Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
more interest is nearby
Eilean Donan Castle
on the shores of
Loch Duich
. Both are
fixtures on the tourist trail, which makes the remote
Glenelg
peninsula to the south
side of Loch Duich all the more inspiring. A few miles north of Kyle of Lochalsh, the
village of
Plockton
is a lovely spot, with a superb setting on
Loch Carron
, a long inlet
which acts as a dividing line between Kyle of Lochalsh and the splendours of Wester
Ross to the north.
Kyle of Lochalsh
Moribund since the opening of the Skye Bridge,
KYLE OF LOCHALSH
is not particularly
attractive and tra
c has little reason to stop, especially since Skye or Plockton nearby
offer more appealing accommodation. A great café aside, the only reason to pause is the
Atlantis
,
the UK's only semi-submersible
glass-bottomed
boat
(
T
01471 822716 or
0800 980 4846,
W
seaprobeatlantis.com).
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
KYLE OF LOCHALSH
By train
It's a glorious journey from Inverness to Kyle of
Lochalsh (Mon-Sat 4 daily, Sun 2 daily; 2hr 30min); trains
stop at Plockton (15min from Kyle) en route.
By bus
Reservations are recommended for all services
(
T
0870 550 5050,
W
citylink.co.uk). Buses stop on the
waterfront at the old slipway.
Destinations
Fort William via Invergarry (3 daily; 1hr
50min); Glasgow (3 daily; 5hr); Inverness via Invermoriston
(3 daily; 2hr 10min); Kyleakin, Skye (every 45min; 10min).
EATING
Buth Bheay
By the old ferry wharf
. A takeaway shack
where fish and seafood from the owner's boat goes into big
sandwiches and salad boxes - a bargain at £2-3. Also
12
prepares Cullen skink, and home baking.
Mid-Feb to
Christmas Tues-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 11am-3pm.
Loch Duich
Skirted on its northern shore by the A87,
Loch Duich
features prominently on the
tourist trail: coach tours from all over Europe thunder down from
SHIEL BRIDGE
en
route to Skye and one of Scotland's most iconic castles, Eilean Donan. Not that it's just
the happy hordes who visit: at the end of the loch is Glen Shiel, flanked by the
Five
Sisters of Kintail
- a classic tough trek that ticks off three Munros (see box opposite).
Eilean Donan Castle
Beside A87 near the village of Dornie • Feb-Christmas daily 10am-6pm • £6.50 •
T
01599 555202,
W
eileandonancastle.com
After Edinburgh's fortress,
Eilean Donan Castle
has to be the most photographed
monument in Scotland. Located on the A87 guarding the confluence of lochs Alsh,
Long and Duich, its tower rises on an islet, joined to the shore by a stone bridge and
set against a backdrop of mountains. Small wonder it has featured in
Highlander
and
the James Bond adventure
he World is Not Enough
. he castle was established in 1230
by Alexander II to protect the area from the Vikings but was destroyed during the
Jacobite uprising of 1719. It was rebuilt between 1912 and 1932 by a British army
o
cer, John Macrae-Gilstrap, because of the Macrae clan's ancestral links to the area.
So, its three floors, including the banqueting hall, the bedrooms and the troops'
quarters, are recreations rather than originals. he Jacobite and clan relics also on
display are all original.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
LOCH DUICH
Grants at Craigellachie
Ratagan, 2 miles south of
Shiel Bridge
T
01599 511331,
W
housebytheloch
.co.uk.
You'll find B&B charm and hotel quality in the three
modern en suites plus a suite with kitchenette. The owner's
intimate restaurant serves first-class modern Scottish
dishes like pot-roast pheasant with wild boar, leek and
taragon stu
ng (mains average £16).
Rese
rvations
essential.
Easter-Oct Tues-Sat from 7pm.
£115
