OUR FAMOUS FIVES   OR VISIT VIRTUALLY ON THE WEB 

Full details of most these places are in our booklet Kintail and Wester Ross, which is given to everyone who book the cottage. We have field tested and enjoyed all the Famous Fives them.

Look at the bottom of the page for where to find special events

INTRODUCTION TO THE AREA
There is a good web site at www.welcometothehighlands.com/images/south%20west%20ross.pdf and it worth looking at www.lochalsh.co.uk - events at www.lochalsh.com/latest_news.html#events.
 

FIVE THINGS TO DO ON A FINE DAY

  1. Walk through the gate at the bottom of the cottage garden and walk across the morrich (you will need wellies). Explore the tidal reaches walking towards the causeway. At low tide discover vast numbers of mussels. Return up the side of the Croe River. Then take the car to Letterfearn, and walk to Totaig and on to the broch part-way up the hill. There you get a lovely view of the Eileen Donan castle and plenty of quiet.

  2. Go to Kyleakin and walk round to the ruined Castle of Moil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Moil) - you will need wellies. After a light lunch at Harry’s Coffee Shop on the Kyleakin pier (recently opened) visit Eilean Bàn Trust (www.eileanban.org), and go on tour of the Stevenson lighthouse and the lighthouse keeper’s cottage which was the last home of Gavin Maxwell.

  3. Go to Plockton and take the circular walk (wellies advised) to Duncraig Castle (www. duncraigcastle.com) taking a detour to see the private Edwardian Station, still in use. Then

    either
    drive to Craig Highland Farm (www.plockton.com/activities/craig_highland_farm.shtml) for a visit to the range of animals and eat your picnic and then go on to visit the West Highland Dairy (www.westhighlanddairy.co.uk ) at Achmore

    4. or
    have lunch at the Shore Restaurant (www.plocktonshoresrestaurant.co.uk) before taking a seal trip (www.calums-sealtrips.com ) which is free if no seals are seen, and drive back via Duncraig Nursery in the walled garden beyond the Castle (for a photo: www.geograph.org.uk/photo/272156).

  4. Visit Glenelg (www.glenelg.co.uk). Explore the village and then enjoy the lovely beach on the way to the ferry at Kylerhea (www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/skye/glenelgferry/index.html and www.skyeferry.co.uk ). Then

    either
    visit the Otter Hide by going on foot over the ferry to Kylerhea and walking to the Otter Hide (www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/kylerheaotter.shtml);

    or
    visit the Glen Beag brochs (www.whats-there.co.uk/brochs.htm), some of the best preserved in Scotland – don’t forget to go up to the third one further on up the track—see also Five Quirky Refreshments Places number 2;

    or
    walk down to Lower Sandaig (www.whats-there.co.uk/sandaig.htm) and, when the tide is low, collect coral from the beach. When the tide is very low, walk to the lighthouse (take wellies). Picnic in this idyllic quiet spot.

    or
    take the car on to Arnisdale (www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/arnisdale/arnisdale ) and then walk along the coast from Corran, stopping at Sheena’s Tea Hut (see Quirky Refreshment Places number 1).

  5. Take the spectacular route past Strome Ferry (www.stromeferry.com) to Attadale Gardens (www.attadale.com/attadale-gardens), where you can enjoy the lovely gardens and have refreshments (see Five Quirky Cafes number 4). Then go on to Carron Crafts (www.carronpottery.co.uk) and lunch at the Carron Restaurant (www.carronrestaurant.com). Go on to explore the crafts around Strathcarron Station. If you want to go further, go through Strathcarron to visit the Lochcarron Weavers (www.lochcarron.com), the largest producer of tartan in Scotland. On the way home visit the Highland Dairy at Achmore (www.westhighlanddairy.co.uk).

FIVE THINGS TO DO ON A WET DAY

  1. Visit Eileen Donan Castle (www.eileandonancastle.com) and then go on to Kyle for a swim in the small public swimming baths (www.lochalshleisure.org.uk). Have lunch at Hector’s Bothy (www.hectorskyle.co.uk) on the car park in Kyle or fish & chips (next door to Hector’s). Visit the station where there is a museum and other things of local interest (www.kylerailway.co.uk). Treat yourself to afternoon tea at the Lochalsh Hotel (www.lochalshhotel.com).

  2. Watch one of our 70+ DVDs or chose a book to read from our collection of over 200. Get a take-away from the Jac-o-Bite. Learn to play some of the games in the corner cabinet in the living room. Write your postcards and learn to relax.

  3. Visit Kyle to take a trip on the glass bottom boat (www.seaprobeatlantis.com) . Have lunch out before going to Broadford to the Serpentarium (when did you last handle poisonous snakes?) (www.skyeserpentarium.org.uk) and Otter Centre (www.otter.org), and explore the range of craft shops etc in Broadford (www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/skye/broadford/index.html). Buy in supplies from the large Coop; fill up the car with the cheapest local petrol.

  4. Go to Aros Centre just south of Portree (www.aros.co.uk) where there is a good restaurant and several displays. Portree (www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/skye/portree/index.html) is not in our view a place to linger in too long, so take one of the roads north

    either
    the Totternish peninsula (www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/skye/trotternish/index.html and http:website.lineone.net/~trotternish/scenery.html

    or
    go north to look at the spectacular Quiraing (www.ambaile.org.uk/en/item/item_illustration.jsp?item_id=21492) and north through the villages round the north of the island returning via Uig.


