Gairloch area

[SiobahnRoy]

Planning a west coast trip the last week of July, we’ve previously been to the Ayr coast and stayed near Oban, so looking to head further north. We’re planning on staying right on the coast, will have a dog with us who loves the beach. Any tips?

Self catering, caravan, camping, hotel?

Not really. Just wanted to put on record that my great-granny was from that area. She left as a young woman because she was employed as a nursery nurse looking after the children of a Free Church minister who went south to another parish, so she went with them and met my great-grandpa there. Married him and lived there for the rest of her life, giving birth to at least 8 children and bringing them up on her own after their Dad died of cancer. She must have been a native Gaelic speaker but had to switch to English after the move and also probably moved over to the Church of Scotland from the Wee Frees. She lived until she was 98. What a woman. She was very frail when I was little. I wish I'd had a chance to get to know her properly, but I suspect she wouldn't have said much. Nobody talked much about feelings back then.

Not sure she was ever able to go back to the Gairloch area to visit, but she did keep in touch by letter. We did visit, in the late 1970s. We stayed in a static caravan belonging to distant cousins. There was a notice telling us not to hang out washing or do anything else that was forbidden on the Sabbath. We went to visit some of the cousins and they had some refreshments ready, but the quid pro quo was that we had to sit through the longest grace I ever encountered before we could partake. It was an experience! Very beautiful part of the world. I do remember that.

I think that's the general area for Plockton, which I remember being astoundingly beautiful. Lovely garden?

Gairloch itself is gorgeous! There’s Gairloch beach itself and a couple of miles out there’s Sands (camping, caravans) right on the beach. Personally I would go self catering that time of year (not camping for me as too busy and midgey). I have no experience of hotels. Plenty of dog friendly accommodation options, but again for July book early.

Loads of great walks in the area and short drives away. I’ve been several times (with dog) as beware, you might fall for the place as I did! If you can avoid July, I would go May/June (before Scottish school holidays break up) or September. If you’ve got a long drive and haven’t been to that area before, I’d try for 2 weeks if possible and hope you’d be lucky weather wise.

Thanks all, sounds like we'll have a great time! We're going end July (tied to English school holidays) self catering. We're in the north east so the distance is doable in a day - and for a repeat visit if we fall for it!

It’s a lovely part of the world, but take A LOT of midge spray with you!

Gairloch is absolutely beautiful , we went in July and stayed at the sands on our motorhome , they have a fantastic shop with all your supplies . The sunsets were amazing, so beautiful and the beach is huge .
It’s a fantastic spot and we can’t wait to go again 😍

Agree it is a magical place. Few places to explore locally - Inverewe gardens at Poolewe are National Trust and worth a wander. Depending on the age of your kids there is a glass bottom boat trip from Gairloch harbour which mine loved and we saw seals, otters and loads of fish. The beaches at Big Sand, Guinard and especially Mellon Udrigle are magnificent. There is a market at Poolewe on a Tuesday where you can pick up local goodies if you're self catering, the nearest "big shop" is Inverness so stop there to stock up on your way. And fill the car with fuel.

Just picking up on @SheinIsShite ‘s note about supplies, a new Coop is being built in Gairloch, due to open in December I believe.

Yes - I spotted that when I was up there last month. There is also a good wee museum/heritage centre in Gairloch, and a museum in Aultbea about the Atlantic Convoys in what used to be the butchers... no idea if that's any good or not as I've never been in!!

I also enjoyed the museum (and its cafe!).

@almondflake I’ve camped at Sands a few times with my dogs, a special place indeed. For self catering, I like being in the Strath area with a view over to the mountains and the sunsets, as it’s walkable into that part of Gairloch.

We stayed at The Old Inn a few years ago, and although the rooms were horrendously decorated (shiny black and silver accent wall, etc), the pub food was great and the atmosphere in the bar was really good fun. They had an excellent piano man.