Tour
The Rugged Western Highlands of Scotland
In
this particularly rugged area of the western Highlands,
red-sands tone peaks rise above a landscape of moors and
hundreds of lochs. Several nature reserves protect the area's
wildlife and terrain. Traditional ways of life are retained
in the crofting and fishing villages that lie along the
shores of the sea lochs. Warm currents of the North Atlantic
Drift allow exotic plants to flourish.
Achiltibue
Boat
trips around Summer Isles available from here. Hydroponicum,
experimental garden without soil, open to visitors. Smokehouse
by the sea has a viewing gallery for watching fish curing.
Applecross
St
Maelrubha built a monastery on this bay in AD 672, declaring
it a sanctuary for all fugitives. Until new road was built
in 1970s, one of the most inaccessible areas of mainland
Britain.
Ardvreck
Castle
Three-storey
tower ruin on shore of Loch Assynt, built 1597 for MacLeods
of Assynt. Marquis of Montrose fled here but was betrayed
by Neil MacLeod and taken to Edinburgh for execution.
Bealach
na Ba
This
'Pass of the Cattle', an old drovers' road, was only road
to Applecross until 1970s. It leads from Loch Kishorn through
ascending hairpin bends and skirts steep precipices on its
way.
Beinn
Eighe National Nature Reserve
Britain's
first national nature reserve (1951). It covers some 10,000
acres of mountain, moor-land and forest, including the 3188f1
Beinn Eighe. On one side, jagged peaks rise from the surrounding
terrain; on the other, gentler slopes with woodland lead
down to Loch Maree. Aultroy Cottage Visitor Centre located
on A832 north of Kinlochewe.
Corrieshalloch
Gorge
Suspension
bridge spans gorge 200ft above river. River runs a mile
down rocky chasm to plunge over 150ft Falls of Measach.
Diabaig
Cottages
of Lower Diabaig group around Loch Diabaig, rocky cliffs
rise straight up from shore. Exhilarating road along northern
side of Upper Loch Torridon.
Dundonnell
Village
at south-east end of Little Loch Broom is the ideal starting
point for exploring remote mountain scenery here. Streams
tumble into head of loch from heights of An Teallach, 3,484ft.
Nearby is Loch Toll an Lochain, 2,000ft above sea level.
Dun
Lagaid
Iron
Age fortress on isolated ridge along Loch Broom. Rocks vitrified
when its timber walls burnt down.
Eas
a Chual Aluinn Falls
Glas
Bheinn peak is source for 658ft falls, longest fall in Britain.
Easily seen by regular boat trips on Loch Glencoul.
Enard
Bay
Sandy
beaches backed by empty moorland and distant mountains.
Narrow switchback road that skirts bay gives views.
Gairloch
Village
at head of Loch Gairloch has quarter mile of safe, sandy
beach where windsurfing and sailing are popular. Sea-angling
boats for hire.
Gruinard
Bay
Road
along bay's western shore passes ruined chapel built where
St Columba supposedly founded a church. Bay best viewed
from atop Gruinard Hill.
Inchnadamph
Village
at head of Loch Assynt, near 3273ft Ben More Assynt. Nature
reserve has wildcats, red deer and limestone caves, where
prehistoric animal bones have been found. Salmon and trout
fishing in loch
Inverewe
Gardens
Northern
headland garden started by Osgood Mackenzie in 1862. North
Atlantic Drift allows exotic shrubs, trees and bamboos to
flourish.
Inverpolly
National Nature Reserve
Over
26,000 acres of bog, moorland and woodland with sandstone
peaks of Cul Mor, Cul Beag and Stac Pollaidh. Loch Sionascaig
has good fishing. Information centre and carpark in Knockan.
Kinlochewe
Town
at Loch Maree is popular centre for walkers, climbers and
anglers. Area dominated by Slioch, 'the spear', 3217f1.
Loch
Carron
Sea
loch dotted with islands. Strome Castle, overlooking loch,
blown up during 1603 clan feud. Nearby town of Lochcarron
known for its ties and tartans.
Loch
Ewe
Broad
sea loch where ships assembled fur North Atlantic convoys
during World War II. A number of pillboxes and gun emplacements
still survive. Loch fishing, sea-angling boats for hire.
Lochinver
Whitewashed
fishing village at head of Loch Inver. Suilven, 2399ft high,
stands in Glencanisp Forest 4 miles south-east.
Loch
Maree
Loch
with many islands set amid mountainous terrain. Isle Maree
was thought to be home to Celtic god Mourie. Later, St Maelrubha
established hermitage there, eventually replaced by chapel.
Slioch peak at south-eastern end.
Oykel
Bridge
River
Oykel flows down slopes of Ben More Assynt and through ice-gouged
valley to Oykel Bridge. Single hotel stands by road nearby.
Bridge just east of waterfall.
Poolewe
Village
lies between Loch Ewe and Loch Maree. River Ewe, joining
lochs, flows through village. Boats for hire, walks along
Loch Maree's wooded banks, loch and river fishing.
Rubha
Reidh
Peninsula
ending in headland of Rubha Reidh extends north from Gairloch
into the Minch. Ocean views from lighthouse at tip of promontory.
Road over moors to Melvaig passes ruined cottages.
Shieldaig
Village
founded by Admiralty in 1800 when Britain was short of seamen.
Intended as 'nursery' for Royal Navy, grants were offered
to entice people to live there. Roads from village provide
views of Highlands.
Stoer
Crofting,
fishing villages line each side of peninsula. Safe white
sands at Achmelvich Bay and Bay of Clachioll. Road along
peninsula ends at lighthouse on sandstone cliff. Walk to
Point of Stoer along cliffs with nesting birds.
Strathcarron
A890
leads along Loch Carron, up steep grades and down into South
Strome Forest. Viewpoint over loch and Stromeferry near
forest. Forest walk from Stromeferry to lochside viewpoints.
Suilven
Seen
from east or west, 2399ft Suilven appears cone-shaped; from
elsewhere it reveals three separate peaks. Unstable cliff
faces make it a dangerous climb.
Summer
Isles
Islands
were once lived on by fishermen, but herring shoals diminished,
leaving just one isle currently inhabited. They can be visited
by boat from Ullapool or from Achiltibuie.
Torridon
Torridon,
owned by National Trust for Scotland, has visitor centre
giving introduction to walks through area of red-sandstone
peaks. Wildlife from red deer to pygmy shrew.
Ullapool
Planned
town developed by British Fisheries Society for local herring
industry, founded 1788. Lochbroom Highland Museum houses
some local artefacts in one of the original town buildings.
Boat trips to Summer Isles, sea and river angling available.
Upper
Loch Torridon
Small
crofting hamlets dot sea loch's shore. Waters from Loch
Damh to south drop down to Upper Loch Torridon through Falls
of Balgy.
Victoria
Falls
Waterfall
near Slattadale on Loch Maree. Named after visit to loch
by Queen Victoria in 1877.
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