Wester Ross Area
Visitor Attractions
Inverewe Gardens - National Trust for Scotland property near Poolewe. Lovely ‘tropical’ gardens. Well worth a visit.
Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre - Britain’s first National Nature Reserve with pathed and signed walks for varying abilities.
North Coast 500 - The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle
Beaches - The beach at Melvaig is a five minute walk away. A short walk south at low tide takes you to the wonderful sandy beach below the steep slopes at Peterburn. You are likely to have this to yourselves. There is a short climbing pitch here with bolts. The west coast of Scotland is renowned for it's fantastic beaches and the Wester Ross area has it's fair share with excellent beaches at Gairloch, Red Point, Big Sand, Firemore, Mellon Udrigle and Gruinard Bay but to mention a few.
Boat Trips - There are a number of boat trips available from the pier at Gairloch. Our favourite is the sea life trip operated by the Gairloch Marine Life Centre. However there is also a glass bottomed boat trip and whale watching trips. Fish can be bought locally on the pier (seasonal).
Golf Course - Gairloch has a nine hole course which is located behind the beach in Gairloch. They offer club and trolley hire. The club house has a cafe open to all.
Loch Ewe & Poolewe - Visit the remains for the WWII war emplacements and local history of Loch Ewe. There is an Arctic Convoy museum at the old primary school in Inverasdale. Poolewe has the excellent Bridge Cottage Cafe (look out for the bear).
Loch Maree - Frequently featured on TV nature and outdoor activity documentaries Loch Maree is often described as Scotland's most beautiful loch. Boat trips can be arranged locally.
Gairloch Heritage Museum - Award winning local history museum in Gairloch.
Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre - Britain’s first National Nature Reserve with pathed and signed walks for varying abilities.
North Coast 500 - The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle
Beaches - The beach at Melvaig is a five minute walk away. A short walk south at low tide takes you to the wonderful sandy beach below the steep slopes at Peterburn. You are likely to have this to yourselves. There is a short climbing pitch here with bolts. The west coast of Scotland is renowned for it's fantastic beaches and the Wester Ross area has it's fair share with excellent beaches at Gairloch, Red Point, Big Sand, Firemore, Mellon Udrigle and Gruinard Bay but to mention a few.
Boat Trips - There are a number of boat trips available from the pier at Gairloch. Our favourite is the sea life trip operated by the Gairloch Marine Life Centre. However there is also a glass bottomed boat trip and whale watching trips. Fish can be bought locally on the pier (seasonal).
Golf Course - Gairloch has a nine hole course which is located behind the beach in Gairloch. They offer club and trolley hire. The club house has a cafe open to all.
Loch Ewe & Poolewe - Visit the remains for the WWII war emplacements and local history of Loch Ewe. There is an Arctic Convoy museum at the old primary school in Inverasdale. Poolewe has the excellent Bridge Cottage Cafe (look out for the bear).
Loch Maree - Frequently featured on TV nature and outdoor activity documentaries Loch Maree is often described as Scotland's most beautiful loch. Boat trips can be arranged locally.
Gairloch Heritage Museum - Award winning local history museum in Gairloch.
Hill walking - The area is fantastic for walking with walks to suit all abilities. The cottage has books on local walks. Our personal favourites are the Fairy Lochs (starts near Badachro), Gruinard & Inverianvie River Glens from Gruinard bay and the cliff top walk from Rua Reidh Lighthouse with it’s spectacular cliffs and sea stacks. Beinn Eighe (Munro) is a 45 minute drive and Torridon village in the heart of the Torridon Mountains is about one hours drive away. To the north is An Teallach (Munro). Locally is Baosbheinn, a fine Corbett lying just to the south of Gairloch, offering spectacular views of the Torridon Mountains on a fine day.
Rua Reidh Light House - Working Lighthouse (not open to the public). The road up to it is private so check locally for parking restrictions. The best way to reach the lighthouse is walking or cycling the 4 miles from the cottage along the single track road, allowing you the opportunity to spot birds of prey, basking sharks or whales! There is a super clifftop walk along the coastline from the lighthouse to Camas Mor.
Sea and Loch Fishing - details are available locally in Gairloch.
Local Pubs and Restaurants.
There is a number of cafes, restaurants and pubs in Gairloch including the Black Pearl Creole Kitchen, The Mountain Cafe, Myrtle Bank Hotel, The Old Inn, the Links Cafe (at the golf course) and at Gairloch Museum's Am Bard Cafe. In Badachro there is the Badachro Inn and there is also the Barn Cafe and shop at the Sands Caravan & Camping site, at Big Sand. Takeaway food is available from Crumbs Bakery, Hai Yang Chinese Takeaway and also from the Links Cafe at the Golf Course.
Shops
There is a Morrisons local supermarket and other convenince stores in Gairloch. There is also a butcher shop and chemist.
There are several gift shops incluing the Gale Centre tourism office, shop and cafe.
Rua Reidh Light House - Working Lighthouse (not open to the public). The road up to it is private so check locally for parking restrictions. The best way to reach the lighthouse is walking or cycling the 4 miles from the cottage along the single track road, allowing you the opportunity to spot birds of prey, basking sharks or whales! There is a super clifftop walk along the coastline from the lighthouse to Camas Mor.
Sea and Loch Fishing - details are available locally in Gairloch.
Local Pubs and Restaurants.
There is a number of cafes, restaurants and pubs in Gairloch including the Black Pearl Creole Kitchen, The Mountain Cafe, Myrtle Bank Hotel, The Old Inn, the Links Cafe (at the golf course) and at Gairloch Museum's Am Bard Cafe. In Badachro there is the Badachro Inn and there is also the Barn Cafe and shop at the Sands Caravan & Camping site, at Big Sand. Takeaway food is available from Crumbs Bakery, Hai Yang Chinese Takeaway and also from the Links Cafe at the Golf Course.
Shops
There is a Morrisons local supermarket and other convenince stores in Gairloch. There is also a butcher shop and chemist.
There are several gift shops incluing the Gale Centre tourism office, shop and cafe.
