Achiltibuie: There are two main routes:
Take small road off A835 about 10 miles north of Ullapool, its about
another 17 miles.
You could also reach this road from Lochinver by taking the
Inverkirkaig/Achiltibuie road from the other end of Lochinver (past
the Bank).
(A path from the River Kirkaig leads to the
Falls
of Kirkaig.) Achiltibuie is unforgettable for coastal walks and
seascapes and wonderful vies of the Summer Isles.
See our web page on
Achiltibuie
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| Achmelvich.
The road to Achmelvich is just off the Clashnessie road. You will
have passed the sign for this about five miles back
from Ocean Surf. Wonderful white sandy beach.
There is also a beach at Stoer, you will have passed by this on the
way to Ocean Surf. Much of the coast
of western Assynt is made up of grey gneiss - Achmelvich is a good
place to get a look at this.
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Achiltibuie Hydroponicum. Unusual
indoor garden growing bananas and other tropical plants.
A835 - 23
miles north west of Ullapool
Open Easter - Sept daily - Oct Mon/Fri till 3.30
Tel: 01854 622202
Achiltibuie area
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Ardvreck Castle. A894/837.
Built by the MacLeods in 1597. Now in ruins but still a pretty sight
on the shore of Loch Assynt. You will probably see this on the way
up.
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Assynt Visitor Centre. Displays
on the history and nature of the area. Excellent.
In the main street of Lochinver on A837
Open Easter - Oct
Tel: 01571 844330 or
01571 844654
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Balnakeil Beach.
West of Durness. Big surf!
Ranger led walks to Faraid Head where you might see some puffins.
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Cape Wrath. The most
north-westerly point on the British mainland. It is accessible via
a ferry across the Kyle of Durness at Keodale
which connects with a mini bus in the summer months. You could of
course walk. 'The
area is outstanding for birdlife during all seasons of the year. The
area is particularity important for large populations of migratory species
that visit either during the breeding season or to over winter....A variety of
Arctic and Alpine plants may also be found here growing at sea level. This
combination is unique to this area and for this reason, much of the Cape
Wrath area is designated as a SSSI (Special Site of Scientific Interest.)...'
Web
Walking
Cape Wrath
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Clachtoll
& Stoer. This is right on your doorstep. Lovely beaches. Also remains of a broch
near Stoer Bay. Further on you will also find The Old Man of Stoer -
about an hour's walk from the car park near Rhu Stoer lighthouse.
This is a spectacular sea stack. The cliffs are teaming with sea
birds but be careful, the cliffs are largely sandstone and this
makes it dangerous.
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Corrieshalloch Gorge
National Nature Reserve. You could see it on the way up.
'This spectacular mile-long gorge, 61 m (200 ft) deep, is one of
the finest examples in Britain of a box canyon. The river which
carved this channel through hard metamorphic rock plunges 46 m (150
ft) over the Falls of Measach. The suspension bridge a little way
downstream from the falls was built by John Fowler (1817-98), joint
designer of the Forth Railway Bridge. Further downstream, a viewing
platform provides an excellent vantage point looking up towards the
falls..'.
NTS
Braemor.
The viewing area is just off A835 12 miles s.east of Ullapool
Open access
Tel: 01445 781200
Web
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Cruises:
1. Click for a list of
cruises in the area.
2. The Statesman Cruise,
based in Kylesku, is a 2 hour
trip and travels around an inland sea-loch called
Glencoul to see Eas a'Chual
Aluinn - 650ft waterfall!
To check availability call
or visit the Kylesku Booking Office
(01971) 502345 which is situated at the top of the Old Ferry Pier in
Kylesku. E-mail:
statesmancruises@talk21.com
3. Cruise on
Loch Laxford to visit seal colonies and view
seabirds. Cruises are available from mid-May to September. Boats
depart from Fanagmore. Tel:
01971 502251. E-mail:
pearcejjpearce@aol.com
4. See Handa Island below.
5. Lochinver cruises form the harbour. See
this link for various details
6. Summer Isles. Achiltibuie Post Office. No Sunday sail. The
Summer Isles Cruises run twice daily ( except Sundays ) May to
September from Badentarbet pier, Achiltibuie. The morning cruise
leaves at 10:30am and returns at 2:00pm the afternoon cruise leaves
at 2:15pm and returns at 5:45pm. See many species
of seabirds, visit the seal colony. Both cruises land
on one of the Summer Isles for one hour.
Tel: 01854 622200
7. Ullapool. 'Sailing
from Ullapool, on the West Coast of The Highlands, The
Summer Queen
offers visitors the opportunity to visit the famous Summer Isles.