  5. Visit Dunvegan Castle (www.dunvegancastle.com) and then

    if it continues to rain
    visit the many craft shops in the Wate    rnish peninsula (www.visit-waternish.co.uk).

    if it’s dry by then
    walk in the gardens or take the road north and then walk along the short to a splendid coral beach. For walk details see www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/coralbeaches.shtml (you can take the car part way). If it is still wet, visit the craft shops around Dunvegan, or follow one of the enticing trails up one of the local glens (details in the Folder on Skye). You will enjoy the experience.

 

FIVE TREATS TO ENJOY
(Visit the websites to get up-to- date information on opening times etc)

  1. Visit Elgol (www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/skye/elgol/index.html) enjoying the café, Cuillin View Coffee Shop (www.isleofskye.net/cuillinview) on the way in and the coffee area in the village shop on the way back (www.isleofskye.net/elgolshop).

    Take the Bella Jane (www.bellajane.co.uk) boat trip to Loch Coruisk (www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/lochcoruisk.shtml) and allow yourself time to explore the loch area and enjoy its peace and quiet.


  2. Take the round trip to the Applecross peninsula . Go over Bealach nan Bo (2,054 feet) to the village (www.applecross.uk.com) and lunch in the Applecross Hotel. Visit the heritage centre at the site of St Maelrubha’s monastery and visit the ancient church (www.applecrossheritage.org.uk/christian.html).

    Then take the 'new' road (1980) north around the coast past Sand (a cliff of sand and a lovely beach) which is an important archaeological site (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand,_Applecross) to reach Shieldaig, where there are also eating places (www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/shieldaig/shieldaig).


  3. Go down the Sleat peninsula to Armadale On the way visit some of the galleries and craft shops and visit two good ones on the Armadale pier. Have lunch at the restaurant in the Castle Stables (www.clandonald.com) and walk it off on the lovely walks round the castle grounds, looking for deer. Take a detour on the way back to pass through the crofting communities on the north coast of the peninsula.


  4. Visit Raasay (www.raasay.com) on the frequent ferry service.

    You can go as foot passengers
    and walk up past the remains of the century-old mining works and their railway to the top of the Dun Caan (www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/duncaan.shtml) which is the highest point point on hte island at 1,456 feet and so which provides a spectacular view. Read the Forestry leaflet for walks, history and other information. Return the other route stopping off at the adventure centre in the Georgian Raasay House (www.raasay-house.co.uk) which serves meals.

    or you can take the car on the ferry,
    walking up Dun Caan from the nearest point to the summit, and then exploring the north of the island including Calum’s Road (www.raasay.com/RaasayBooks-CalumsRoad.html) and exploring the local industrial history.


  5. A coach tour of Harris and Lewis - on a summer Saturday only (www.calmac.co.uk/explore-2010.htm) catch the 9.30 MacBrayne’s ferry from Uig returning about 10 pm for a very good overview of the largest of the Outer Isles, with visits to the Callenish Standing Stones, the Dun Caloway Broch, Gearranan Black House Village and Stornoway

FIVE QUIRKY REFRESHMENT PLACES

The first three are all in the Glenelg area. The last one is a bit of a cheat – but we visited relatives in Bettyhill in 2009 and went to Cape Wrath and the café in the former light house keeper’s cottage is almost beyond belief.

  1. Sheena’s Tea Hut, Corran, Arnisdale “Like a Nepalese Tea House”
    Go through Arnisdale, park the car at the end of hte road. Walk over the bridge and through Corran as if following the shore. Sheena’s Tea Hut is at the end of the township. It reminds us of Nepalese huts on the mountain tracks. Hot drinks and something to eat, an experience described by some as “first class” (see interesting comment at http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/87f23/4c489/2).


  2. Glen Beag - Wagon Coffee House & Café "Pay what you think it’s worth” The cafe is no longer there
    Go through Glenelg on the Arnisdale road, to Glen Beag (see Fine Day number 4). Opposite the second broch (Dun Troddan) is the Wagon Coffee Shop - two complementary eating places. One (a caravan) is still there serving hot drinks and the other offers hot meals. The latter operates a “pay what you think it is worth” policy. There are tables to eat at or you can go into a gur which has reading material as well. We could find no web information for these amazing places.


  3. Lighthouse, Glenelg on the ferry slipway a self-service lighthouse
     This is the old Sandaig Lighthouse, now by the slip way and offering self-service hot drinks and snacks, as well as souvenirs.


  4. Attadale House Fairtrade Help Yourself A very pleasant end to a tour of the Attadale House gardens (www.attadale.com) (Fine Day number 5) is the self-service refreshment room with its wide range of Fairtrade goods.


  5. 'The Ozone'. Cape Wrath “The most remote café and open 24/365”
    Perched on the edge of the cliff, accessible only by walking 15/20 miles of desolate wilderness, or by minibuses which only run from May to September, John Ure is optimistic about his café, ‘The Ozone’. “If you come to that door you will get a cup of tea, day or night and a welcome." Probably the maddest café going. See www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6175903.ece.

If you can find another quirky café in the Skye and Lochalsh area, we will buy you a free meal to say thank you. And if you can make further suggestions for our Famous Fives we will also be grateful.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

Search the web for seasonal ideas, looking particularly at

latest news        events for area information.
http://www.lochalsh.com/latest_news.html#

History & archaeology
http:// www.welcometoscotland.com/things-to-do/events/north-highland/highland-archaeology-fortnight

Arts   to see if there is any arts events.                 
 http://www.lochan.info