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If ever a place possessed a name more unfitting it would have to be named Bad Call Bay. We passed a sign a little way south of Scourie which read Loch Duart No Unauthorised Access but just after one glimpes how could we be denied this most scenic sight! Bad Call Bay is located in the most wonderful spot at Loch Duart which is home to the Sutherland Salmon Company. We were a bit taken aback by the no access sign but cautiously drove a little way down the track, I just had to check this place was for real The views from the track were truely breathtaking - the Loch glistened in vibrant blue while the little fishing boats bobbed just a little in the quiet and almost still waters. When we arrived back home I checked a website and discovered that the No Access sign applied to boats and fishermen. Bad Call Bay is pristine and precious and the Salmon Company aim to keep it that way. Ignore the sign if you arrive here by car or on foot, but do stop and drink in its magic.
Updated Sep 19, 2008
Address: Loch Duart
Phone: 01674 660 162
Website: www.lochduart.com
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It was with great pleasure and blessed relief to encounter the most mind blowing Scourie Bay. The sea was like a gentle millpond displaying glorious hues of blue toned colours blended by the orangey browns of the seaweed and the clasp of the grey rocks which encircle and shelter this most impressive bay. We just adored and treasured our time here, there was hardly a breeze but being near water especially the sea always brings a refreshing relief from soaring temperatures. The taste and smell of the salt air always fills me with joy even when I have a beach very near to my home, but it is not ringed by a very scenic hard shell which seems to me to cradle the bay and hold its beauty in its protective grip. If we were in a happy mood to walk along this lovely beach - the dogs were ecstatic - they to had smelled the sea air even before we parked the car and were more than eager to cause a fair few ripples in this most quiet of seas.
Updated Sep 17, 2008
Address: Scourie
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The War Memorial erected by the Scourie Community is dedicated to the Soldiers from the local area who lost their lives in WWl. I did like the use of words on this memorial which read in part "in grateful remembrance of the unreturning Brave. Faithful unto Death" The statue of a Soldier from one of the many Highland Regiments, is cast in brilliantly white stone. It has so much detail to delight the eye, I especially liked the serene and solemn expression which seemed to cross the Soldier's face. White stone wouldn't stay white for long in many urban places, but here in Sutherland there is no pollution to spoil this nice tribute. Beside the memorial is a lovely picnic area where a gently sloping path leads down to the little river. The Holly trees were heavy with berries and wild raspberries ripe and ready to eat. I did try some and they were better than any you could buy from a shop or fruit farm. A heavenly taste and a place of peace and relaxation to while away some time on a beautiful summers day.
Updated Sep 17, 2008
Address: Scourie
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Scourie is a quiet crofting village in the centre of the Parish of Eddrachiles in the far north west of Sutherland. Its Gaelic name is Sgobhariadh which translates to its original name which has its origins in the word for shed or more properly sheiling, a stone built place of shelter for shepherds and farmers in summer. Scourie was once a stong hold of the Clan MacKay. We took a lovely walk along the road which leads off the main road to the old part of the village. The old croft houses which we encountered here all have stepped gables to their roofs, this used to be a sign of wealth - the more steps in the gable = more show of money. I could hardly comprehend the souring temperatures it was almost 27 degrees as we walked along the road with no pavements, no worries and no shade either. Many of the pretty cottages had their delightful gardens on the opposite side of the road accompanied by a small burn which trickled its way to the sea. If you love the unusual side of life and the quite atmosphere of these far flung places - like me you will love Scourie.
tbc
Updated Sep 11, 2008
Address: Scourie Sutherland
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Badcall is split in to two seperate communities, Upper being above the coast, consisting of a smattering of houses and a telephone box. There are lovely views out to Badcall Bay and it's scattering of islands.There is no public access to the coast from here.
Lower Badcall is futher south, back onto the A894 and take a right to the old quay.Today, this place is taken over by a large fish farm on Badcall Bay, access from the quay, where a former fish station was located.
Just slightly north is the popular, beautifully located, Eddrachilles Hotel, built in 1835 as the parish manse.
There is little public access here, in fact I think the road said access for fish farm workers only. Still, we drove down on the motorbike to take a couple of photos.
Updated Sep 9, 2008
Address: Scourie, Sutherland
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Just another reminder that petrol is available in Scourie, along with a couple of shops. Take advantage of these facilities if you are touring around. Petrol pumps are few and far between in these north western parts.
Updated Sep 9, 2008
Address: Scourie, Sutherland.
Website: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/scourie/scourie/index.html
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Scourie is a popular (for this part of the world) beach village, with a lovely sheltered beach, consisting of white sand and rocky inlets. Many people who come to Scourie stay on the camp site on the bluff above the coast.
