Gairloch Travel Guide

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After reading about the road to the lighthouse, I thankfully managed to persuade Nick not to take the van along here and go by motorbike. Am I glad we made this decision!! The road is VERY narrow after Melvaig and has some tiny bridges on very tight corners. I seriosly think we would have been in difficulty had we attempted this one in the motorhome!! We parked just north of Melvaig and proceeded by motorbike, the road climbing steeply and offering some lovely coastal views. The sea, way below us, was like a millpond.

Just before the lighthouse there is a small parking area but we continued down the last stretch and parked by the lighthouse, along with the odd few vehicles that had made it this far.The lighthouse buildings have been turned into a hostel type place, or you can hire the whole place out. From here, walking holidays, along with various guided walks are on offer.

To us, the whole place had an air of neglect about it and the surrounding area was scruffy and messy.Not a patch on the pristine lighthouse at Stoer Head.We were greatly amused by the chickens living in a caravan here!

Walk eastwards from the lighthouse and you reach the old landing stage where supplies were brought ashore. We sat here for a while as we'd been told a basking shark was around, close inshore. I caught a glimpse of what could have been it but it had moved further out to sea and having already seen one a few days ago, I guess we were a little blase and didn't hang around for too long. The path becomes rough from here but it is possible to walk to the secluded beach of Camas Mor.

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I'm afraid we didn't eat here but enjoyed a drink in this unusual outpost.

The Melvaig Inn is not obvious, being located off the small B road in Melvaig. The building itself looks more like a house than a pub and outside there is only a small, unobtrusive sign with the pub's name on.

Upon entering, we were amazed at the modern decor and furnishings, all very tasteful and comfortable. What caught my eye were the unusual collections of things, such as robots and various toys. Along the walls are posters advertising concerts for Pink Floyd, Dire Straits and I can't remember who else, along with newspaper cuttings of various events in the music industry. There is also an old fashioned juke box with 45's on it, so not your run of the mill type pub. We learnt from our Lancastrian friend that the bloke who turned the place into the pub was a roadie for Pink Floyd and Dire Straits, among others and he has an amazing record collection which frequently gets well used on lively evenings in the pub!!

Favorite Dish: In the photos, you can see what was on offer to eat. We were a little disappointed to see what looked suspiciously like frozen chips being served, however, this place gets rave reviews and booking is advisable for evening meals. Fresh fish is the main staple, along with soup and sandwiches. Afternoon tea and cakes is served and there is an outdoor seating area.

I can imagine many an excellent night has been had here!!