2 and 4 hour cruises take in the beauty of Loch Broom and the
Western Isles, encountering local seabirds, seals and even a unique
chance to see Dolphins swim in our wake...'
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| Culag Community
Woods. Lochinver. Just a short walk from the harbour at the end of
the village are the Culag Woods. Paths well worth exploring. You
could spend a few hours wandering these paths. Take a picnic and sit
by the sea surrounded by woodland. These woodland walks are done
with voluntary work. I think they have done an amazing job.
For an even easier walk on the
Ullapool road a few miles out of town there is Little Assynt paths -
these are excellent for all abilities. Again, well done volunteers.
For those disabled visitors who like to ramble
check this site.
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Durness Golf
Club: Golf facilities all year round from dawn to dusk to all
members and also to all visitors. Changing facilities and snacks
available.
Tel: 01971 511364
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| Durness
& Smoo Cave.
 Yet another
lovely beach in a scattered crofting community. The Durness Tourist
Information centre has displays and a Countryside Ranger Service.
 Smoo Cave fairly easily accessible from the beach
or down a track near the road. A wooden walkway gives
visitors access to the waterfall in the inner chamber.
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Diving:
The clear sea lochs at Kylesku are a popular venue for Diving
Clubs.
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Falls of Shin. Woodland walks,
play park and viewing platforms to see salmon leap up the
waterfalls.
The Falls of Shin are a natural feature of
the River Shin, next to the visitor centre. Visitors each year can
watch Atlantic Salmon battle to return to their place of birth to
spawn the next salmon generation
On A837 between Lairg and Bonar Bridge
Open all year
Tel: 01549 402231
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Fly Fishing.
Try the
Assynt
Angling club for some of the best wild brown trout.
Salmon fishing permits may be available
for Loch Assynt, or one of the nearby rivers -
Inver, Kirkaig, Oykel.
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Gairloch Golf
Course: Open all year. Challenging scenic 9-hole course on the shore
of Loch Gairloch. Clubhouse with full facilities. Gairloch is a bit
of a distance but is a rather nice little town with nice beaches.
Tel: 01445 712407
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Handa Island Wildlife Reserve.
One of
the most important seabird breeding colonies in the UK - razorbills,
puffins, arctic skuas.
Access to the reserve is by boat from Tarbet.
'Small
ferry boat operates from Tarbet. The service operates April - early
September, Monday - Saturday from 9:30am.
Crossings are on demand and weather dependent. Last outbound journey
approx. 2:00pm. - return journey at 4:30pm. Tarbet is sign-posted
from the A894, 2 miles North of Scourie. Parking and public toilets
available in Tarbet ( no toilets on Handa)...'
SWT
Tel: 01463 714746
E-mail: enquiries@swt.org.uk
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Inverpolly National Nature
Reserve was formed in 1961 by combining three estates - Inverpolly,
Drumrunie and Eisg Brachaidh - and at nearly eleven thousand
hectares is the second largest reserve in Britain after the
Cairngorms.
Web
Off A835 north of Ullapool. At Drumrunie a single track road enters
the reserve. You can go through Achiltibuie, Inverkirkaig and
Lochinver on your way home.
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Inchnadamph National Nature
Reserve. Botanical, geological and historical interest.
'The limestone area within Inchnadamph National Nature Reserve
is a mecca for botanists and cavers alike.
[including the famous Uamh caves where scientists found human
remains dating back at least 4500 years, along with the bones of
animals now extinct in Scotland] Many rare and unusual
plants grow in the rich limestone soil [mountain
avens, frog orchids and holly fern] The unique geology of the area, including the oldest rocks in
Europe, has attracted both amateur and professional geologists for
over a hundred years. An interpretative visitor trail at Knockan
Crag attempts to explain it all..'
Best time to visit May to June.
Twenty miles north of Ullapool, off the A837. Parking and
interpretive panels. Track to the Allt nan Uamh caves. 1 mile path
to Bone caves from car park at grid ref: NC 253 179.
Bone Caves
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| Kayaking in Scotland.
Clashnessie is the ideal starting point for your kayaking trip.
There's always someone drifting off into the ocean from our beach.
For ideas of trips take a look at
Kayak Scotland web site.
Based on the north east coast of Scotland but they do trips on the
west coast too.
Outdoor
Scotland - UK outdoors and camping gear store - get your gear
before you get here!
 Northwest
Sea Kayaking Lochinver. Float within the scenery of
the stunning north west highlands. Discover wildlife; explore
deserted islands and glide along unspoilt coastlines.
No experience
necessary. All ages/abilities.
Sea Kayaking is a dry
sport! Day, half day/evening and multi day and week trips in the
Ullapool/Lochinver/Achiltibuie area.
