Discover Village Life
Scenic Gairloch offers stunning beaches and a fascinating museum
ASCENIC Wester Ross village, Gairloch is the ideal base from which to explore Scotland’s iconic north west. There’s plenty to see and do in the fantastic village. Whether you’re there for activities, to relax or a bit of both, Gairloch has you covered.
Gairloch is famed for its beaches. Big Sand beach is located near the popular Sands Caravan and Camping Park, making it the perfect place to visit during a stay. Big Sand is sheltered by magnificent dunes and looks on to the uninhabited Longa Island as well as the mountains of Skye and Torridon.
The other nearby sand and shingle beach is the popular Redpoint beach. Appearing in the 2014 film What We Did On Our Holiday, starring Billy Connolly and David Tennant, Redpoint is situated 16km (10 miles) from Gairloch. It offers stunning views of the Western Isles and its amazing red-tinted sand must be seen to be believed.
The village sits on Loch Gairloch and its harbour, within the loch’s sea area, is the starting point for exciting boat trips. Several companies offer trips to spot some of the area’s incredible wildlife. Glass Bottomed Boat Tours offers a three-hour tour around the island of Eilean Fraoch and sights of sealife, seals and birds.
Other tour operators include Gairloch Marine Wildlife Centre and Cruises, who describe themselves as “leading the way in responsible marine wildlife encounters”. They offer both two-hour and four-hour cruises around Loch Gairloch, Glas Eilean, Longa Island and on to the Shiant Isles. Between May and September, they have their four-hour Cetacean and Seabird City Cruise, which gives guests the perfect opportunity to see puffins and other seabirds, as well as dolphins, porpoises and whales.
The town is also home to an award-winning museum. Gairloch Museum was one of five from across the UK to be named the 2020 Art Fund Museum of the Year. Located in a converted nuclear bunker, the attraction is home to an interactive gallery, film theatre, a replica croft house and exhibition space, all focusing on the history and heritage of the north west.
Eilidh Smith is front of house co-ordinator at Gairloch Museum. For Eilidh, meeting and helping inquisitive visitors always makes her day.
“The best thing about working at the museum is sharing the amazing history of our local area with visitors, feeling like you are helping them to discover
“Its amazing red-tinted sand must be seen
something new or different about the area that they weren’t aware of.”
North west Highland history comes alive in the Walk Through Time gallery, which is always popular with visiting children who want to see life in another era.
“Kids enjoy getting to try out the millstones, and learn how much work it takes to make a little flour,” says Eilidh.
There’s a lot more to come from Gairloch Museum in the future, as it just keeps improving.
“We hope to continue to build on our outdoor museum experience – there is an Archaeology Trail behind the museum that takes visitors through the site of some old roundhouses, and we hope to build a replica one in the not-too-distant future,” Eilidh says.
“We are also planning to keep running our online talks. We’ll be continuing to reach out with an interesting programme over the winter that everyone can take part in.”
Elsewhere in Gairloch, those looking to stay active are in luck.
Spectacular walks abound in the village and beyond, whether around the town and its spectacular beaches, or in the nearby Flowerdale Glen to the waterfall.
The nine-hole Gairloch Golf Course offers wonderful sea and mountain views on a first-class course. Gairloch Leisure Centre operates an indoor climbing wall all year round, which is perfect for family fun this winter when you’re looking for something to do indoors.
A beautiful coastal location, there’s lots of fun to be had in Gairloch. Whether you stay put or plan to explore more of Scotland’s awe-inspiring north west, you won’t be disappointed.