There are many things to see in South West Ross. Wildlife and scenery are the most obvious. Every part of the area has it's own hidden beauties, and this section will hopefully whet your appetite. It may prove useful to print out the picture of the peninsula to see where the places are as I take you on your tour. Or failing that, open another browser, and click back and forth between pages.
Starting in the busy fishing village of Kyle of Lochalsh, it would be easy to think that there is little to see except the hustle and bustle of the areas service centre. Not so, in fact the views from the Plock of Kyle, looking out towards the Sound of Raasay and the Isle of Skye are some of the most breathtaking in South West Ross. The main viewpoint at sunset is usually full of tourists all wishing to take a photo of this quite remarkable view.
Also not to be missed is a walk over the Skye Bridge. Driving over costs a fortune, but the stroll is free, and means you will not whiz past some of the most secretive of our native mammals, the otter. If you stop on the approach bridge, and spend a little time with binoculars scanning the shore line of Eilean Ban, you will see herons in abundance, cormorants, oyster catchers and with a little bit of luck, otters.
Further up the coast is the beautiful little village of Plockton, famed in such films as The Wicker Man, and the TV series Hamish Macbeth. The village can be reached by road, of course, but a more relaxing way to get there from Kyle is on the railway. The views of the Sound of Raasay, and the Crowlin Isles are quite breathtaking. Also watch out for the small islands nearer the coast. When conditions permit you can see just how clean the water is round here.
If you are travelling by road, be sure and stop in Duirinish to see Morags Coos. These savage looking Highland Cattle are surprisingly docile, but only feed them if there is a fence between you and them.
When in Plockton you should remember that camera film is quite expensive, and if you haven't taken a large supply, watch out, or you might run out!
There is only one road out of Plockton, but it soon branches of into the 'main' road back to Kyle, or the shore road to Achmore. If you have time, take the long way. And make it longer by visiting Loch Achadh na h-Inich, Loch Lundie and Torr Mor. It's in this part of Lochalsh that people are tripping over Pine Martin because of their abundance!
Leaving from Kyle and heading towards Dornie, you will pass Murchinsons Monument. There is a big car park here, so you won't have to park on the main road. The monument was raised in 1861 to commemorate Colonel Donald Murchison, who was factor to the Earl of Seaforth between 1715 and 1719. From here, if you look towards the base of Beinn na Caillich at low tide you can see the wreck of the WWII minelayer, Port Napier. This hulk of a ship went on fire during the war when Kyle was used to stock the minelayers. For safety reasons, she was pulled to the middle of Lochalsh, and left to sink in deep water. (Lochalsh is about 250 feet deep) Instead, she lasted longer than anticipated, floated toward shore, blew up and sunk in about 80 feet of water. It is advisable to view her with binoculars, or take a trip in the glass bottomed boat from Kyle.
Carrying on to Balmacara, the next thing to see would be the Lochalsh Woodland Garden. I tell more about this place in the ThingsTo Do section.
This brings me to Dornie and Eilean Donan Castle.
Of all the castles in the world, Eilean Donan Castle has to be the most photographed. You've probably seen it so many times before, that I haven't bothered putting it's picture here. It is on the front of every shortbread tin in Scotland, and people take thousands of photo's every year. But, because of the ever changing light conditions, every photo is different. So to prove it you'll have to visit the castle and take your own photos to find out.
The castle itself is not the original, but was built on the old ruin earlier this century. But regardless of when it was built, you have to admit, it looks the part. It has been used in many films, Highlander being the most famous, but also recently in Loch Ness, and the James Bond film, The World Is Not Enough.
Dornie itself is based on the join of three sea-lochs. Loch Alsh, Loch Long, and Loch Duich. If you go up Loch Duich to the area known as Glen Shiel, (we are no longer on the Lochalsh Peninsula) you will see the 5 Sisters of Kintail. Bachelors shouldn't get their hopes up to high, as these sisters are an amazing mountain range. The best place to see these from is on the road to Glenelg.
Glenelg is a hell of a place, and I don't mean that in an impolite way. The road over though is not very good, but has been widened in many places, and the tight corners sorted out. When you are in Glenelg you must see the Bernera Barracks. This was built in the 18th century to house the government garrisons who moved into the Highlands to police the areas, and ensure there were no more repeats of the uprisings of 1715 and 1745.
Further along the road, is a mighty fine looking war memorial to the men of the area who fell in WWI and WWII. It is of a Highland soldier, and what must be his guardian angel standing watch over him. A moving sight, and certainly quite unexpected in such a small village.
Just after you leave Glenelg, there is a signpost for the Brochs. Here are 3 of the best preserved Iron Age forts to be found anywhere on mainland Scotland. I'm sorry there's no picture, you'll just have to go and look for yourselves, because all I have is a drawing.
Back on the road to Arnisdale there is a path that cuts of the shore at Sandaig. The small cottage at the end of the path is Camusfearna, home of Gavin Maxwell while he wrote his book 'Ring Of Bright Water'. Later Gavin Maxwell went to live on Eilean Ban, where the bridge is now. I wonder what he would have to say about that if he was alive today.
And with that the tour has returned full circle.
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