Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and the awesome bulk of
Ben More Coigach
(2439ft), southeast, which presides over the
area. There's some spectacular coastal scenery too. It's a place to unwind, with gorgeous
views of the Summer Isles scattered offshore and signposted trails along coastal moors
and mountains. If the steep Ben More Coigach-Sgurr an Fhidhleir horseshoe (7 miles;
7hr) seems too tough, the Culnacraig circuit (5 miles; 2hr) between Achduart and
Culnacraig offers great views. Coigach's main settlement is
ACHILTIBUIE
, a crofting
village spread above beaches and rocks. Sunsets here can be astonishing.
Tanera Mor
A mile offshore,
Tanera Mor
is the largest island of the
Summer Isles
. It briefly hit the
headlines in May 2013 when its family custodians put it up for sale - a snip at
£2.5 million. Presumably the new owner will continue to allow
boat
trips (Easter-Oct
Mon-Sat; 2hr 15min; £25;
T
01854 622200 or
T
07927 920592,
W
summerisles
-seatours.co.uk) round the isles to put ashore on Tanera Mor for an hour, allowing
visitors to potter up to the post office to buy “Summer Isles” stamps or have a cuppa in
a small café by the pier.
Achiltibuie Artists' Gallery
Coigach Community Hall, Achiltibuie • Easter-Oct daily 10am-5pm •
T
01854 622409,
W
facebook.com/scotlandgallery
Whether working in jewellery, pottery, painting, prints, textiles or knits, a love of
nature inspires the work of the local artists who display and sell work at the
community-run
Achiltibuie Artists' Gallery
. These are individual pieces, so don't expect
any bargains, but quality is excellent.
4
ARRIVAL AND INFORMAT L ION
COIGACH
By bus
The Scotbus service from Ullapool (Mon-Fri
2-3 daily, Sat 1 daily; 1hr 10min) doubles as the school
bus, so services are scheduled around the start and end
of the school day.
Tourist information
Useful websites include
W
coigach
.com, or
W
summer-isles.com for Tanera Mor.
ACCOMMODAT ION AND EATING
Achininver SYHA
Achininver, 2 miles south of
Achiltibuie
T
01854 622482,
W
syha.org.uk.
Twenty-
bed hostel with dorms and twin rooms which retains all
the stone walls, wood panelling and rustic character of
the original croft. It makes a fine base for mountain hikes
- Ben
Mor
Coigac
h rid
ge rises directly behind.
May-Aug.
Dorms
£17
; twins
£75
Am Fuaran
Althandhu
T
01854 622339.
A lovely wee
pub whatever the exterior suggests, as cosy as a cabin
inside and with a fine (if pricey) menu - steak-and-ale
pies, chickpea tagine, scallops in ginger and lemon butter.
Most mains are around £15-18.
Daily noon-11pm; food
served 12.30-2.30pm & 6-8pm.
Ì
Port A Bhaigh Campsite
Althandhu
T
01854
622339,
W
portabhaigh.co.uk.
Spread behind the beach
with mesmerizing sea views and sunsets and excellent
facilities that include a laundry, this is as fine a campsite as
you'll find in the Highlands. Midges can be
ho
rrendous but
the
Am Fuaran
bar is literally over the road.
£9
/pitch
Summer Isles Bar
Achiltibuie
T
01854 622449,
W
summerisleshotel.co.uk.
This former crofters' pub is
run by the
Summer Isles Hotel
and food is correspondingly
high-end - sourdough baguettes for around £10 and
seafood sharing platters - to go with regional beer and the
occasional music.
Easter-Oct noon-11pm, Nov-Easter
eve only (times vary).
Summer Isles Hotel
Achiltibuie
T
01854 622282,
W
summerisleshotel.co.uk.
A stylish hideaway with a
superb setting, fresh modern-country decor and lovely
simple rooms, most in adjoining annexes. Its restaurant
(£58 menu; reservation essential) is no longer Michelin-
starred but seasonal modern British menus still dazzle with
plates su
ch as
scallops or langoustine.
Easter-Oct daily
6-9pm.
£155
Lochinver and around
It's hard to think of a more beautiful route than the single-track road that wriggles
north from Coigach towards Inverkirkaig. Unremittingly spectacular, the journey is
the Highlands in miniature, threading through stunted beech woods, heaving
valleys, open moorland and bare rock, past the startling shapes of Cul Beag (2523ft),
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