North West Highlands

Newton Lodge  is ideally situated for touring the north west highlands tourist route. 
The scenery is spectacular and there are many interesting places to visit. 

Click on a number in the map below for more details, 

THE NORTH AND WEST HIGHLANDS 

A land of majestic mountains and timeless hospitality

Reach for the record books. North-West Sutherland is a big country and it's full of big things. Here you'll find the UK's highest waterfall, the highest sea cliffs - even a cave that could hold a cathedral. And if it isn't big - it's ancient. There are rocks 3,000 million years old and animal bones dating back to the last Ice Age. It is a land where normal time and space are left behind.

NORTH-WEST SUTHERLAND sweeps northwards from Ullapool via numerous crofting communities and fishing ports such as Lochinver and Kinlochbervie to Cape Wrath. The area then extends along the north coast. 

BUT, of course, if North-West Sutherland gives you space to think, it also offers plenty to keep you busy. There are woodland walks and wildlife trails - where local guides can help you catch a glimpse of pine martens, otters, puffins and so much more. You can go on a wildlife cruise - there are lots of them to choose from - or take a boat out to Handa Island, one of Scotland's great seabird reserves.

Then there are the superb visitor centres with fascinating stories to tell - try Durness and Lochinver for starters. There are ruined castles to explore, ancient brochs to investigate and busy harbours to visit. There are ceilidhs, dancing, traditional music, tasty local seafood ... the list goes on, but space is limited - if only in this page! Don't worry though, the map above points to lots more ideas to help you make the most of your time in North-West Sutherland.

Go exploring - there's so much to discover in North West Sutherland. 

1. ACHILTIBUIE & INVERKIRKAIG

The Achiltibuie area is renowned for its unforgettable seascapes and some great coastal walks - especially from Reiff. From here a wonderful twisty road leads to Lochinver via Inverkirkaig - a crofting township overlooking a beautiful bay. A path beside the River Kirkaig leads to the Falls of Kirkaig and on to the foot of Suilven - Assynt's famous 'sugar-loaf' mountain.

2. ACHMELVICH

A spectacular sandy beach with camping facilities and a youth hostel nearby. Ideal for sailing and windsurfing. A ranger service provides guided walks.

3. ARDVRECK CASTLE

Built by the MacLeods in 1597, Ardvreck is famous as the prison of the Marquis of Montrose following his capture in 1650. The castle is now a ruin, as is nearby Calda House, another local landmark with an interesting story to tell.

4. BALNAKEIL & FARAID HEAD

The Balnakeil Craft Village has been established in the once derelict buildings of a former military base. Nearby attractions include the historic ruins of Balnakeil Church and the big surf at BaInakeil beach. Rangers lead guided walks to Faraid Head - a favourite haunt of puffins.

5. CAPE WRATH

The most north-westerly point on the British mainland, Cape Wrath is accessible via a ferry across the Kyle of Durness at Keodale which connects with a mini-bus in the summer months. Or you could walk - ask at Durness Tourist Information Centre for details of ferry times etc. The Cape itself is renowned for its lighthouse, built in 1827, and for the immense Clo Mor - the highest sea cliffs in mainland Britain and home to huge seabird breeding colonies.

6. CLACHTOLL & STOER

Two adjacent crofting townships with excellent beaches. The remains of a broch, an Iron Age defensive tower, can be seen near Stoer Bay.

7. DURNESS & SMOO CAVE

A scattered crofting community backed by a series of beautiful beaches. The Durness Tourist Information and Visitor Centre has interpretive displays and a Countryside Ranger Service. Smoo Cave is a spectacular limestone cavern. A wooden walkway enables visitors to view the waterfall in the inner chamber -- which can also be explored by a boat trip. Exhilarating!

8. HANDA ISLAND

Handa Island is one of the most important seabird breeding colonies in the UK. Visit in spring and summer to see some of the 30+ bird species which breed here including razorbills, puffins and great and arctic skuas. (The boat sails from Tarbet; no Sunday sailings; no dogs allowed!)

9. INCHNADAMPH NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE

An area of great botanical, geological and historical interest. Animal bones found in one of the limestone caves - including brown bear, reindeer and lynx - suggest the cave may have been home to man at the end of the last Ice Age - some 11,000 years ago!

10. INVERPOLLY NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE

A vast area of wild country which includes the mountains of Cul Mor, Cul Beag and Stac Pollaidh, the reserve is a natural haven for Scottish wild cat, pine marten and golden eagle.

11. KINLOCHBERVIE

One of the country's busiest deep-sea fishing ports, Kinlochbervie is also popular with visitors. When fish are being landed, the harbour is a fascinating place to visit. Sea angling trips are also available locally. You'll find a full range of tourist services and facilities in and around the port.

12. KYLESKU

Famous for more than just a great bridge, Kylesku is the departure point for boat trips up Loch Glencoul to see Eas a'Chual Aluinn - the highest waterfall in Britain at all of 200m (650feet).

13. KNOCKAN & ELPHIN

Knockan is one of the most important geological sites in the UK. Nearby, the crofting community of Elphin is a centre for outdoor activities and home to a rare breeds farm.

14. LOCH ERIBOLL

Reputedly the deepest sea loch in Britain and best known as a gathering point for Atlantic and Russian convoys during the Second World War. East of the loch, a minor road leads south to the 2000 year old ruins of Dun Dornaigil broch.

15. LOCHINVER

A busy fishing port, Lochinver provides a full range of visitor facilities and services including boat cruises and bike hire. The local pottery - Highland Stoneware - is world famous, and the evening fish market can be a real experience. The award-winning Assynt Visitor Centre is home to an excellent interpretive display and the local Countryside Ranger service.

16. SANDWOOD BAY

Beyond Oldshoremore and Oldshorebeg, a footpath takes you the four miles to Sandwood Bay. When you arrive, you will discover that the isolation and beauty of this beach provide ample reward for the walk there - and back! Legends also abound of ghostly sailors and shy mermaids.

17. SCOURIE & FANAGMORE

The crofting community of Scourie has good facilities for visitors, a safe bathing beach and lots of opportunities for both wild brown trout fishing and game fishing. 

18. TALMINE & MELNESS

Crofting townships on the west side of the Kyle of Tongue. Small harbours, stunning views and seals basking on the sands.

19. THE OLD MAN OF STOER

An hour's walk from the car park near Rhu Stoer lighthouse, the Old Man of Stoer is a spectacular sea stack. The coast's sandstone geology has also led to the formation of caves, arches and cliffs - the latter teaming with seabirds. Go carefully - these cliffs can be dangerous.

20. TONGUE

One of the principal villages of the north coast, Tongue has shops, services and a youth hostel. Local attractions include the ruins of Castle Varrich and Coldbackie Beach. The bridge over the Kyle of Tongue offers excellent views of the surrounding area - especially Ben Loyal to the south. From Tongue, you can head south to Altnaharra via Loch Loyal.

21. ULLAPOOL

One gateway to North-West Sutherland, Ullapool is also the main ferry terminal for Stornoway and the Western Isles. Situated on the shores of Loch Broom, the village is a popular holiday destination with a leisure centre, swimming pool, golf course and a superb museum.

Finding out more