ESSENCE OF SCOTLAND Northwest Highlands Front cover: Oldshoremore Beach near Kinlochbervie This page: Loch Maree, Wester Ross At the very edge of Europe, the majestic peaks, magical lochs and sparkling beaches of the Northwest Highlands remain relatively untouched and unvisited. Easily accessible, these landscapes are a walker’s paradise and a perfect destination for those in search of solitude. IDEAL FOR LOCATION MAP Numbers refer to attractions A838 > Those in search of ‘escape’ listed overleaf. > Nature & wildlife lovers Places in bold print indicate welcome accommodation bases. > A true ‘wilderness’ experience DON’T MISS £ Paid Entry Seasonal Disabled Access Refreshments Gift Shop WC Rainy Days A894 > Insight into Scotland’s geological heritage A838 A837 To view accommodation in this A837 area, go to visitscotland.com or to order the local 1. Handa Island – 2. Inverpolly – Situated 3. Loch Maree – Perhaps 4. Sandwood Bay – 5. Sail to the Summer accommodation brochure, call Accessible by boat from within Scotland’s first the most spectacularly Beyond the important fishing Isles – Boat trips depart 0845 22 55 121. A835 Tarbet, just north of Scourie, UNESCO-designated scenic of all Scottish lochs, port of Kinlochbervie in the from Ullapool and Achiltibuie A832 Handa is home to one of Geopark, and containing Loch Maree greets far north-west, the road throughout the summer Britain’s biggest seabird some of the country’s unsuspecting visitors comes to an end near the months to visit this tiny colonies during spring and wildest and most awe- travelling north-west on the crofting township of group of largely uninhabited MORE INFORMATION A832 early summer. Under the inspiring scenery, Inverpolly A832 between Inverness Blairmore. From here, a islands, home to numerous www.visithighlands.com A896 care of the Scottish Wildlife National Nature Reserve is a and Gairloch. Bounded by track leads 4 miles over seals and seabirds. A896 Trust, there are few better – dream for walkers, naturalists the imposing masses of moorland to one of Britain’s Dolphins and porpoises are www.northwest-highlands-geopark.org.uk or more beautiful – sites to and geologists alike. Beinn Eighe to the west and remotest and most commonly spotted from the spot guillemots, razorbills Dominated by atmospheric Slioch to the east, the loch’s breathtaking beaches, the boat, which in good weather and puffins, among a myriad peaks such as Stac Pollaidh shores play host to a wealth mile-long Sandwood Bay. lets passengers ashore to See bananas growing in the Highlands of other species. £ and Ben More Coigach, and of wildlife, as well as Overlooked by the rock explore Tanera Mor, the at the Hydroponicum, at Achiltibuie. Principal photography © Paul Tomkins, VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint. All information checked in January 2006. VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for errors. rimmed by sparkling fragments of ancient stack Am Buachaille, the largest of the islands. From beaches, this is for many the Caledonian pinewood. bay is reputedly home to here, postcards can be sent quintessential Northwest ghosts and mermaids. with a unique stamp. £ NTS: National Trust for Scotland Highland experience. Astron B44649 2/06 WALKS WILDLIFE & BOAT TRIPS FOOD & DRINK HERITAGE & GARDENS 6 6. Beinn Eighe Nature Trails – Britain’s oldest 10. Gairloch Marine Life Centre & Cruises – With 14. Summer Isles Hotel & 17. Inverewe Garden – Inverewe Garden National Nature Reserve has a choice of routes cruises operating since 1989 and owned and operated by a Smokehouse, Achiltibuie – was the brainchild of Osgood Mackenzie, who allowing you to explore the ancient Caledonian pine marine biologist, Gairloch Cruises offers you the chance to In the attractive fishing settlement of began work on this astonishing kaleidoscope forest and rocky tops. A woodland trail, taking about spot porpoise, seals, seabirds, golden and white-tailed Achiltibuie, this hotel boasts an of colour in a veritable wilderness during 1862. an hour, gives a good introduction to the area, home eagles and often whales and dolphins amongst the striking astounding menu and even better Subtropical species flourish here under the to pine marten and wildcat. The more experienced scenery. £ views. Enjoy the local seafood while influence of the North Atlantic Drift, as well as walker may wish to try the 3-hour mountain trail, the sun sets over its namesake a range of plants from all continents including 11. Statesman Cruises, Kylesku – This 2-hour boat trip from which superlative views may be enjoyed. islands. Five miles north, the Himalayan rhododendrons and Tasmanian takes you to fantastic viewpoints of the highest waterfall in 7. Old Man of Stoer – Take the minor B869 road to Stoer lighthouse, from which smokehouse allows you to see eucalyptus. (NTS) £ Sandwood Bay the UK, Eas a’Chual Aluinn, which measures 658ft. Travelling a 3-hour circular walk leads to a spectacular rock-stack, surrounded by jaw-dropping delicious fish being cured and gives round an inland sea-loch, Loch Glencoul, you can take in 17 cliff scenery. The path is clear throughout, and offers views to the Assynt mountains you the chance to purchase it the surrounding countryside and wildlife. £ BEACHES OF THE GEOPARK in the south, and to Lewis and Harris many miles to the west. afterwards. 