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 Applecross House |
 Shieldaig |
 Loch Torridon from Beinn Alligin |
Our tour of this spectacular area begins some 50 miles north of Lochcarron itself, in Kinlochewe.
Kinlochewe is an excellent base for outdoor activities and has good tourist facilities. It sits at the junction of the A832 heading north-west to Gairloch and the A896 heading south-west into the remote districts of Torridon and Applecross. Ten miles east of Kinlochewe is the little village of Achnasheen where there is a railway station and another significant road junction.
Kinlochewe lies close to but not quite at the south-eastern end of the beautiful Loch Maree, beyond which rise the fantastic rocky ramparts of Slioch, The Spear, a 3215ft mountain. The climb of Slioch starts at Incheril, near Kinlochewe and is a long and very beautiful mountain trek into the edge of the "Great Wilderness" that lies beyond.
A mile north-west of Kinlochewe is the Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre. Open during the summer months only, the Centre sells pamphlets describing two excellent walks in the reserve. One, a woodland trail through the forest, is an easy walk. The second takes in high ground to the north of Beinn Eighe and is a more strenuous proposition.
Going south-west, the road follows Glen Torridon beneath the looming presence of two magnificent mountains, Beinn Eighe (3313ft) and Liathach (3461ft). Both provide excellent walking, but none of it for the inexperienced. The ground is rough and steep, the area remote, and weather in Torridon can change rapidly.
At the end of Glen Torridon, where it meets Loch Torridon is the village of... Torridon. The village is at the point where it meets the sea and where visitors will find accommodation, shops and facilities.
The road west along the northern shore of the loch is both scenic and dramatic as it winds its way first along the shoreline and then climbs through cliffs and gorges. It also provides access to the foot of the third of Torridon's three great mountains, Beinn Alligin. Further west the road comes to an end in the beautiful village of Lower Diabaig.
On the south side of Loch Torridon the road continues to the village of Shieldaig. This is a picturesque place with whitewashed cottages set against a stunning mountain backdrop.
From Shieldaig you have the option of taking in the remote Applecross Peninsula and its stunning views across to the northern end of Skye. There used to be only one road in, the Bealach na Ba, or Pass of the Cattle: steep, demanding - almost alpine in appearance - and prone to problems in winter. The village of Applecross lies where the mountain road meets the sea. South of here are a string of villages well worth exploring, including Camusterrach, Ard-dhubh and Toscaig. The alternative route back from Applecross, around the west and north coasts of the peninsula and back to Shieldaig, is rather longer but more relaxing.
Near the eastern end of the Bealach na Ba is the scattered settlement of Kishorn, with the ruins of Courthill House and Courthill Chapel.
East of Kishorn is Lochcarron, complete with its shops, hotels and other tourist facilities. As can be seen from the selection of accommodation available on this site, Lochcarron is one of the most practical options for a base from which to explore the area. The lochside road south of Lochcarron leads you past the old ferry slipway at Strome that once carried all traffic heading towards Kyle of Lochalsh. The ferry is long gone, but the narrows it crossed are overlooked by the ruins of Strome Castle. The lochside road ends a couple of miles further south west in Ardaneaskan.
