Wow Another Fantastic Entry - May 2006

May 11th > May 20th 2006

See Visitor Book Entry

Please Place Alongside Everyone’s Wonderful Experiences! Thank you


Hi & Hello from the Heron’s ~ Swarland ~ Nr. Alnwick ~ Northumberland.



What a spectacular week spent at “Windyhill” amongst this amazing everchanging, enchanting environment, the terrain of which is truly special to us, quite majestic and memorable in global terms. We hope you will agree at the end of your stay.



The weather > What a surprise when all were having cooler wetter weather countrywide, this little oasis provided us with the most idealic bright, often sunny days for walking, exploring, embracing this fabulous countryside with only minor periods of light drizzly rain ……remarkable!



We had toured these parts most recently, 2 years ago over a 4 day Easter break weekend in a family convoy of three motorhomes……. travelling North from Inverness to Tongue, then West following all Western coastal routes > Summer Isles > Gairloch > Applecross > Lochcarron > Shiel Bridge > Spean Bridge and back towards Pitlochry and A9. Challenging driving in this most awe inspiring of landscapes through the most incredible time warp > 500million years of majestic mountain ranges all of which are on the doorstep of “Windyhill”


Watch the everchanging views from Windyhill’s panoramic windows, the light, the shade, the shadows, the sometimes lake-like sea, sometimes tempestuous with howling wind, often serenely still and quite majical…… often adding incredible drama to this special corner, this gem of our planet!


DAYS OUT



A must drive whether sunny or just bright spectacuar cloudy skies > do it!



1/ Altandhu to Achnahaird heading towards A835 > take 1st left to Lochinver via Inverkirkaig. Some 70>80 miles of driving that will take you approx: three and half hours at a restfull 20-30miles per hour > single track roads with adequate passing places > take you time > every corner providing an ever more spectacular view than the last! A stunning drive

As you come down the hill towards Lochinver look out for “Culagwoods” walk down to Lady Constance Bay > White Shore path & Billy’s path to Lochinver Bay Do both you won’t regret it. Access the walk from main road taking the rough road / pathway up to your left opposite a beautiful waterfall across the other side


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of the road > a must see! > Drive to parking / view point and take access to walk up to your left > the windy magical pathway through to the woods > not the rough

road ahead of you! Great for all ages and dogs too! All embracing terrain allowing approx: 60>90mins to really enjoy. Have put brochure in tourist file.



Lunch if you wish at the “Award Winning” Lochinver Larder on left going North leaving town, just before bridge by Post Office/paper shop. Renounced for their wonderful pies with delicious fillings, great for fish of course, all good whatever you have, not forgetting their desserts > with daily specials blackboard > Bon Appetite!



Highland Stoneware just around the corner over the bridge 1st left is 2 mins away by car on other side of bay > see the process > hand painting > buy if you like or just watch, interesting both inside and out!



Drive on from Lochinver North taking the B869 single track road > go down to “Achmelvich” great beach and views > then return and continue on to Clachtoll & Stoer. We didn’t have time for the Stoer peninsula > suggest left for another day/visit and continue the drive to Clasonessie > Drumbeg viewpoint and onwards after viewing towards junction of A894. The road goes North to Kylesku > you’ll see the bridge [in distance] at the sea loch end before junction.

Take right South to the awe inspiring Assynt district making for Ardveck & Inchnadamph after joining the A837 > a right turn to Elphin / Ullapool A835 & aim for Knockan Crag leaflet in file. Around this area you also have the caves walk which again we hadn’t the time to do. Knockan Crag is where you’ll discover the Planet! Truly amazing interactive visitor point > hands on models > touch screen computer [don’t miss] > Bridge 500million years > great for adults and children alike. A must do!


Your on the home route A835 till you see right turn for Achiltibuie > Althandhu > Polbain via Loch Lurgainn …………..you should have had a very special memorable day, as we did……….the dogs were more exhausted than us!



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Achiltibuie & Polbain The walk along the front by the stony beach and up over the heath peninsula to the village, can be special as are the views > Perhaps a pub lunch or evening meal at the Summer Isles Hotel Bar > The food and service was great, every bit as good as the 5 course Hotel Dinner which will set you back £70 per couple + drinks! They have won recent awards for Scotland’s Hotel of the Year.
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At these villages Ach: & Pol: you can also supplement your food stocks at the stores one of which is also a post office, otherwise a trip to Ullapool provides an interesting trip/venue for stocking up at Somerfields with interesting shopping in the town and a good local Pub / Restaurant.



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Take time out for walk, on your door step turning right out of Windyhill access track onto road heading for Reiff. Lovely walk on a clear day, wonderful views and a bird sanctuary at Reiff > a dead end with remains of 18th century pier. About one & half > 2 hours.



5/ Walk left onto road from Windyhill 5 >10mins and your at the Smokehouse, worth a visit and may be even a purchase for fish lovers and 50 yds further the local Pub /Restaurant. You will be surprised > local family with all the crofters history > Grandparents > Parents > to offspring who now run the show. The whole Lobster we had hear was superb, as the soup. We had watched one of the four fishing boats you see from Windyhill, earlier in the day land our catch…. Go for it!



6/ Another day’s leisurely walk > by the sea overlooking the Summer Isles. Take car well past Achiltibuie & Polglass towards the eventual dead end turning point of Culnacraig until you come to Hostel on the right hand side further down by the water front.> Park on right and follow the stream down to sea > delightful terrain with view of Summer Isles in distance. At stony beach follow the coast around to your right till you come to the burial ground / old crofts both on the hill above and the peninsula. Once an active crofting/fishing community, you don’t need much imagination, the derelict crofts and boat wreck/remnants telling the tale! Some interesting tales on the grave stones confirm hard times early to mid 18th/19th century….one in particular stood out > Death of Mother and her 5 children! > Turn away from the sea up the track back to main road and turn right at top back along to your car > a leisurely 1.5 > 2 hours. To finish > may be drive along to Culnacraig and enjoy the panorama of the summer isles on way back > it’s a wow!



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7/ There’s so much more to do and see BUT > if you did just these few trips and outings you would undoubtedly leave with a true flavour of this wonderful region and might even leave inspired to return again ………as we will.



Finally, for those of you who love photography > looking at stars > watching time go by with binoculars or telescope > do use the scope……. it’s great!

VIEWS from Hillview

Hillview ~ Althandhu faces almost due South West overlooking on your right Eilean Mullagrach [Island] and in front of you Isle Restol > behind this Glas-leach Mor and the Summer Isles. Watch out for the Ullapool to Tarbert Isle of Harris [Lewis] Ferry which passes the “sound” beyond the bay of the fishing boats , way in distance > the glimpse will be brief! ……then pause ,wait and see it North West past Eillean Mullagrath Island.



Beyond the Summer Isles in the more immediate foreground, you look over Gruinard Bay some 15miles South West > Loch Ewe > Gairloch and onwards on a really spectacularly clear day you can easily see the three humps of the Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye > approx 65 miles distant!


Step up the back of Windyhill garden > mount the style and climb to top of the hill to your left for the ultimate panorama of Windyhill or stop at view point in/out of Althandhu to see the Western Isles landscape > grand style.



This place > this area has proved so very special for us > we hope you will also cherish every moment of this unique > world class heritage land/seascape.

Here’s to a great unwind, to enjoying time out and slowing down, to a chilled laid back time, time for contemplation & ultimate relaxation from life’s crazy pace of living.



Best of wishes to all future guests and hope this has helped those new to Scotland and this area just a little, ENJOY!

Lindsay & and Carol Heron