There is a lot going on in this corner of the Highlands, so if you are passing through, maybe doing the North Coast 500, think about lingering a while, here are our seven reasons why you should:
- Wartime Loch Ewe: Loch Ewe is steeped in war time history. Here the Artic Convoys gathered and a local crofting community became a hub of war time activity. It is said that you could walk across Loch Ewe going from ship to ship. Start your visit at Cove at the far end of the western shore and visit the memorial that overlooks where many war time buildings remain. Imagine what it was like to be stationed there in the depths of winter or to be sailing past en route to Murmansk and Archangel in Russia. The Artic Convoys will be the subject for a new museum for which fund raising is underway. Find out more about the history and the museum. Talking of which….
- Artic Convoy Museum: A wonderful collection of artefacts and documents makes up this temporary museum. I am fascinated by the human stories and they are here aplenty. Note that the museum is moving in 2017 from Inverasdale to Aultbea with plans for it to be open for the Loch Ewe World War II Festival on 6 and 7 May, so check before you visit, use the link in the paragraph above.
- Firemore beach: Firemore is one of those wonderful sandy beaches you come across in Scotland. It is a lovely spot for a picnic, a paddle, watching sea birds, collecting shells or just having a gentle stroll. Not surprisingly it is a popular spot for motorhome stop overs. It also has a few tales to tell; the story goes that on Christmas Day 1950, a student from Firemore and some of her colleagues removed the Scottish coronation stone – the Stone of Destiny – from Westminster Abbey in London and hid it at the beach for months before it was returned.
- Inverewe House and Gardens: This National Trust for Scotland attraction is a great day out, you can see it just across the loch from Aodann. The gardens are sub-tropical and said to be one of the most beautiful in Scotland. We recommend taking one of their guided tours. Just recently the house has been refurbished and opened to the public complete with café. (There is also a café outside the garden which you can visit even if you aren’t going in.)
- Lovely perfume: At what is just about the end of the eastern shore you come to The Perfume Studio which designs and makes an original range of perfumes, fragrances, skin creams, toiletries and soaps which are all sold in the gift shop. Fragrances are designed and made on the premises with natural ingredients that reflect the moods of nature in the Highlands of Scotland. There is also a lovely café.
That’s our five reasons to linger a while by Loch Ewe and we’d love you to stay at Aodann self catering accommodation and explore even further afield.
Ann