On the other side of the bay is Scourie pier with a narrow shingle beach, again, sheltered. Behind here is Scourie House, which appeared to be open it's to the public to view the garden. There is a small parking area at the pier and more parking along the beach road towards the cemetery. Once again, this is another location with a beautifully sited cemetery!!
From the beach there are views out to the nearby nature reserve on Handa Island. Boat trips run from here and Tarbet, weather permitting.
Scourie has a hotel, a Spar shop, petrol and public toilets on the main road in from the north.There is easy parking here which enables anyone in a motorhome to fill up with water.
Today,most of old Scourie is bypassed by the newer road, giving no cause to actually drive through the real village of crofters' houses.
Updated Sep 9, 2008
Address: Scourie, Sutherland
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These two crofting hamlets are on the same circular road as Tarbet, so we had a look at both.
The road runs along the shores of the inland Loch nam Brac, Loch Gobhloch, Loch Dubn and LochDruim na Goille, all of them prolific with water lillies just coming into bloom. I don't know whether it's been a good year for water lillies but they were certainly to be seen on most of the freshwater lochs.
Foindle has a very steep approach road and there is absolutely nowhere to park, just a small turning area, so you have been warned! Fanagmore is a little easier but again not much room for stopping.They sit on inlets on Loch Laxford with their own slipways into the loch. Fish farming and shellfish farming is very much in evidence and from these two tiny hamlets you can really appreciate the views over Loch Laxford .
There was a pretty white house at Foindle, sheep were grazing in the garden and it was just the most marvellous sight.(Photo no. 2)
Updated Sep 9, 2008
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Tarbet is mainly visited to enable people to catch the small passenger ferry to Handa Island, just across the water. Tarbet is reached via an extremely narrow and often steep, minor road from the A894. We made this journey on the motorbike, and I was glad we did. Having said this, there were at least five motorhomes parked at Tarbet.
From the A894 you can make a loop, taking either the left fork, taking you straight to Tarbet, or the right fork, taking you to the tiny hamlets of Foindle and Fanagmore and then onto Tarbet. Either route, it's tricky driving in anything large, particularly the part from Tarbet to Fanagmore and Foindle. Most people tend to just drive straight to Tarbet.
There is a reasonably sized parking area at Tarbet and a cafe serving seafood. The ferry to Handa runs from Mon. to Sat. from 9.30am - 2.00pm. The last return is 5pm. Handa has been uninhabited since the mid 1840's, the potato famine driving everyone away and now nature has taken over and it is a nature reserve, run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Over 170 species of birds inhabit the island, so if this is your thing, you can't afford to not visit!
It was red hot when we arrived at Tarbet on the motorbike so we sat and had an ice lolly from the cafe and enjoyed the views and the sun.
I believe there is no camping allowed on the island and the carpark at Tarbet states no overnighting but I know people do stay the night (not us though!!)
Updated Sep 9, 2008
Address: Tarbet, Sutherland.
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Loch laxford is a great location for messing about in boats, with it's many inlets , bays and islands. We were based at the very head of the loch, where much of the loch dries out at low tide so we had to bear this in mind, not wanting to get stranded on a sandbank across the water.
Our first trip out in the boat was as the tide was ebbing so we had to be careful coming back in. In the evening,we timed the launching of the boat about an hour from high tide so we didn't have far to carry the boat to get it immersed and an hour later when we had had enough, when we disembarked,the boat was at the high tide mark.
We had a lovely afternoon pottering about on the loch and landing on a deserted beach. We felt like Robinson Crusoe, as though we were the first people ever to land here. It was whilst we were sat on this beach admiring the view that we noticed a huge bird landing in the trees behind us. When we looked through the binoculars, we realised it was a massive owl who appeared to be staring straight at us. Quite unnerving but a beautiful sight.
In the evening, as the midges emerged, we were grateful to be able to take to the water and rid ourselves of the pesky things. We fished from the boat with no luck whatsoever, not even a mackerel, but revelled in the evening colours of the sky and water, it was so calm, like a millpond.
Updated Sep 9, 2008
Address: Loch Laxford, Sutherland
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Loch laxford is a great location for messing about in boats, with it's many inlets , bays and islands. We were based at the very head of the loch, where much of...
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Sutherland in Summer saw us travelling around from the Coast in the East to The Coast in the West. There is a Scottish Folk Song which tributes the 'Folk of the West' but no song to say the West Coast...
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Previous page:Kinlochbervie Having no plans about where our next night was to be spent, we nearly didn't stop at Loch laxford, it being only a few miles down the road from our last port of call. The...
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