Visit Arisaig, Applecross, Gairloch and Fort William
Enjoy a west coast adventure of beaches and castles
This awesome tour around Scotland’s beautiful west coast takes in part of the popular NC500 route and includes visits to some stunning white sandy beaches safe for wild swimming and kayaking. If history is more your thing then you can enjoy Scotland’s iconic Eilean Donan Castle on route or find out more about the part played by Scotland in WW2 on the Loch Ewe Wartime Trail up at Gairloch
Day 1
From Four Seasons Campers (Loch Lomond Base) head north on the A82 through Glencoe and continue towards Fort William then past Neptunes Staircase on the A830 towards Arisaig and Mallaig. The road runs parallel to the Jacobite Steam train railway line made famous in Harry Potter as the route the Hogwarts Express took. Turn off the A830 at Arisaig where there are an abundance of campsites and beautiful beaches that look towards the Inner Hebridean Islands of Eigg and Rhum.
- Things to see and do:
• Stop at pretty village of Luss on Loch Lomond
• Enjoy ‘healthy’ fish and chips from The Real Food Café in Tyndrum
• Neptunes Staircase -series of canal locks that link the Caledonian Canal to the open sea and is well worth a visit. Watch Scandinavian yachts passing o the beautiful West Coast and Inner Hebrides.
• Glenfinnan Monument erected in memory of Jacobite rising and men who fought for Prince Charlie’s cause and the Glenfinnan Viaduct – a great engineering construction
• Jacobite West Highland Line made famous in the Harry Potter films by Hogwarts Express – book well in advance for this popular trip
• Stop at Loch Leven Seafood Café http://www.lochlevenseafoodcafe.co.uk/ for seafood (highly recommended by other customers!) 4 miles north east of Ballahulish Bridge for amazing oysters, scallops and langoustines - Visit the Arisaig Land, Sea and Islands Centre for a fascinating exhibition on Arisaigs importance during WW” and its connection with the Czech soldiers
- Enjoy stunning views of Eigg and Muck from Port na murrach south of Arisaig https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/port-na-murrach.shtml
- Hire kayaks or wild swim off one of Arisaig’s many pristine white beaches https://arisaigseakayakcentre.co.uk/
Campsite: Arisaig Sunnyside Campsite
Time to travel Four Seasons Campers to Arisaig 3 hours
Day 2
From Arisaig head 4 miles north to Mallaig where you can get a ferry over to the Isle of Skye. The ferry to Skye takes you to Armadale. Then continue north to Strathcarron and Applecross.
- Things to see and do:
• Eilean Donan Castle by Dornie
• Plockton for lunch at The Plockton Hotel or Plockton Inn
• Or stop at Kishorn Seafood at Strathcarron
• Bealach Café and Gallery is also recommended for lunch or baking
• Coral Beach by Applecross – 50 minute walk from car park and well worth it!
• Supper at Applecross Inn….not to be missed…amazing seafood and atmosphere! - The Junction Café at Applecross is also nice
- Walk to Coral Beach near Culduie west of Applecross and discover the hidden white beach overlooking the island of Raasay https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/Coralbeach.shtml
Campsite: Applecross Campsite
Time to travel Arisaig to Applecross 3 hours
Day 3
Continue north to Shieldaig and onto Torridon then head east to Kinlochewe and north up the A832 along Loch Maree and onto Gairloch where there are some great beaches to stop at.
Things to see and do:
- Russian artic convoy museum at Altbea
- WW2 North Atlantic convoy sites on Loch Ewe
- Visit Inverewe Gardens – a lush, sub-tropical style garden perched on a peninsula at Loch Ewe. If you like gardens then aim to do 2 visits as so much to see over 2 days. Lovely café
• Solas Gallery – Gairloch - Have coffee, cake and soup at the Gale Centre Community Cafe and by some Scottish gifts or books at their excellent gift shop
- Enjoy one of Gairloch’s golden beaches and wild swim or kayak https://www.gairlochkayakcentre.com/
Campsite: Sands Caravan and Camping – Gairloch
Time to travel Applecross to Gairloch 1 hour 40mins
Day 4
Continue round the coast to the Ullapool road and head south to Inverness and head south down the A82 past Loch Ness and Fort Augustus to Fort William.
Things to do and see:
• Inverness Castle
• Aurorabearealis http://www.aurorabearealis.co.uk/ just north of Kessock Bridge at Inverness – Arts and Craft Studio
• Watch the boats go through the locks at Fort Augustus on the Caledonian Canal and visit the Caledonian Canal Visitor Cenre for a fascinating insight into how the canal was engineered
• Visit Drumnadrochit for Nessie experience
• Visit Urquhart Castle
Campsite: Glen Nevis Campsite– by Fort William
Time to travel Gairloch to Fort William 3 hour 10 mins
Day 5
Time to travel Fort William to Four Seasons Campers (Loch Lomond Base) 2 hour 15 mins