West coast of Scotland and the Isles
Discussion
Hi All,
Looking for some advice on accommodation and also things to do/see...
We're looking at driving up to the West coast of Scotland in June next year for a 2 week holiday. Our thoughts are to stay in 2 different locations and make the most of day trips to see & do things each day.
Location-wise we've been looking at 1 week around areas such as Gairloch / Torridon / Lochcarron, and the 2nd week on the Isle of Skye. It will be me, my Wife and our young Son (who will be 1 yr old in June next year).
Ideally we're looking for a self-catering cottage that is quiet and with stunning views (Lochs / Mountains / Sea). Somewhere secluded is an option, as long as it's not more than 10 miles from a village / pub (is that still secluded? How do you define secluded!?). However we don't want to be in a town.
So my questions are:
1. Can anyone recommend any accommodation that suits?
2. What sort of things are must see and/or do?
3. Any other suggestions?
Looking for some advice on accommodation and also things to do/see...
We're looking at driving up to the West coast of Scotland in June next year for a 2 week holiday. Our thoughts are to stay in 2 different locations and make the most of day trips to see & do things each day.
Location-wise we've been looking at 1 week around areas such as Gairloch / Torridon / Lochcarron, and the 2nd week on the Isle of Skye. It will be me, my Wife and our young Son (who will be 1 yr old in June next year).
Ideally we're looking for a self-catering cottage that is quiet and with stunning views (Lochs / Mountains / Sea). Somewhere secluded is an option, as long as it's not more than 10 miles from a village / pub (is that still secluded? How do you define secluded!?). However we don't want to be in a town.
So my questions are:
1. Can anyone recommend any accommodation that suits?
2. What sort of things are must see and/or do?
3. Any other suggestions?
Isle of Arran is well worth a look. Check out sawdays.co.uk for s/c accomm in general not just Arran.
This was great fun as well - http://www.seafari.co.uk/oban/
This was great fun as well - http://www.seafari.co.uk/oban/
Lochcarron village is a quiet location with a few eating options on the door step.
We have used Lochcarron Cottages a few times. Seabank may suit the three of you?
Over the Cow Pass to Applecross Inn. Great Road. Fantastic Food.
Gairloch a bit bigger and more options. Old Inn and Badachro Inn very good.
I think we used http://www.westerrossretreats.co.uk/
Have also stayed in Lochinver. Maybe a little remote?
The drive up to Tongue is spectacular. Single track but good visibility.
We have used Lochcarron Cottages a few times. Seabank may suit the three of you?
Over the Cow Pass to Applecross Inn. Great Road. Fantastic Food.
Gairloch a bit bigger and more options. Old Inn and Badachro Inn very good.
I think we used http://www.westerrossretreats.co.uk/
Have also stayed in Lochinver. Maybe a little remote?
The drive up to Tongue is spectacular. Single track but good visibility.
http://www.unique-cottages.co.uk/cottages/west-coa...
Stayed here a few years ago, walking distance to the fantastic Hotel Eilean Iarmain with its bar, outside seating area and decent food. In the south of the Island - but that just means you have to make use of Skye's wonderful roads. Also handy for the ferry at Armadale - which goes back to Mallaig.
As soon as you appear at the window about 40 ducks will appear expecting bread !!
Stayed here a few years ago, walking distance to the fantastic Hotel Eilean Iarmain with its bar, outside seating area and decent food. In the south of the Island - but that just means you have to make use of Skye's wonderful roads. Also handy for the ferry at Armadale - which goes back to Mallaig.
As soon as you appear at the window about 40 ducks will appear expecting bread !!
Beautiful part of the world, I hope the midges aren't too problematic. We had a cottage near Badachro for 10 years or so but sold it as we became too busy at home to make the nine hour journeys. If the land isn't too boggy the Fairy Lochs are well worth a visit, it's a fascinating second world war aircraft crash site. Have a great time and enjoy the roads. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Lochs
jonesof63 said:
If the land isn't too boggy the Fairy Lochs are well worth a visit, it's a fascinating second world war aircraft crash site. Have a great time and enjoy the roads. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Lochs
That looks interesting. Obviously it's a walk there, but where's best to start from? Here?https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.6877484,-5.67990...
ghibbett said:
Just to update: off next week. 1 week on the Mainland (just outside Torridon) and 1 week on Skye.
