The BEST episodes of Monarch of the Glen
Every episode of Monarch of the Glen ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Monarch of the Glen!
Inspired by the highland novels of Compton Mackenzie, this show follows Archie MacDonald as he finds himself thrown into the role of the new Laird of Glenbogle, his family's financially failing Scottish estate. With the help, and sometimes hinderance, of his family and faithful retainers he works to get the noble estate back on its feet.
#1 - Episode One
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/7/2001
Six months of Justine at Glenbogle has been too much for the other residents, Lexie is threatening to quit her job, Hector and Molly have already moved out and Katrina just won't come near the place. To add to the stress, the bank keeps sending representatives to keep an eye on things. Eventually, Archie and Justine have a big, public break up.
#2 - Episode Six
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/2/2000
As the Laird of Glenbogle Archie takes part in a traditional boat race across the loch. He is up against Laird Kilwillie, a neighbouring land-owner. Archie finds himself having to race to win back a MacDonald heirloom ring which has ended up in Kilwillie's possession.
#3 - Episode Eight
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/16/2000
Inevitably, Justine gives Archie an ultimatum… come back to London, to the restaurant and her or give up both. Archie offers to sell out of the restaurant to help save Glenbogle, but is that what he really wants. Justine arrives at Glenbogle and Archie must decide where his loyalties and his heart lie, London or Glenbogle. Either way, Justine is determined not to lose her man.
#4 - Episode Five
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/26/2000
Archie's wayward sister Lizzie turns up with her New Age boyfriend Gerald and it seems the pair have big plans to turn Glenbogle into a kind of hippy retreat. Archie and Gerald end up at loggerheads, however, when some of their New Age ideals seem to involve Hector rediscovering his lost youth and taking an ill advised swim in the lake.
#5 - Episode 5
Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/16/2005
Iona’s past comes back to haunt her when former fiancé, Dr Malcolm McRae, comes to Glenbogle after a tree blight threatens the estates’ forest. Paul calls upon the expertise of tree specialist Malcolm but his positive first impressions quickly change after he discovers the spirited expert had a whirlwind romance with Iona, jilting her ahead of their wedding. Iona insists she no longer loves Malcolm and Paul decides to test her emotions by inviting them both for dinner to Glenbogle. Jess is overworked and undervalued by Golly who is busy with baby Cameron.To add insult to injury, local ghillie Robbie Rintoul snubs her as an entrant for the Annual Highland Challenge, a gruelling test of strength and endurance for local ghillies. Robbie scorns the idea that Jess could be a worthy contestant against the male ghillies but, not to be outdone, Jess decides to enrol, using Molly as her personal trainer. Amy panics after realising she hasn’t prepared properly for her looming art college interview. Molly enlists the help of local artist Danny as Amy’s tutor, stirring Ewan’s jealousy. As the tree disease looms, Malcolm urges Paul to fell the forest immediately. Knowing it will take years to replace the lost trees, Paul is reluctant. Determined to make good of a bad situation, he must find a local sawmill who can turn the wood into profitable timber. Malcolm confides in Paul that he wants to rekindle his romance with Iona. Paul knows he must now reveal his true feelings for Iona or risk losing her for ever to Malcolm.
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#6 - Episode 6
Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/23/2005
After seven successful series, 64 episodes and hundreds of feelgood TV moments, it’s time to say farewell to the much-loved Highland drama.To mark the occasion, some familiar faces return for this final episode, including a ghostly reappearance from a Monarch favourite. Life at Glenbogle appears to be over for the MacDonald family – the bank has withdrawn its loan and Paul is forced to put the house up for sale.When hostile buyer Peter Finlay makes an offer, Paul has no alternative but to tell the family to start looking for new homes. Paul is also heartbroken about Iona’s impending marriage to Malcolm. But, determined to put on a front, he offers the couple the house for their wedding reception. However, he is put in an awkward position when Malcolm asks him to give the bride away. Meanwhile, lonely and confused about her future, Molly seeks guidance from Hector’s spirit. Molly confesses she has feelings for Golly, but Kilwillie, in many ways the perfect suitor, has also declared his love for her. Elsewhere, Donald stages a rooftop protest over Glenbogle’s buyout but is berated by Paul. Determined not to be a burden any more, Donald takes drastic action and books into a retirement home. But Ewan and Amy hatch an elaborate plan to free the eccentric senior. In a last-ditch attempt to save Glenbogle, Paul urges local crofters to consider a community buy-out but, just as his rescue plan begins to look promising, Finlay scuppers things. It turns out that he has a grudge against the MacDonald family – this is revenge, not business. Emotions are running high – it’s the day of Iona’s wedding and of a special memorial service for Hector. Jess misses Duncan, Molly has man troubles and Paul is faced with watching the woman he loves marry another man. Everyone yearns for a happy ever after...
