Things to do

Walking

This is what most people come to the Highlands for. You don’t need to be an experienced hill walker to enjoy the landscape, there are plenty of low level walks along the coast or using stalkers’ paths. Many of the local walks can start, end or go via a pub or tea room. We have a range of walk books in the house to give you some ideas.

Useful links:

Walk Highlands https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/

Whale watching and marine life

Nearby Gairloch has a number of options from whizzing out into the Minch on a RIB to see whales or more gentle tours of harbour waters.

Ian from Gairloch Marine Life Centre & Cruises is a marine biologist who runs cruises and has a small marine life information centre at the harbour.

Useful links

Gairloch Marine Life Centre & Cruises http://www.porpoise-gairloch.co.uk/

Whale watching http://www.hebridean-whale-cruises.co.uk/

Canoeing

Take to the water for canoeing and kayaking adventures with Ewe Canoe: http://www.ewecanoe.co.uk/

Love gardens?

You can happily spend a day at the National Trust for Scotland property Inverewe House and Gardens. There are guided tours which we recommend, a nice shop and a choice of cafes to help you make a day of it. The garden was created out of bare rock and a few scrub willows in 1862 by Osgood Mackenzie and is full of colourful, exotic plants from around the world. Highlights include the most northerly planting of rare Wollemi pines, Himalayan blue poppies, olearia from New Zealand, Tasmanian eucalypts, and rhododendrons from China, Nepal and the Indian subcontinent

http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Inverewe-Garden-and-Estate/

A little further afield is Attadale. Attadale Gardens are exceptional gardens started by the Victorians and developed further over the past forty years by Nicky and Ewen Macpherson. The gardens include extensive water gardens and ancient paths winding through woodland and rhododendrons, over bridges, waterfalls and exotically planted ponds.

http://www.attadalegardens.com/

A scenic drive away…

Bealach na Bà: Take a road trip over to Applecross, have lunch at the award winning Applecross Inn and drive back over the amazing pass of Bealach na Bà. The road is one of few in the Scottish Highlands that is engineered similarly to roads through the great mountain passes in the Alps, with very tight hairpin bends that switch back and forth up the hillside and gradients that approach 20%. It boasts the greatest ascent of any road climb in the UK, rising from sea level at Applecross to 626 metres (2,054 ft), and is the third highest road in Scotland.

Ullapool and the Corrieshalloch Gorge: The drive towards Ullapool passes some wonderful mountain scenery and sheltered beaches. The Gorge is a half way point and an impressive place to stop. Carry on to Ullapool for lunch or dinner at The Ceilidh Place.

Or take the train?

From Achnasheen which is back on the road from Gairloch to Inverness, you can catch the smashing little train to Plockton, Attadale Gardens or Kyle of Lochalsh. You could drive there of course, but somehow the train is more fun. But do check the train times first via the ScotRail website. You can buy tickets on their app.

Traditional music

Poolewe hosts a weekly family ceilidh during the summer. They are lovely events with everyone welcome. Find out more on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ThePooleweCeilidhPartnership

The Ceilidh Place in Ullapool wins awards as a music venue.

Cycling

The roads are pretty quiet even in summer so if you bring your bike you will find plenty of opportunities to get out for a ride.