G airloch Harbour

Badachro

Sands at Red Point

Gairloch Golf Course

from the 8th tee

Gairloch

Gairloch is fifteen miles from the Old Smiddy Guest House and self catering bungalow and is by far

the largest of the settlements on this part of the Wester Ross coast, or to be more accurate Gairloch

is a collection of small settlements.

Gairloch harbour is used mainly by small fishing craft and whale watching boats,

although in summer the cruise ships that travel along the west coast may be seen here.

The Gairloch Marine Life Centre and Cruises www.porpoise-gairloch.co.uk and Hebridean Whale Cruises www.hebridean-whale-cruises.com and the Glass Bottom Boat www.glassbottomboat.info are three companies that offer trips into the bay in search of wildlife. On the opposite side of the main road is the Flowerdale Estate. Just past the car park is a small shelter where it is possible to purchase a leaflet giving details of the walks on the estate. Many  of the paths have recently been upgraded.  The path from the car park along the river is relatively flat and suitable for wheelchair access. The Gairloch Pony Trekking Centre www.gairlochtrekkingcentre.co.uk

is situated between the estate road and the  footpath.

The road along the south of Loch Gairloch passes through Shieldaig, Badachro and eventually reaches Red Point.   

Between  Gairloch harbour and the north shore of the loch, called Strath, is a car park which provides an excellent access point for the beach and the old cemetery. There is also a board walk along the sand dunes if walking on sand proves too tiring.

The car park is also the entrance for Gairloch Golf Club www.gairlochgolfclub.co.uk The 9-hole course,

although short in length, is not easy and visitors can find it quite interesting, especially those who are used to

flat, wide fairways. A day ticket cost £25 and a ticket for 18 holes £20.

The club house is also open to non-golfers for refreshments and light lunches during the season

Strath, the northern part of Gairloch, is strung out along the coast road to Melvaig and the lighthouse at

Rhua Reidh. At the junction with the main road is the secondary school, the community centre,

the tourist office and the local heritage museum www.gairlochheritagemuseum.org