8 12. Summer Queen Cruises – During the summer 14 Many visitors to this area are astonished by months with the option of a 4-hour or 2-hour trip, you can the wealth and variety of stunning white cruise to the Summer Isles and also the Bird Islands of Lochbroom. Here you can observe various seabirds, seals beaches found throughout. Unique to the and porpoise and occasionally see whales and dolphins. Northwest Highlands is Scotland’s first £ Geopark, with an extraordinary geological 13. Torridon Countryside Centre – With some of the 18. Ullapool Museum and Visitor Centre past and rich in flora, fauna, culture and most impressive mountain scenery in Scotland, Torridon is – Housed in a converted church, this museum of course geology. Embrace the outdoors an attraction for walkers, geologists and naturalists. The provides a fascinating insight into the history of estate includes part of the Beinn Eighe National Nature 15. Poolewe Hotel – This family as it is the ideal place for sight-seeing, Ullapool and its surrounds. Among the Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation. Look out for run hotel and restaurant, overlooking birdwatching, wildlife, walking, climbing and 8. Diabaig to Redpoint – A marvellous low-level walk along the Ross-shire coast, highlights is the story of The Hector, which set red deer, pine marten, otter, white-tailed eagles and golden Loch Ewe, specialises in the use of this signposted route leads from the picture-postcard village of Diabaig on Loch sail from here in 1773 as the first ship to take not forgetting some simple peace and quiet. eagles. (NTS) the finest local produce which Torridon to the golden sands of Redpoint, 7 miles to the north-west. The path affords £ emigrants from Scotland to Nova Scotia The Geopark stretches from the village of includes salmon from Loch Duart stunning views over to Skye and Raasay on a clear day, and offers a good chance of 12 during the infamous Clearances. and Highland beef and lamb. They Achiltibuie through Lochinver, Scourie, spotting seals and seabirds. Allow 7 hours for the round trip. £ also have an excellent choice of Kinlochbervie to the northern point of 9. Balnakeil to Faraid Head – The white vegetarian dishes. 19. Assynt Visitor Centre – Sharing a Durness. Special activity programmes are sands of Balnakeil, the site of a craft village just building with the Tourist Information Centre in north of Durness, are worth a visit in themselves Cape Wrath, Britain’s most north- 16. Kishorn Seafood Bar – arranged by local Rangers in the spring and westerly point, can be reached only Lochinver, this lively exhibition offers fun and but, if you have time, take the path out to Faraid This open plan restaurant allows by foot or by passenger boat from informative displays relating to the natural and summer months which include guided walks. customers to view their food being Head along the dunes. The views in all directions Durness. This remote outpost is human history of this beautiful area. Learn home to thousands of seabirds and prepared and cooked within a For more information contact Durness or are tremendous, and you’ve a good chance of about the wildlife and geology, and also the the mainland’s highest sea cliffs. friendly and relaxed atmosphere with Lochinver Tourist Information Centres. seeing puffins between May and July. Allow 3-4 story relating to nearby Ardvreck Castle, on the views over the sea to Skye. hours for the return trip. shores of Loch Assynt. Northwest Highlands £ Paid Entry Seasonal Disabled Access Refreshments Gift Shop WC Rainy Days OUTSTANDING VIEWS 20. Looking to Raasay and the Skye Cuillin ridge from the Bealach na Ba – The ‘Pass of the Cattle’ between Kishorn and Applecross is Scotland’s second highest road, reaching 2,053ft above sea level. The often tortuous bends give way at the summit to incredible views of the western seaboard. 21. Looking north across Loch Torridon to Beinn Alligin – Travelling along Upper Loch Torridon on the A896 between Torridon village and Shieldaig, take a moment to stop and look across to the imposing mass of Beinn Alligin, rising straight out of the sea on the far side of the loch. 22. Foinaven and Arkle from the Kinlochbervie road – From Rhiconich in Sutherland, a small road winds its way towards the fishing port of Kinlochbervie. Looking back down Loch Inchard, the bare peaks of Foinaven and Arkle rear up from the surrounding moorland to dramatic effect. 23. Lochinver and Suilven seen from the north-west – Round the bay from Lochinver, a minor road allows fantastic views back towards the community and the incredible sugar loaf of Suilven rising up in the background.