Gairloch ScotlandGairloch Accommodation Guide - quality accommodation in Gairloch for holiday or business travel. Scotlands Gairloch accommodation options include hotels, lodges, guest houses, camping, bed and breakfast and self catering accommodation including holiday homes and apartment rentals. Whatever your Scottish Gairloch accommodation requirements we will help you find the right place.
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Places to stay GairlochHotels and Inns
Bed & Breakfast - Guesthouse
Self Catering and Cottages
Camping Caravan Hostel
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Welcome to Gairloch Scotland
The area provides a wealth of activities for visitors as well as spectacular scenery, with unforgettable sunsets across the Minch to the Western Isles and the dramatic backdrop of the Torridon mountains to the south. Gairloch offers visitors clean sandy beaches, with history at every turn, dolphins, porpoises and seals in the loch, fishing boats in the harbour, a superb golf course, opportunities for fishing and pony trekking, and some of the best and most varied walking in Scotland. The area has been a popular holiday resort since Victorian times, when visitors came in on the regular steamers from the south. In those days most visitors put up at the 150-bed Gairloch Hotel (built in 1872), but today’s visitors have a wide choice of accommodation, and lots of different places to wine, dine and shop all around the loch. In the summer the local inns and hotels frequently hold ceilidhs and musical evenings. Gairloch’s colourful history has been dominated by its easy access from the sea and relative inaccessibility from the land. The full story of the Gairloch area is fascinatingly depicted in the award-winning Heritage Museum. Accommodation around GairlochPrice Guide - per person based on sharing room:
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Tigh
Na Mhuillean |
Mr
R MacKenzie |
Heather
Croft |
Sands
Holiday House |
Sands
Caravan and Camping Gairloch |
Kerrysdale
House |
Gairloch
View |
Rona
and Raasay |
Heatherdale |
Staffa |
Torridon
View |
Gairloch
Carn Dearg Youth Hostel (SYHA) |
Freyja |
Apronhill |
Creag
Mhor Chalets |
Rua
Reidh Lighthouse Hostel Gairloch |
The
Sheiling B&B |
The
Sheiling Caravan |
Millcroft
Hotel |
The
Sheiling - Laide |
Shieldaig
Lodge |
The
Old Inn |
Lochside |
14
Aultgrishan Holiday Cottage Gairloch |
Sea
Croft |
Gairloch
Highland Lodge Gairloch |
Sands
Holiday Centre Caravans Gairloch |
Cairns
Cottage |
ArdSheen |
The
Croft |
Lochview |
Willow
Croft |
Millcroft
Hotel Self Catering Gairloch |
Gairloch
Hotel |
Family
Holiday Houses |
New
Hotel |
History is all around you, from the Bronze Age hut circles by the Sand River and the remains of the vitrified fort of An Dùn by Gairloch beach to the Destitution roads and the magnificent family seat of the Clan Mackenzie in the wooded Flowerdale glen. Place names speak both of Viking invaders and of the traditional Gaelic culture (Gaelic is still spoken by many local people).
The harbour, once the centre of a thriving cod fishery, is today home to a small handful of fishing boats, landing a range of fish and shellfish.
Things to do and see in Gairloch
On the sea
Sea fishing trips go out daily in the season from Gairloch Pier, and sea
life tours venture out on the loch to look for porpoises, seals, dolphins,
whales and sea birds. Or go out with a working creel fisherman to see
what turns up. All these sea activities are bookable in the Harbour area
or by phone.
By the sea
All around Gairloch from Red Point to Rua Reidh you can watch sea birds
and marine mammals, and enjoy the fine sandy beaches. These include Red
Point, the Golf Course beach and Sands (car access to Sands beach is via
Sands Holiday Centre). Golf Gairloch’s beautifully situated and
well-maintained 9-hole golf course is open seven days a week. Visitors
are very welcome, and clubs may be hired. River and loch fishing There’s
good fishing to be had in the many hill lochs in the area, and some river
fishing. Permits are available from Gunns newsagents, the chandlery and
various hotels. Visitors can also buy tackle or hire rods in Strath and
near the Pier.
