Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES
Strontian tourist o
ce
On the village green (Easter-
Oct daily 10am-5pm;
T
01967 402382).
Kilchoan tourist o
ce
In the community centre (Mon-
Sat: Easter-Oct 9am-5pm; Nov-March 10am-4pm;
T
01972 510711,
W
ardnamurchan.com).
Ardnamurchan Charters
T
01972/500208,
W
west
-scotland-marine.com.
Based in Laga, near Lochaline, but
operates boat trips out of Kilchoan to observe wildlife,
including dolphins, seals, basking sharks, whales and
possibly sea eagles.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
STRONTIAN
Ariundle Centre
T
01967 402279,
W
ariundlecentre
.co.uk.
Part of a pleasant craft centre and café serving cheap
fresh lunches and dinner such as tagines and burgers - a
godsend for walkers and cyclists - this modern bunkhouse
has dorms, family rooms and twins, all en suite. It's set
among woods a mile from the centre - turn rig
ht a
cross
Strontian bridge.
Food served noon-8pm.
Dorms
£18
GLENBORRODALE
Nàdurra
T
01972 500209.
The simple café of the
natural history centre rustles up home-made soups and
sandwiches and has a blackboard menu of dishes such as
casseroles and goulash for under a tenner.
April-Oct
Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 11.30am-5pm; Nov,
Feb
&
March
Tues-Fri
10am-4pm,
Sun
noon-3.30pm.
SALEN
Salen Hotel
T
01967 431661,
W
salenhotel.co.uk.
Less a small hotel than a restaurant with three smart
rooms above - tastefully furnished where modern flair
meets antiques - and simpler comfy rooms in a chalet.
The restaurant offers a Scottish gastro-pub menu: pâtés
of smoked mackerel, whisky and tomatoes, local venison
or steak-and-ale pies f
or a
round £12-15.
Daily
11.30am-2pm & 6-9pm.
£60
KILCHOAN
Ì
Ardnamurchan Campsite
Ormsaigbeg
T
01972
5110766,
W
ardnamurchanstudycentre.co.uk.
Views
to inspire poetry plus campfires on the beach of a
laudably back-to-basics campsite behind the loch - pure
magic at sunset and usually spared summer midges by a
breeze
. Find it past the Ferry Stores. Closed Oct-Easter.
£7.50
/person
12
Acharacle and Glenuig
At the eastern end of Ardnamurchan, just north of Salen where the A861 heads north
towards the district of Moidart, the main settlement is
ACHARACLE
, a nondescript
crofting village set back from
Loch Shiel
. he reason to swing through is
Castle Tioram
(pronounced “cheerum”), one of Scotland's most atmospheric monuments. Perched on
a promontory above
Loch Moidart
and accessed via a sandy causeway (its Gaelic name
means “dry land”), the thirteenth-century fortress was the seat of the MacDonalds of
Clanranald until it was destroyed by their chief in 1715 to prevent it falling into
Hanoverian hands. here's no entry into the castle, but for a slice of picture-postcard
romantic Scotland, it's hard to beat. It's located a mile north of Acharacle via a side
road off the A861.
Keep going north on the A861 and you'll roll through woods to arrive at
GLENUIG
,
gathered on a picturesque inlet on the Sound of Arisaig. Barely a hamlet, it makes a
fine base for walking, sea-kayaking (see below) - or partying, when the community
centre hosts gigs every fortnight (listings on
W
glenuig.com).
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
ACHARACLE AND GLENUIG
By bus
Buses go from Fort William (Mon-Sat 1-2 daily) to
Acharacle (1hr 30min) and Glenulig (1hr 10min).
By boat
Loch Shiel Cruises runs trips to Acharacle from
Glenfinnan at the head of Loch Shiel (Easter to mid-Oct
Wed only; £17 single, £26 return;
T
01687 470322,
W
highlandcruises.co.uk).
ACCOMMODATION, EATING AND ACTIVITIES
Glenuig Inn
Glenuig
T
01687 470219,
W
glenuig
.com.
A refurbished inn that ticks all boxes: an excellent
hostel with single beds, not bunks; modest motel-style
rooms in an annexe; and local beers plus well-priced
bar-food - posh kebabs, wraps, home-made burgers, all
around £12. A sea-kayak guide, the owner runs half- and
full-day trips in th
e So
und of
Arisai
g from £50.
Daily
noon-9pm.
Dorms
£25
; doubles
£100