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#7 - Episode Four
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/19/2000
A visiting genealogist friend of Hectors discovers a diary which records Katrina's mother, a former servant in the house, as having an affair with someone called ‘H'. Molly is understandably upset by the implications until it is discovered that Katrina's father, the mysterious ‘H' is the genealogist himself.
#8 - Episode Eight
Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/16/2003
A furious Lexie discovers that Dorothy has taken over the island in the middle of the Loch for her latest business venture, a t'ai chi retreat. The island is a lucrative source of income for Glenbogle as it has the best fishing on the estate, and Lexie is convinced that Dorothy waited for Archie to leave before trying such a stunt. Together, Lexie and Golly concoct a plan to sabotage Dorothy's retreat and win back the island from under her nose. They successfully scare away Dorothy's visitors but, when the women cast off on the boats, Lexie and Golly find themselves marooned on the island with a disgruntled Dorothy. Meanwhile, Molly is trying hard to put her break-up with Andrew behind her. When a chance encounter with him at the local pub upsets her again, Molly decides to seek refuge at Dorothy's retreat to escape her fussing family. However, she's dismayed to find she's not alone on the island. In a desperate bid for freedom, Dorothy dashes for Molly's boat but, in her haste, only succeeds in scuttling the vessel. With night drawing in and their chances of being rescued diminishing by the hour, the castaways decide to put their heads together to find a way to escape off the island. Back at the house, Paul is having a crisis of his own. He's been roped into doing the housework but is finding his domestic touch somewhat clumsy. He strikes a deal with Jess to help him but becomes uncomfortable after he suspects Jess holds secret feelings for him.
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#9 - Episode 6
Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/24/2004
Isobel is behind on her rent and, though her farm is under threat, she stubbornly refuses Paul's offer of help. But Isobel forgets her woes when an unkempt, bearded stranger turns up at her door. She takes pity on him and asks Paul to take the stranger to Glenbogle. However, their efforts to find out who he is draw a blank - he can't even remember his own name. Paul suspects the man is a freeloader but Molly takes him under her wing, christening him Liam. Elsewhere, Golly has woman troubles. He's finding it difficult to tell Molly about his relationship with Meg, and Jess is unhappy with her father's interference in her work. Meanwhile, Isobel's day is brightened when her old boss from Edinburgh, Kelly, makes a surprise visit and tempts her with a business deal.
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#10 - Episode Six
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/2/2003
Life at Glenbogle takes a dramatic turn as Archie finds himself faced with a life-changing decision and Molly embraces the idea of finding love again. Despite their best efforts, it's clear that Paul and Archie's partnership can't work. When Jess informs the brothers that she can't take Duncan's job they offer it to Duncan agian, but he refuses - as far as he is concerned, it's her job by rights. In an attempt to reslove the crisis of finding Glenbogle a Head Ranger, Paul and Archie decide to give their partnership one last go. Molly is angry that Andrew has shunned her since returning from their weekend away, but he explains that he has used their time apart to come to a decision about their relationship and aks for Molly's hand in marriage. Before she can give Andrew her answer, Molly is distracted by the arrival of her daughter, Lizzie, who returns with her young daughter, Martha, in tow. Over dinner with Jess and Duncan, Golly makes the decision to act on his hidden emotions for Molly or face a lonely life on his own. A mutual misunderstanding causes Paul and Archie to exacerbate the Head Ranger crisis and it becomes clear that there can be only one laird of Glenbogle. During a heart-to-heart with Archie, Lizzie explains how she received a letter from their father, Hector, before he died in which he talked about climbing a mountain in Nepal. Much to Archie's surprise, she suggests that they climb the mountain together. Torn between his love for Glenbogle and his desire to seek new challenges in life, Archie is faced with a difficult decision - one which will have a profound effect on the family.
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#11 - Episode 2
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/8/2002
The day of the opening of the Glenbogle Wildlife Centre arrives, with nothing but trouble. A new employee, Esme, sabotages the signs and an enemy of Molly's decides wether the Centre will open or not. Meanwhile, Golly is fighting for Irene's affections with Duncan.
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#12 - Episode 10
Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/3/2002
Molly now knows the truth about Paul and decides to leave with Andrew Booth. Archie does not want Paul around anymore and Lexie must try to smooth things out. Molly asks Golly why he never told her the truth about Hector and Paul's mother and Archie is feeling guilt over his older brothers, (Jamie) death. His feelings of guilt go away a little bit as he saves Paul from drowning in the current. Molly looks within herself and decides to stay and Archie and Lexie finally get their honeymoon, thanks to Kilwillie!