Can't wait
I'll look out for you. No midges here for at least 3 weeks.. and with this weather likely 5 weeks, so no problem there.Can't wait
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 26th April 16:33
More info and where to park here, also some pictures of the memorial and wreckage....... http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/Fairylochs...
jonesof63 said:
More info and where to park here, also some pictures of the memorial and wreckage....... http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/Fairylochs...
Excellent info. Thank you Sir 
GetCarter said:
I'll look out for you. No midges here for at least 3 weeks.. and with this weather likely 5 weeks, so no problem there.
Thanks Steve, and thanks again for the info you sent me. It's been extremely useful. We're staying at Bayview Cottage in Annat from the 7th. Hope the weather picks up from what I've seen of late...
So just to close this thread, I'm recently back from my 2 week holiday.
The first week we stayed in the Torridon region. We were exceptionally lucky to have a week of truly fantastic weather; blue skies and anywhere between 21C-27C each day. Naturally we did the Applecross Pass (along with lunch at the Applecross Inn - to be recommended) and drove around the periphery of the peninsula. We also visited the beaches in Gairloch (again, excellent), had a fantastic lunch in Kishorn (Kishorn Seafood Bar - again, excellent), did the spectacular drive out to Diabaig at sunset and did a 210 mile loop of the North Coast 500 route, up as far as Kylesku for an excellent (you can see the trend here) lunch at the Kylesku Hotel. Must add that we also had a nice lunch in Plockton (Plockton Shores). Plus I climbed a monroe and various other bits.
The second week was spend on Skye, however the weather turned dramatically and we had lots of rain and high winds. Consequently we didn't manage to do anywhere near as much as we'd hoped (Old Man of Storr, Glen Brittle Falls etc), so will have to save exploring Skye for another year.
Oh and my car threw an EML light the evening before the 600 mile drive home. Not what you need to end a holiday!
The first week we stayed in the Torridon region. We were exceptionally lucky to have a week of truly fantastic weather; blue skies and anywhere between 21C-27C each day. Naturally we did the Applecross Pass (along with lunch at the Applecross Inn - to be recommended) and drove around the periphery of the peninsula. We also visited the beaches in Gairloch (again, excellent), had a fantastic lunch in Kishorn (Kishorn Seafood Bar - again, excellent), did the spectacular drive out to Diabaig at sunset and did a 210 mile loop of the North Coast 500 route, up as far as Kylesku for an excellent (you can see the trend here) lunch at the Kylesku Hotel. Must add that we also had a nice lunch in Plockton (Plockton Shores). Plus I climbed a monroe and various other bits.
The second week was spend on Skye, however the weather turned dramatically and we had lots of rain and high winds. Consequently we didn't manage to do anywhere near as much as we'd hoped (Old Man of Storr, Glen Brittle Falls etc), so will have to save exploring Skye for another year.
Oh and my car threw an EML light the evening before the 600 mile drive home. Not what you need to end a holiday!
Shameless plug for my place near Glencoe.
http://www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/self-caterin...
Check the reviews as they are 100% genuine. We get booked for over 50% of the year by the end of January. Nice and private without being too far away from the shops etc.
A week here would be a decent duration to explore the area and then up north after that.
Cheers
N.
http://www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/self-caterin...
Check the reviews as they are 100% genuine. We get booked for over 50% of the year by the end of January. Nice and private without being too far away from the shops etc.
A week here would be a decent duration to explore the area and then up north after that.
Cheers
N.
ghibbett said:
So just to close this thread, I'm recently back from my 2 week holiday.
