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 Udrigle, Gruinard Bay, and An Teallach |
 Gairloch Main Street |
 Boat Being Repaired at Badachro |
Gairloch is the collective name for a number of small settlements overlooking Loch Gairloch. It has been a popular tourist resort since Victorian times, attractive for its scenic location and fine sandy beaches. Sunsets here can be magical and the views west to Skye and inland to the Torridon mountains are spectacular. The most southerly of Gairloch's separate settlements, and home to its harbour, is Charlestown.
There are some wonderful beaches to explore in and around Gairloch. A short distance to the west is Big Sand from where a single track road goes to Melvaig. From this tiny crofting hamlet the road continues to Rubha Reidh Point where there is a converted lighthouse. Beyond the headland lies Camas Mor beach, a beautiful and secluded place.
Visitors to Gairloch can try their hand at windsurfing or play a round of golf. The Gairloch Heritage Museum offers plenty of interest for a rainy day. Displays include two fishing boats, a reconstruction of a croft and information on the geology and archeology of the area. The museum is open daily during the summer season.
Three miles south of Gairloch is Badachro, a former fishing village in a picturesque setting. The road from here winds south a further five miles to Redpoint, a tiny hamlet with stunning beaches and great views of Skye.
Poolewe sits in the shelter of Loch Ewe, at the mouth of the River Ewe where it tumbles down from Loch Maree. It is a pretty place in an area of spectacular scenery. From Poolewe a "B" road continues north along the west shore of Loch Ewe to Inverasdale and Cove.
Inverewe Garden is half a mile across the bay from Poolewe on the A832 and is open all year. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the site was developed by the botanist Osgood Mackenzie from 1862 until his death in 1922. He collected plants from all over the world for the garden he built there. He imported Irish soil and worked to create themed gardens linked by a maze of paths. The NTS Visitor Centre on site has a display charting the development of the garden and also has an excellent book shop.
Inland from Poolewe lies Loch Maree and, to its north, one of the last great wild places in Scotland, the Letterewe Forest (though as with many Scottish "forests" don't expect to find many trees). This is not an area for the inexperienced or ill equipped.
North from Poolewe the main road follows the shore of Loch Ewe as far as Aultbea, one of a number of settlements scattered along the north eastern shore of Loch Ewe. It then cuts inland, to emerge at Laide, confronted by fabulous views over Gruinard Bay to Gruinard Island and far beyond. A series of attractive beaches skirt the bay and a number are easily reached from the main road. The beach at Mellon Udrigle offers especially spectacular views.