Contact Julie-Ann on 01571 844281. Check out the web site.
Falls
of Kirkaig. Almost two hour walk to the Falls of Kirkaig. Good
path all the way though a little rocky at times. Especially nice
around September when the heather is out. Just a few miles from
Lochinver.
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Kerrachar Gardens. On shore of
Loch Chairn Bhain. Boat access from Kylesku.
'Kerrachar Gardens is a plantsman's garden in the North West
Highlands of Scotland set in a uniquely remote and beautiful
location in the Parish of Assynt on the shores of Loch a Chairn
Bhain...
Kerrachar is one of the few permanently inhabited homes in the UK
which has no access by road or path. Instead you can enjoy a
30 minute boat
trip
on the 25 ton M.V. Statesman from
Kylesku,
which
will bring you to Kerrachar Gardens and provide a wonderful
opportunity to take in some breathtaking views along the way. Who
knows, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the seals,
eagles and otters which inhabit the loch!...'
Tel: 01571 833288
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Kinlochbervie. Deep-sea fishing
port. Sea angling trips available locally
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Knockan Crag Visitor Centre.
About 45 mins from Clashnessie. Learn the history of the area, see the geology.
On A835 13 miles north of Ullapool on the Lochinver road.
Open all time
Tel: 01854 613418
Web
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Kylesku.
A894. Great bridge. The Statesman Cruise,
based in Kylesku, is a 2 hour
trip and travels around an inland sea-loch called
Glencoul to see Eas a'Chual Aluinn - 650ft
waterfall! To check availability
call or visit the Kylesku Booking Office
(01971) 502345 which is situated at the top of the Old Ferry Pier in
Kylesku
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Loch a'
Mhuilinn. (SNH) The most northern remnant of a native oak woodland
in Britain survives in this reserve. It clearly shows the stunting
effect of westerly gales, with some of the oaks reduced to a
creeping form near the sea. The reserve also features grassland,
peat bog, freshwater and seashore, so it attracts a wide range of
wildlife. The best time to see it is in spring for the
woodland flowers.
Four miles south of Scourie, off the A894 on the north-eastern shore
of Edrachillis Bay. Parking near entrance and road/track into the
heart of the reserve.
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Locharron
Golf Club: Open all year except 1.30 to 5pm Saturday afternoon.
9-hole course in wonderful setting on the shore of Loch Carron.
Visitors welcome.
01520 766211
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Sandwood Bay. B801 from
Kinlochbervie. Beyond Oldshoremore and Oldshorebeg. You'll have to
walk though! Four miles will find you on a beautiful beach (take a
picnic)
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Scourie & Fangmore. A894.
Good bathing at Scourie. Fishing opportunity for wild brown trout
and game. Boat rips from Fangmore to visit seal colonies onshore of
Loch Laxford.
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Smoo Caves. Limestone cave.
Smoo Cave is
quite large - 200 feet long, 130 feet wide, and 50 feet high at the
entrance. The cave is a great tourist attraction for people visiting
the north-west coast, and is well worth a visit...'
Two miles east of Durness on A838. A bit of a journey from
Clashnessie.
Open all year
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Stac Pollaidh.
Known to locals as Stac Polly. A dramatic mountain that is being
worn away by the weather (so what's new!). I hear there's a good
mountain path that circles Stac Pollaidh. Start in the car park.
Take the Achiltibuie road from the junction with the A835 (Ullapool
to Lochinver road). Be warned, the nearest loos are at Achiltibuie 8
miles to the west. Grid ref: NC 108 095 which is the car park.
Talmine & Melness.
off A838 .On
west of Kyle of Tongue. Small harbours, views and seals lazing on
the beach.
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The Old Man of Stoer - about an
hour's walk from the car park near Rhu Stoer lighthouse. (West
of Lochinver) This is a spectacular sea stack. The cliffs are
teaming with sea birds but be careful, the cliffs are largely
sandstone and this makes it dangerous. Very close to you at
Clashnessie.
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Ullapool. Main
ferry terminal
for Stornoway and Western Isles. Popular holiday destination.
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Ullapool
Museum and Visitor Centre.
West Argyll Street, Ullapool
Open Easter to October.
Tel: 01854 612987
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Ullapool
Golf Course: Professionally designed 9-hole, 18 tees course
incorporates many natural features of the environment.
Tel: 01854 613323
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If you're looking for a wild time then this is the place
for you. Sweeping from Ullapool north you will find an area which
boasts some of the wildest country in Europe. It's extraordinary and
majestic - a place where time stands still. Woodland walks, mountains to
climb, otters and puffins to be found. Traditional crofting landscape and
wild mountains. Wildlife cruises, castles, ceilidhs... |
