Places to Visit

If you are based in Gairloch or Poolewe there are many other places that you can visit. A useful guide to Gairloch is the Explore Gairloch pack. If you go to the Location section you will see that there are links to Other Places, which gives you a brief guide to possible places to visit, both north and south of Gairloch, and suitable for a day visit in most cases, though visits to the far north might take a lot longer than would appear from a map. Slow roads and plenty to look at mean that it is difficult to get much further than Durness in the same day, without missing out on a lot the area has to offer. The Car Touring Guide to Wester Ross is produced locally and gives details of points of interest, places to stop for coffee and some historical information. For an easy to use and surprisingly detailed map of the entire area the Highlands of Scotland Official Tourist Map is invaluable.

The Gairloch Tourist Information Office has a variety of free leaflets detailing attractions in the local area, and staff will always be on hand to give you advice or suggest places they know well or you might not have considered visiting.

The various villages nearby offer great photographic opportunities and wildlife watching. the world famous Inverewe Garden is a delight at any time of year, though early summer displays are the finest. Rhododendrons thrive here and giant gunnera give a stunning display, with eucalyptus trees towering above rockeries, this is truly a wonderful place to visit.

Walks along well marked pathways can lead to spectacular views and sightings of the more reclusive animals and birds, including eagles and pine martens. A useful guide to the local area is Gairloch (short walks and a hill) and Poolewe to Gruinard - selected walks and caves.

If you are interested in the activites of wartime Loch Ewe then there is much that remains, including pillboxes, gun emplacements and footings for barracks etc. The best of these can be seen at Cove at the end of the road from Poolewe via Inverasdale. Loch Ewe during World War II is a comprehensive guide to the naval an shore activity that was so intense during World War II, much of it centred around the Russian convoys that set out from here, an in memory of which a memorial has been erected at one of the highest points of the headland.

For those of you who are more active, there are endless climbing opportunities, and other sporting activities. An activity information pack is available which will give more details of what is on offer.

Needless to say, there are many beaches to visit, most of them with only a handful of other visitors on them. Sandy beaches can be found in front of the golf course in Gairloch, at Red Point, Big Sand, Firemore, and Mellon Udrigle. For information about these call in at the Gairloch Tourist Office.

Inverewe Garden, Poolewe

The star tourist attraction of the area is Inverewe Garden at Poolewe, with a visitor centre and restaurant. Now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, the garden was first established in the 1860s by the laird, Osgood Mackenzie. It is home to hundreds of exotic species of plants from around the world, all thriving in the warm, humid climate of the west coast.

A star attraction in late Spring are the Meconopsis or blue poppies which thrive in the mild climate. Rhododendrons flower everywhere and the walled garden is a delight to behold. All the gardening staff work tirelessly to keep Inverewe looking at its best, even in the more wild areas. There is a quiet bay where you may be lucky and see seals. There are plenty of seats to rest and admire the views and profusion of plants, and a plant shop to buy that special plant.

Before you visit it is well worth getting the Inverewe guide book which is full of information about the garden including maps to help you plan your route. 

Unfortunately it is not just the plants that thrive in the warm, humid climate.  The midges love it, with Inverewe Garden being one of their favourite haunts!  The best advice is to go armed with a good midge repellant and hood. 

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Last Modified: 04/06/2007 15:46:27
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