Holiday Ideas - Achiltibuie and the Summer Isles

yesscotland - says:

In the far north west of Scotland, north west of Ullapool lies the peaceful little crofting village of Achiltibuie overlooking the Summer Isles.

To get here by road you have to pass, by the shores of Loch Lurgain, one of the many strikingly unique mountains that watch over this magnificent area (striking by way of both stature and name) called Stac Pollaidh. Its shape reminds you of what a Transylvanian castle might look like, perched on the top of a steeply rising mountain.

From the top the views are magnificent across all points of the compass, with, of course to the south the road and Loch Lurgain below. From here you can clearly see the Summer Isles nestled off shore. To the north lies Inverpolly Forest and Loch Sionascaig, with two other magnificent mountains, Coul Mor close by and Suilven in the distance.

This area is called Coigach, in the middle of which is the Inverpolly National Nature Reserve. Areas for walking and exploring are, therefore vast!
Once you pass Achnahaird Bay with its sands and caravan site you start to turn south to Achiltibuie – a typically Highland crofting community spreading 3 miles, at least, along the coast road until it comes to a dead end near Culnacraig.
The Famous Summer Isles Hotel and the Hydroponicum overlook Tanera Mor the biggest of the Summer Isles and once a herring fishing port (mainly herring and sometimes whale). This was in the 19th century when there was quite a thriving community on the island. Today, however, the houses that remain (one of them was the schoolhouse) are mainly holiday homes but Tanera Mor and Tanera Beg have fresh water lochans and could quite easily sustain permanent habitation.

You can get to the Summer Isles from the pier between Achiltibuie and Polbain but if you just like the view as it is, wait for a sunset and lie on the hills on the mainland and watch the sun glimmer on the water and emphasise each individual island as they lie peacefully in the Bay. This sight is highly recommended by YesScotland – we have seen it!

Accommodation-wise, apart from the superb hotel, there are a number of good local B&Bs and guest houses as well as a pub/restaurant and a very unostentatious and beautifully situated caravan site on the shores of Achnahaird Bay.

There is plenty of fishing available, sea, river and loch and during a summer evening the local lochs can be “boiling” with them!