The first week we stayed in the Torridon region. We were exceptionally lucky to have a week of truly fantastic weather; blue skies and anywhere between 21C-27C each day. Naturally we did the Applecross Pass (along with lunch at the Applecross Inn - to be recommended) and drove around the periphery of the peninsula. We also visited the beaches in Gairloch (again, excellent), had a fantastic lunch in Kishorn (Kishorn Seafood Bar - again, excellent), did the spectacular drive out to Diabaig at sunset and did a 210 mile loop of the North Coast 500 route, up as far as Kylesku for an excellent (you can see the trend here) lunch at the Kylesku Hotel. Must add that we also had a nice lunch in Plockton (Plockton Shores). Plus I climbed a monroe and various other bits.
The second week was spend on Skye, however the weather turned dramatically and we had lots of rain and high winds. Consequently we didn't manage to do anywhere near as much as we'd hoped (Old Man of Storr, Glen Brittle Falls etc), so will have to save exploring Skye for another year.
Oh and my car threw an EML light the evening before the 600 mile drive home. Not what you need to end a holiday!
Pleased you enjoyed it. Sorry about the Skye sunshine....The first week we stayed in the Torridon region. We were exceptionally lucky to have a week of truly fantastic weather; blue skies and anywhere between 21C-27C each day. Naturally we did the Applecross Pass (along with lunch at the Applecross Inn - to be recommended) and drove around the periphery of the peninsula. We also visited the beaches in Gairloch (again, excellent), had a fantastic lunch in Kishorn (Kishorn Seafood Bar - again, excellent), did the spectacular drive out to Diabaig at sunset and did a 210 mile loop of the North Coast 500 route, up as far as Kylesku for an excellent (you can see the trend here) lunch at the Kylesku Hotel. Must add that we also had a nice lunch in Plockton (Plockton Shores). Plus I climbed a monroe and various other bits.
The second week was spend on Skye, however the weather turned dramatically and we had lots of rain and high winds. Consequently we didn't manage to do anywhere near as much as we'd hoped (Old Man of Storr, Glen Brittle Falls etc), so will have to save exploring Skye for another year.
Oh and my car threw an EML light the evening before the 600 mile drive home. Not what you need to end a holiday!
Everyone praises the Applecross Inn, Shieldaig Hotel pretty good too. (Hi Steve).
Ages since we went to Diabeg, really pleasant area, Plockton Shores always good, I prefer Plockton Inn myself. Always like the walk along the front at Lochcarron.
Saw Attadale on the TV the other day BTW. That's a very pleasant garden to visit.
We trailed up to the Old Man last year and a) couldn't see it for the fog/rain and b) couldn't get parked any where. (Went back to Jans in Portree for lunch (yes its a hardware outlet with a very pleasant café in the rear).
That reminds me, I need to go up and cut the grass.....
nigelonich said:
Shameless plug for my place near Glencoe.
http://www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/self-caterin...
Check the reviews as they are 100% genuine. We get booked for over 50% of the year by the end of January. Nice and private without being too far away from the shops etc.
A week here would be a decent duration to explore the area and then up north after that.
Cheers
N.
Not a shameless plug http://www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/self-caterin...
Check the reviews as they are 100% genuine. We get booked for over 50% of the year by the end of January. Nice and private without being too far away from the shops etc.
A week here would be a decent duration to explore the area and then up north after that.
Cheers
N.
Ideal location for exploring Glencoe and Lochaber and a cracking spot. I might be slightly biased as I live 2 miles along the road!We stayed in Lochaline some years ago.
We rented a cottage right by the pier for the Mull Ferry.
Mull is lovely and one day we drove across it to go up to the short ferry to Iona, which was even lovelier!
The beaches up here are incredible, white sands, crystal clear water and if you photoshop in a few palm trees (on a sunny day!) people will be convinced it's the Seychelles or Caribbean.
I also had a week diving out of Lochaline, some years later, and the diving in the Sound of Mull is some of the very best I've ever done!
M.
We rented a cottage right by the pier for the Mull Ferry.
Mull is lovely and one day we drove across it to go up to the short ferry to Iona, which was even lovelier!
The beaches up here are incredible, white sands, crystal clear water and if you photoshop in a few palm trees (on a sunny day!) people will be convinced it's the Seychelles or Caribbean.
I also had a week diving out of Lochaline, some years later, and the diving in the Sound of Mull is some of the very best I've ever done!
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Sunday 5th June 10:45
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff