The planned recreating of the infamous Massacre of Glencoe as a tourist attraction has been condemned by the chiefs and descendants of two famous clans.

At least 38 Macdonalds were butchered by members of Clan Campbell on Feb 6, 1692. Both clans criticised the Edinburgh Dungeon attraction after it announced its plan to depict the event as "tongue-in-cheek fun".

The Dungeon is to spend more than £250,000 recreating the massacre, which happened after MacIan of Glencoe, the chief of a branch of Clan Donald, failed to swear an oath of loyalty to King William.

Under orders from the King, Campbells under the Earl of Argyll lived for two weeks with the Macdonalds before taking their hosts by surprise, slaughtering everyone under 70.

The massacre sparked a massive feud and has become one of the most infamous events in Highland history. In the feature, to be called Clan Wars, actors playing terrified survivors will take tourists to a mock-up Glencoe covered with the blood-covered corpses of kilted Macdonalds.

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

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

"I know the dungeon is in the business of entertainment but I would implore them to present an accurate historical account," he said.

Godfrey Macdonald, High Chief of Clan Donald, said: "It sounds like a chamber of horrors. People can manipulate and do anything they want with history."

Marie Campbell, 60, whose family are the only Campbells in Ballachulish, near the village of Glencoe, begged the dungeon attraction not to poke fun at the atrocity. "Even 311 years on, the massacre is still talked about in Glencoe."

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 Godfrey Macdonald and will consider any suggestions they have to make."