dotted with hundreds of small lochs, notably Loch Laidon and Loch Ba. It provides critical habitat for red deer, golden eagles, and rare insects like the narrow-headed ant.
Other Destinations That Captured His Heart
Palin also reflected on other places that have left a lasting impression on him. He described Venice, Italy, as the first city he ever "truly fell in love with." He visited with his late wife Helen Gibbins shortly after their marriage in 1983, and the city exceeded all expectations, nearly prompting them to buy a house there.
He called Pongo de Mainique, a canyon in the Peruvian Amazon, his "hidden gem." Meanwhile, Georgia and Armenia are two countries he still hopes to visit on his travel bucket list.