Walking
From an amble to a ramble to a scramble, there’s good walking to
be had for all ages, abilities and levels of fitness around Gairloch.
Walking guide books are available from the Tourist Information Centre
and from several local shops. Follow signs for the path from Strath to
the Harbour, or for the Flowerdale walks collect a leaflet from the information
box there. Ask at the Tourist Information Centre for details of Guided
walking with qualified mountain guides. Stalking takes place on the hills
around Gairloch from late September onwards. Details from the Estate Office
(near Flowerdale House).
Sports
Outdoor pursuits around Gairloch include rock climbing, abseiling and
orienteering with instruction and equipment, and Pony treks in the beautiful
Gairloch estate. The Leisure Centre next to the High School offers sporting
activities all year round. The friendly swimming pool at Poolewe, 6 miles
(10km) north of Gairloch, also welcomes visitors.
Other attractions
Gairloch Heritage Museum This award-winning museum housed in
a restored farm steading has many fascinating displays – well worth
a visit. Gairloch Harbour A relaxed harbour for fishing boats and pleasure
craft, with a small marine life centre.
Gift/Craft shops There are several in and around Gairloch, including art galleries and a pottery.
Rua Reidh lighthouse Dramatic views over the Minch to the Outer Hebrides, with good bird and marine life watching en route (the lighthouse tower is not open to the public).
Red Point A spectacular sandy beach and dunes reached via the scenic route around the south side of Loch Gairloch past the picturesque sheltered anchorage of Badachro.
Waterfalls In Gairloch at Flowerdale, and also the Victoria Falls at Slattadale just a few miles to the south on the A832.
Local radio Gairloch’s community radio station, Two Lochs Radio, went on the air in 2003, and is proving a great hit locally. Two Lochs Radio is the place to find out where to be and what to see and do in the Gairloch and Loch Ewe areas. Tune in on 106 FM (Gairloch) or 106.6 FM (Loch Ewe and Loch Maree).
For families
Gairloch offers clean, safe beaches, friendly accommodation and
eateries and a wealth of wildlife – look out for the sheep! At the
harbour you can see fishing boats and may even spot Sammy the seal. There
is a Pitch and Putt by the play area at Strath, and the Toybox play centre
(behind the Community Centre) welcomes young visitors. Further afield
Gairloch is a good base for visiting Inverewe Garden NTS, the world-famous
subtropical woodland gardens on the shore of Loch Ewe 6 miles (10km) north
of Gairloch on the A832, with colourful displays throughout the year.
Beinn Eighe, Britain’s first National Nature Reserve, is 16 miles
(25km) south, alongside beautiful Loch Maree. The Wester Ross Coastal
Trail road route passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in
Scotland.
If you need somewhere safe and stimulating for the kids, the Toybox Children's Centre provides daycare for children from 3 months to 12 years and visiting children are very welcome.
Where to stay
From budget to 5-star, Gairloch offers visitors a wide range
of accommodation. Choose from self-catering houses, bed and breakfast,
independent and SYHA hostels, camping and caravan sites, guest houses
and hotels. Details of many places to stay are available from the Tourist
Information Centre, or you can call in at any of the many establishments
with ‘B&B’ signs outside.
Eating out
Gairloch has everything to offer the hungry visitor, ranging
from fish suppers and take-away snacks, to candle-lit dinners and fine
menus featuring fish specialities, vegetarian dishes (even haggis!), venison,
afternoon teas and traditional Scottish breakfasts. Local fresh produce,
especially local seafood, is prominent on many menus. The many comfortable
inns, hotels and cafés around the bay stock a good selection of
wines, spirits and beers, with one boasting the widest selection of real
ales in Scotland! See the Guide to local services, eating out section.
Shopping for provisions
All provisions, including British and foreign newspapers, petrol
and camping supplies, milk, fresh bread and meat, fish and vegetables
are available locally – as are books, maps, guides, wet weather
clothing, local crafts, woollens and souvenirs. See the Guide to local
services, shopping section. Public Internet access at broadband speeds
is available in several locations, and digital camera cards can be downloaded
or transferred to CD at Wordworks near the harbour.
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