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The Beach at Achmelvich
The Beach at Achmelvich

Achmelvich lies just three miles north west of Lochinver. However, they are three long miles when you take into account the "sporting" nature of the single track road that takes you there, and especially the last mile and a half of it leading down from the B869 coast road.

Wave Breaking on Beach
Wave Breaking on Beach
Youth Hostel Under March Snow
Youth Hostel Under March Snow
Boats on Beach
Boats on Beach

If our opening paragraph has deterred you from visiting Achmelvich, good: that's exactly what we want it to do. That way next time we visit we stand even more chance of having this little corner of paradise to ourselves. Seriously, this is a wonderful place, and you shouldn't let the idea of some unusually challenging single track roads put you off making the short trip from Lochinver.

Beach Under Snow
Beach Under Snow
Suilven Seen from the Road to Achmelvich
Suilven Seen from the
Road to Achmelvich

It's a bit of an exaggeration to call Achmelvich a village, or even much of a settlement. In effect it's a small campsite and caravan park, a youth hostel, and some of the most enticingly beach scenery in northern Scotland (and there's plenty of competition). It might be more accurate to have called this page "Achmelvich Bay", particularly as most of the images feature the beach and its surroundings.

So that's it. A stunning beach of white sand: or more accurately a small collection of beaches nestled amongst the rock bays and headlands here. Plus some outstanding rock scenery of a sort you can only see in north-west Scotland. One feature isn't obvious. The small "Hermit's Castle" built of concrete on a rocky headland in 1950 is an architectural oddity that is now abandoned.

And when you eventually turn your back to the sea and think of tackling the road back to Lochinver, there's a final wonderful surprise in store. For towering above everything else in inland views is the stunningly improbable profile of the west end of Suilven.

Caravan Site Overlooking Beach and Distant View of Suilven
Caravan Site Overlooking Beach and Distant View of Suilven

Featured Business

HillheadLochinver Self-Catering Holidays, Hillhead, Lochinver, IV27 4JA. Hillhead self-catering residential caravans are situated just beyond the beautiful clean shell sands of Achmelvich beach, with a view of the bay and the mountains. Our modern fully equipped and serviced 28ft caravans are ideal for an affordable family holiday, with the sands and safe sea right on your doorstep. Sorry but we cannot accept dogs. Open April to October. Rates from £190 to £280 per week. Also available is Hillhead Cottage, a traditional two bedroom single storey cottage, set in it's own grounds just outside the picturesque village of Lochinver. This well-equipped property sleeps from 4 to 6 people. Open April to November. Contact Durrant and Maysie Macleod, Tel: 01571 844206. Tel/Fax: 01571 844454.
E-mail: info@lochinverholidays.co.uk
WWW: www.lochinverholidays.co.uk

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