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#13 - Episode 1
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/2004
It's a new era for Glenbogle as Paul sets about makin his mark by attempting to modernise the estate. However, while his intentions are honourable, his dismissive attitude towards the estate's long-held traditions causes him to clash with Golly. Their relationship is further soured when Paul spoils the ancient ceremony of blessing the loch by forgetting the words. When Lexie makes an unexpected return from New Zealand, Paul suspects that all is not well with her new life. Edinburgh career girl Isobel Anderson arrives in the village to look after her late grandmother's croft and instantly clashes with the new laird. Isobel takes issue with Paul's decision to sign over the farm's tenancy to farmer Reavey whom, she believes, is wrecking her gran's land. Meanwhile, Molly is horrified to discover that someone has been stealing wild orchids from the estate and, along with Jess, decides to set a trap for the floral thief. As they lie in wait, Duncan arrives to ask Jess if she'll go to New Zealand with him, but he fails to find the right words. Up in the mountains, a freak storm forces Paul and Lexie to take shelter in an abandoned bothy where they are drawn closer together.
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#14 - Episode 8
Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/7/2004
Rivalry rears its head when sparring partners Chester and Paul prepare for a clay pigeon shooting competition. Donald practices for the event using an old dinner service. This annoys Paul - as far as he is concerned, Donald is an unnecessary drain on Glenbogle's finances. Feeling unwanted, Donald's spirits are raised after he bumps into an old flame, Moria McIver. However, Moria isn't quite so happy about the reunion - it transpires that Donald broke her heart after failing to elope with her, years before. Donald's attempts to woo Moria again are hampered by his curfew order, so he hatches a plan to elope with her, this time for real. As Paul and Lucy grow closer, Chester attempts to woo Isobel with the promise of making her chutney business a success. Meanwhile, Meg is unhappy about the poor attendace at her dance classes and having to rely on Golly so much. Paul and Lucy's romantic dinner is interrupted after they bump into Chester and Isobel. Once again, the men lock horns until Chester throws down a challenge - whoever wins the clay pigeon shooting event wins a share of Isobel's business.
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#15 - Episode Nine
Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/23/2003
Lexie throws herself into organising a clan gathering at Glenbogle, pulling out all the stops for her Highland visitors. Such is her enthusiasm, she hires a documentary crew to cover the event so that the visiting clan members can take away a commemorative video of their special day. However, filmakers Mike Baxter and Brian Tapley seem more interested in squabbling with each other than filming the gathering at Glenbogle. the arrival of staunch traditionalist Charles MacDonald only succeeds in further exacerbating Lexie's hard work and effort. Charles criticises Lexie's preparations at every turn, and is offended by the presence of a bottle of Lagganmore whisky at the celebrations - the distillery is owned by the clan MacLeish who have been feuding with the MacDonalds for almost 400 years. To make matters worse, Paul has been fulfilling his duties on the board of the Lagganmore distillery - though it's more as a way of spending time with Amanda than though a sense of duty. When Amanda asks Paul if she can hold a scattering ceremony for her father's ashes on Glenbogle land he agrees in a bid to keep her happy. However, in light of the MacDonald and MacLeish family feud, Lexie has serious reservations about being party to this secret ceremony. Molly, too, has a secret. She's forgotten to send for the family quaich which is still in London being repaired. Knowing that it is central to the clan ceremony, Molly feels terrible about letting Lexie down - but just as she thinks all is lost, Golly comes to her rescue. Meanwhile, Duncan and Jess skirt round the subject of their friendly kiss, with neither of them wanting to admit their true feelings for one another.
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#16 - Episode 9
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/27/2002
A stranger, Paul, turns up looking for Golly, believing Golly is his father. He is not Golly's son but is someone from Glenbogle's son. Archie and Duncan hunt for Big Eric because he is badly injured. Lexie is in charge of arranging the Ghillies's Ball, but things start to get on top of her, like people trying to help. Archie, reluctantly, lets Paul spend the night, and watches the ball from the side.
