Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gairloch and around
Cheerful and unpretentious,
GAIRLOCH
thrives as a low-key holiday resort, with
several sandy beaches for the bucket and spade brigade, some good coastal walks
within easy reach and an abundance of wildlife cruise operators that pray for passing
minke whales. he township is divided into distinct areas spread along Loch
Gairloch: to the south, in
Flowerdale Bay
, is Charlestown with the harbour; west, at
the turn-off to Melvaig,
Achtercairn
is the centre of Gairloch; and along the north
side of the bay is the crofting area of
Strath
. Near the
Old Inn
in Charlestown, the
Sòlas Gallery
(Easter-Oct daily 9am-5pm;
T
01445 712626,
W
solasgallery.co.uk) is
worth a stop for its ceramics and watercolours inspired by the Highlands landscapes.
While you're there you might want to take the 1.5-mile walk (round trip) that
tracks the Flowerdale river through a woodland glen to a waterfall.
Gairloch Heritage Museum
By the turn-off from the A832 into Achtercairn • April-Oct Mon-Sat 10am-5pm • £4 •
T
01445 712287,
W
gairlochheritagemuseum.org
he
Gairloch Heritage Museum
houses eclectic displays of traditional Highland
life, from a mock-up crofthouse to an early knitting machine, plus a small gallery of
folk art. Probably the most interesting section is the archive made by elderly locals -
an array of photographs, maps, genealogies and taped recollections, albeit mostly in
Gaelic.
Big Sand and Melvaig
he area's real attraction is its
coastline
. here's a
beach
just north of the harbour in
Charlestown, a crescent of pure sand, as well as a more impressive stretch a few miles
around the north side of the bay at
Big Sand
- it's cleaner, quieter and a mite more
pebbly. he B8021 terminates at the crofting hamlet of
Melvaig
- a pint and meal
await you in the eccentric
Melvaig Inn
.
12
Rubha Reidh and around
From Melvaig, a rough track heads three miles to
Rubha Reidh
(pronounced “roo-a-
ray”), with its operational lighthouse and vast seascapes to the Outer Hebrides. Around
the headland lies beautiful
Camas Mor
beach, from where a marked footpath tracks
inland (southeast) beneath a sheer scarp slope, past a string of lochans and ruined crofts
to
MIDTOWN
on the east side of the peninsula, four miles north of Poolewe on the
B8057. Allow half a day, though be aware that few buses travel back from Poolewe
(currently Mon, Wed & Sat; 7.45pm; check times on
T
01445 712255).
Badachro and Redpoint
On the south side of Loch Gairloch, a single-track lane (built with the Destitution
Funds raised during the nineteenth-century potato famine) winds past wooded coves
and inlets along the loch to
BADACHRO
, a secluded former fishing village with a
wonderful pub.
Beyond Badachro, the road winds five miles further to
REDPOINT
, with its beautiful
beaches of peach-coloured sand on either side of the headland and great views to
Raasay, Skye and the Western Isles. It also marks the trailhead for the wonderful coast
walk to Lower Diabaig (see p.453). Even if you don't fancy a full-blown hike, follow
the path a mile or so to find an exquisite
beach
on the south side of the headland.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
GAIRLOCH AND AROUND
By bus
Public transport is minimal and requires careful
planning. Bus stops for all services are at the
Old Inn
,
Charlestown, as well Achtercairn and Strath.
Destinations
Inverness (Mon-Sat 1 daily; also ScotBus
June-Sept Mon-Sat 1 daily; 2hr 45min); Ullapool (Mon,
Wed, Thurs & Sat 1 daily; 1hr 10min); Poolewe (Mon, Wed &
Sat 1 daily; 15min).
Tourist information
In community centre Gale Centre in
Achtercairn (Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun
11am-3pm;
T
01397 874543,
W
galeactionforum.co.uk).
