Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
SHIELDAIG
Camping area
A designated campsite with no facilities
but superb views of the loch is above the waterfront near
the primary school at the village's north end.
Ì
Tigh-an-Eilean
T
01520 755251,
W
tighaneilean
.co.uk.
Faultless service and utter relaxation in a lovely small
hotel on the waterfront with classy country accommodation
plus a sensational restaurant (reservation essential); expect
the likes of west coast sea bream with a Provençal tomato
confit on innovative daily menus (£45 for three courses). The
attached
Shieldag Bar
and
Coastal Kitchen
rustles up top-
notch bistro dishes like seafood stews and posh pizzas (£8-
12).
Bar
Feb-New Year d
aily 1
1am-11pm; food served
March-Oct daily 6-9pm.
£150
Sympathetically styled where Boutique meets Baronial
in public areas and Master rooms; Classics are more up to
date. A fine dining restaurant (£55 for three courses) is
splendidly elegant for daily menus of seasonal modern
European cuisine,
and
the whisky bar with 350-plus
malts is a delight.
£230
Torridon Inn
1 mile south of turn-off into village
T
01445 791242,
W
thetorridon.com.
Adjacent to and
run by the
Torridon
hotel, this is more cyclist- and walker-
friendly, with neat, plain en suites. Its moderately priced
bar-bistro serves regional ales and good gastro-pub
cooking - salmon, fish and chips or steak-and-ale pie
(around £10-12).
Jan-March & Dec Thurs-Sun
8am-11pm; food serv
ed 8-
10am & noon-9pm; April-
Nov daily, same hours.
£104
SYHA Torridon
Start of village, 100m from turn-off
T
01445 791284,
W
syha.org.uk.
Though the
Seventies-vintage municipal building is no looker, this
hostel is spacious and a popular choice with hikers and
bikers thanks to a location beneath the peaks. Provides
the usual laundry and drying room, plus very c
hea
p
meals d
aily.
Closed three weeks in Jan. Dorms
£18
;
doubles
£46
TORRIDON
Camping area
A wild camp is located beside the turning
into the village beside the SYHA hostel. Dishwashing and a
shower is in an adjacent public toilet. Beware the midges in
summer, though.
Torridon
1 mile south of turn-off into village
T
01445 791242,
W
thetorridon.com.
This Victorian
hunting lodge is one of the west coast's grandest stays.
12
Loch Maree
About eight miles north of Loch Torridon,
Loch Maree
, dotted with Caledonian-pine-
covered islands, is one of the area's scenic highlights, best viewed from the A832 road
that drops down to its southeastern tip through Glen Docherty. At the southeastern
end of the loch, the A896 from Torridon meets the A832 from Achnasheen at small
KINLOCHEWE
, a good base if you're heading into the hills.
Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve
he A832 skirts the southern shore of Loch Maree, passing the
Beinn Eighe
Nature Reserve
, Britain's oldest wildlife sanctuary, set up in 1951. Parts of the
reserve are forested with Caledonian pinewood, which once covered the whole
country, and it is home to pine martens, wildcats, buzzards and golden eagles. A
mile north of Kinlochewe, the
Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre
(Easter & May-Oct daily
10am-5pm;
T
01445 760254,
W
nnr-scotland.org.uk/beinn-eighe) on the A832,
informs visitors about the rare species and offers several “talking trails” for
children. Two
walks
start from the Coille na Glas-Leitir car park a mile north of the
visitor centre: a mile-long trail into ancient pine woodland and a 3.5-mile track into
the mountains.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
LOCH MAREE
Kinlochewe Hotel
A832
T
01445 760253,
W
kinlochewehotel.co.uk.
A traditional hotel with a warm
welcome and decent line in regional beers and daily good-
value soups and casseroles. Rooms are modest but comfy
enough, though en suites cost another £20. An annexe holds
a very basic twelve-b
ed b
unkhou
se, with
triple-deck bunks
in one room. Doubles
£75
; Dorms
£15.50
Whistle Stop Café
Torrisdale Rd
T
01445 760423.
The
old village hall is always a good stop before or after the
hills. There are hearty breakfasts and a modern European
bistro menu that swings from sandwiches and wraps to
salads of scallops and bacon (£6-14).
Easter-Oct Mon-
Thurs 9am-7pm, Fri & Sat 9am-9pm; Nov-Easter
same hours but closed Mon.
FROM TOP
EILEAN DONAN CASTLE
P.448
; STAC POLLAIDH
P.462
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