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#17 - Episode Seven
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/9/2003
In Archie's absence, Lexie is determined to run the estate the way her husband would have wished, as the Highland drama continues. But a power struggle develops as Lexie takes on more of the estate's responsibilities, leaving Paul feeling increasingly side-lined. To make matters worse, Lexie is also called upon to take Archie's seat on the board of the local distillery "The Lagganmore Distillery" is in crisis; the young heiress Amanda MacLeish, wants to make savings, much to the chagrin of the head distiller, Gregor. Since she will have the casting vote, Lexie asks for more time to mull over the business dilemma. Meanwhile, the romance between Molly and Andrew blossoms and they start making plans to partition off part of Glenbogle House, so that they can live together as a married couple. But Lexie is increasingly uncomfortable with Andrew's cavalier approach to her home - though her discomfort is nothing comparted with Golly's upset at the new man in Molly's life. Paul is angry that Lexie didn't consult him about the distillery business. Behind her back, he meets Amanda, who convinces him that her plans are right, and he signs the casting vote in favour of her scheme. When Lexie finds out, she is furious - and Paul's plan backfires when the distillery workers go on strike.
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#18 - Episode One
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/28/2003
With the estate on an even keel financially Archie is bored and looking for new challenges. When Kilwille mentions he is opening a restaurant in New York Archie jumps at the hance to manage it. His dream fails to impress Lexie who wants to stay at Glenbogle. Kilwillie's sister Dorothy comes to stay and puts everyone's back up with her superior airs. Her plan to evict the postmistress and rent out her cottage as a holiday home is foiled by Lexie's determination. Kilwillie leaves and Dorothy stays on. Duncan gets a boost to his self-esteem when he learns he is descended from a war hero. Unfortunately the inheritance include an unexploded WWII bomb. Some how he and Archie find themselves locked in the cellar with it when it starts ticking...
#19 - Episode 7
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/13/2002
Greg MacDonald and his wife challenge Archie for the role of Laird of Glenbogle. Also the debt from Hector's death duties must now be paid, £250,000. In order to save Glenbogle Molly agrees to marry Kilwillie, but then has a change of heart. They duel and Archie wins. Meanwhile, Irene tells Duncan she is pregnant and he cannot be the father.
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#20 - Episode 8
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/20/2002
Archie decides he has no work to do and so starts to decorate a room for the nursery. Lexie and Auntie Liz are trying to find the ghost of a late MacDonald. Andrew a sculptor arrives in Glenbogle as a new neighbour, and does not get off to a good start with Molly. The ghost is found out to be a private detective trying to find Irene sent by her jilted boyfriend. She leaves and Duncan is heartbroken
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#21 - Episode 2
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/26/2004
After a 40-year absence, Donald MacDonald returns to Glenbogle, but his homecoming receives a mixed reaction. The black sheep of the MacDonald family, former racing driver Donald has been forced home by the police who, tried of his persistent law breaking, have placed him under the supervision of his estranged family. In a bid to forget her marital problems, Lexie enthusiastically throws herself into organising Molly's 60th birthday party, but Molly isn't so keen to celebrate and asks Lexie to call it off. Eager to stay occupied, Lexie turns her attentions to estate affairs and voices her concerns about Paul and Golly's plan to send one of the wolves to a reserve in France. Paul also alienates Isobel by cancelling her contract to supply the house with fresh bread and vegetables. Without the business, Isobel faces financial ruin. Later, Jess tells Isobel her concerns that she and Duncan are turning into a boring couple who want to spend more time apart. Duncan goes into the village to catch up with some old friends but discovers they've all moved and found success away from Glenbogle. Meanwhile, Donald refuses to give up, despite numerous thwarted attempts to escape, and comes up with the perfect escape route - Molly's party. He persuades Lexie to go ahead with the birthday bash knowing it'll be the perfect cover for him to slip away unnoticed.
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#22 - Episode 1
Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/18/2005
Paul can't pay for the repairs to his tenants' crofts and clashes with beautiful Iona, their new chairperson. Golly has to decide whether he is able to look after his baby boy on his own. Donald and Molly urgently need to repay a gambling debt, while Ewan tries to take demanding girlfriend Zoe on holiday
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#23 - Episode Three
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/21/2001
While Hector has to go to an old flame for help with a rejected grant application, Golly and Fergal are locking horns in a power struggle over the estate. Poor Duncan finds himself stuck in the middle again as the two mean battle for his loyalty.
#24 - Episode Four
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/28/2001
Hector decides to marry Archie off and invites a host of possible brides to the estate. Meanwhile Molly is organising Archie's surprise 30th birthday party. Archie has his own problems what with a cantankerous former tenant causing trouble and the revelation that Katrina and Fergal are more than just good friends.
#25 - Episode 1
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/1/2002
Archie introduces a pack of wolves into Glenbogle even though Golly has warned him against it. The new cook/housekeeper arrives causing a rift between Archie and Lexie. Duncan has his work cut out when he must take a test to show he can look after the wolves when the Wildlife Centre opens. Archie swaps Lexie's ring pull engagement ring for a real diamond ring.
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