Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mansion House (between the hamlets), which was built by Valentine Fleming, father
of James Bond author Ian. Other than that, there's no reason to come except to see the
most jaw-dropping sea loch in Scotland. Keep it quiet.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
THE GLENELG PENINSULA
GLENELG
By bus
The post bus and Skyeways bus service (both Mon-Fri
1 daily; 50min) operate from Kyle of Lochalsh via Shiel Bridge.
By ferry
The six-car Glenelg-Kylerhea ferry (daily:
Easter-Oct 9am-6pm; June-Aug 10am-7pm;
T
01599
522313,
W
skyeferry.co.uk) shuttles to and from Skye every
15min, taking 5min.
ARNISDALE
By bus
In a word, tricky. The MacRae Kintail community
bus from Kyle of Lochalsh goes to Arnisdale on
request via Shiel Bridge,
Ratagan Youth Hostel
and Glenelg (1 daily Mon-Fri). Booking required on
T
01599 511384.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Ì
The Glenelg Inn
Glenelg
T
01599 522273,
W
glenelg-inn.com.
Snug, eclectic, with a fire in the grate
and the occasional fisherman at the bar, this is all you could
want of a Highland pub, with a spectacular loch-side
setting to boot. Luxurious rooms and a top-notch
gastro-pub menu that showcases local seafood from that
fisherman - fish, crab cakes, mussels (mains average £14) -
confirm that this is a class act.
Feb-Nov
Mon-Thurs
11.30am-11pm, Fri & Sat 11.30a
m-m
idnight; food
served noon-2.30pm & 6-9.30pm.
£120
Plockton
With its picture-postcard cottages curved behind a tiny harbour and views across Loch
Carron to the mountains,
PLOCKTON
is one of the most picturesque settlements of the
west coast. Until the end of the eighteenth century, Am Ploc, as the settlement was then
known, was just another crofting hamlet. hen a local laird transformed it with a
prosperous fishery, funding a planned village that was renamed “Plocktown”. It's packed in
high season with tourists, yachties - a popular regatta fills the bay over a fortnight from
late July - and second-home owners, and the brilliance of the light has made it something
of an artists' hangout. It may look familiar to first-time visitors - its flower and palm-filled
seafront featured in cult horror film
he Wickerman
and BBC's
Hamish Macbeth
series.
12
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
PLOCKTON
By train
Trains from Inverness (2hr 15min) to Kyle of
Lochalsh (13min) stop in Plockton (Mon-Sat 3-4 daily,
Sun 1-2 daily).
Information
W
plockton.com
ACTIVITIES
Calum's Seal Trips
T
01599/544306 or 07761/263828,
W
calums-sealtrips.com.
This outfit promises “better
views than the QE2”
aboard its pretty, traditional cruiser.
Perhaps true if you like seals (1hr; £10 or free if no seals) or
dolphins (2hr; £16) on an evening sail.
Plockton Boat Hire
33 Harbour St
T
01599 544306
or 07584 044241,
W
plocktonboathire.co.uk.
Rents
rowing boats and canoes as well as offering dinghy
sailing tasters and two-day courses provided by an
accredited RYA instructor.
ACCOMMODATION
An Caladh
25 Harbour St
T
01599 544356,
W
plockton
.uk.com
. Anna MacAulay's whitewashed fisherman's
cottage is one of the best of Plockton's many B&Bs,
boasting a central location, sea views from front r
ooms
and
mod cons like wi-fi - though not all are en suites.
£65
Duncraig Castle
Turn-off midway between Duirnish
and Plockton
T
01599 544295,
W
duncraigcastle.com.
On the opposite side of the bay from Plockton village, this
Scots Baronial pile reopened in spring 2014 after top-to-
bottom renovation to restore its former Victorian grandeur.
It now has grand rooms, shabby-chic decor, chandeliers,
roll-top baths and stone floors, befitti
ng o
f its romantic
location opposite Plockton. April-Sept.
£149
Plockton Hotel
41 Harbour St
T
01599 544274,
W
plocktonhotel.co.uk.
This friendly, small hotel provides
cosy, contemporary-cottage decor in rooms, of which the
best come with a view at the front. A four-room annexe on
the harbour appeals for its shared kitchen as much as its
cheaper rates that still
inc
lude br
eakfas
t. Closed first
fortnight in Jan. Annexe
£80
; doubles
£130
