Kyle
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The Kyle of Lochalsh
Before the coming of the controversial Skye Bridge a mile to the north, the little town of Kyle, as it is known, was the main ferry crossing to Skye and consequently a place which attracted a busy tourist trade. Now, though, the tourist traffic bypasses Kyle, which is probably the most sensible thing to do as it's not the most attractive of places. There are a couple of banks with ATMs, two small supermarkets and a post office in the village.
Kyle is a popular centre for walkers: see Kintail walks for a walkers guide to this area.
Phone code: +44 (0)1599
Ins & outs
Bus
Scottish Citylink buses, Tel. 0990-505050, run to Kyle from Inverness (3 daily, 2 hrs); Glasgow via Fort William (4 daily, 5 hrs); and Edinburgh via Fort William (1 daily, 6 € hrs). These buses continue to Portree (a further hour) and Uig (1€ hrs), for ferries to Tarbert on Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist. There's also a regular shuttle service across the bridge to Kyleakin (every 30 mins).
Train
The train journey from Inverness to Kyle, though not as spectacular as the West Highland line, is very scenic. It runs 3-4 times Mon-Sat (2 € hrs) and once or twice on Sun from May to Sep. There's also an observation car and dining car in the summer.
The Tourist Information Centre, which is at the main seafront car park, Tel. 534276. Apr, May and mid-Sep to late Oct Mon-Sat 0930-1730; Jun to mid-Jul and late Aug to mid-Sep Mon-Sat 0930-1900; mid-Jul to late Aug Mon-Sat 0930-2100, Sun 1230-1630.
There are a couple of interesting boat trips which you can take from here. One is on board the Seaprobe Atlantis, which is fitted with underwater windows allowing you to watch 'the world beneath the waves'. Check sailing times at the pier, or at If you prefer, you could take a seafood cruise - a 2€-hour wildlife-spotting and seafood-eating boat trip. Contact Neil MacRae, Tel. 577230.
Sleeping & eating
It's a good idea to get the tourist office to book a room for you, as there's not a lot to choose from. There are a couple of hotels, most luxurious of which is the Lochalsh Hotel, Tel. 534202, with great views across to Skye and good food.
At Balmacara is the Balmacara Hotel, good food and great staff. Late Rooms Availability for Balmacara Hotel in Balmacara
Three miles north, at Erbusaig, is the very comfortable Old Schoolhouse, Tel. 534369, a B&B with a highly rated restaurant. A mile and a half north of Kyle is Crowlin View, Tel. 534286. There's also cheap hostel accommodation at Cuchulainn's, Tel. 534492, on Station Rd. 4 miles east of Kyle, at Balmacara, you can camp at Reraig Caravan Site, Tel. 566215.
Just outside the village, on the road to Plockton, is the Seagreen Restaurant & Bookshop, Tel. 534388, a bistro-cum-bookshop and gallery serving wholefood and local seafood throughout the day (mid-range to expensive). At the railway station is The Seafood Restaurant, Tel. 534813, which has a good reputation for seafood (mid-range to expensive); open Easter-Oct 1000-1500 and 1830-2100. Another option is the Lochalsh Hotel, which does very good bar lunches.
Plockton
If there were a poll taken of visitors' favourite Highland villages then you can bet your bottom dollar that Plockton would come top with most folk. If you look for a definition of picturesque in your dictionary, it'll say "see Plockton". Well, maybe not - but it should.
Plockton's neat little painted cottages are ranged around the curve of a wooded bay, with flowering gardens and palm trees. Yachts bob up and down in the harbour and there are views across the island-studded waters of Loch Carron to the hills beyond. Even on the telly Plockton's charms proved irresistible, and millions of viewers tuned in each week to watch the TV series Hamish Macbeth, which featured Robert Carlyle as the local bobby.
There are lots of good walks around the village. One of the best ways to appreciate it is to head up to Frithard Hill, from where there are great views of the bay. Another good walk is along the beach, starting from the High School playing fields at the top of the village.
Plockton's a popular place with artists who are drawn by the village's setting and the wonderful light. A good place to find some of their work, as well as other souvenirs, is The Studio Craft Shop, on the corner of the seafront and the road leading out of town.
Phone code: +44 (0)1599
Sleeping & eating
The best place to stay, and eat, is The Haven Hotel, Tel. 544223, on Innes St. 15 rooms, open Feb-Dec. Good value and the food in the restaurant is quite superb (5-course dinner; expensive). Nearby is the cosy and comfortable D Plockton Inn, Tel. 544222. There are quite a few places on Harbour St along the waterfront, including the wonderful and busy D Plockton Hotel, Tel. 544274, which serves good food (mid-range) and has a great little beer garden at the front where you can sit and enjoy a drink on a balmy summer evening. There are lots of B&Bs to choose from and one of the nicest is the E Shieling, Tel. 544282, at the far end of the harbour. Also on the seafront is E An Caladh, Tel. 544356. There's cheaper accommodation at the F Plockton Station Bunkhouse, Nessun Dorma, Burnside, Tel. 544235.
A few miles out of Plockton, on the road to Achmore, is the E Craig Highland Farm, Tel. 544205, which offers B&B accommodation and self-catering cottages from £235 per week. The farm is also a conservation centre, where you can see and feed rare and ancient breeds of domestic animals. Apart from the hotels listed above, a good place to eat in Plockton is Off the Rails, Tel. 544423, at the railway station. It's open from 0830 for breakfast, snacks, lunch and evening meals (cheap to mid-range).
Self Catering Cottages in Plockton
- STROMEFERRY (near Plockton) - Ross-shire Sleeps 6
- The Holt Sleeps 4 - 6
- Hirta Sleeps 2
- Sannachan Sleeps 6
- Tigh An Roinn Sleeps 4
- Pine View Sleeps 6
Tours
A good way to see the local wildlife is to take a boat trip. Leisure Marine, Tel. 544306, runs one-hour seal- and otter-watching cruises in the summer for £3.50 per person. They also hire out boats. Similar trips are run by Sea Trek Marine, Tel. 544346.