Where to stay, visit, eat and drink by Fergus Collins
GETTING TO ASSYNT
Unless you live in Inverness, Assynt is a long way. You can fly to Inverness from London or Bristol (easyJet) and then hire a car. It’s a pleasant two-hour drive from Inverness to Lochinver. Or take the Sleeper train from London Euston to Inverness. sleeper.scot I’ve driven from Manchester to Lochinver – a journey of shared driving that takes, conservatively, nine hours when you add stops for food and leg stretching. Alternatively, take a campervan and make the journey part of the adventure.
WHERE TO STAY
We used Scottish Cottages and found inexpensive accommodation near Lochinver even in high season, such as An Sealladh. scottish-cottages.co.uk/highlandsandislands
Go to Discover Assynt for wider options for B&Bs, campsites and hostels. discoverassynt.co.uk/holiday-accommodation-assynt
BUDGET
Achmelvich Beach Youth Hostel
Sits beside a beautiful sheltered beach with a limited number of rooms. From £31 per night B&B. Dog friendly. 01571 844 480
Lochinver Bunkhouse
A modern, cosy hostel in the heart of Lochinver with an onsite café. 01571 844 598
PODCASTS
You can hear four podcasts that Fergus recorded in Assynt. Find the BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all good podcast providers and listen to the following episodes: 108 Taking a boat on to Loch Crocach. 115 Climbing Suilven. 151 Foraging and fishing in Assynt. 166 Exploring Handa Island.
WET DAYS IN ASSYNT
Ullapool
Settled comfortably on a peninsula in Loch Broom, this lovely town has a grand variety of eateries, bars, cafés and shops to while away a drizzly day. Tweed and whisky rub shoulders with some good food shops. A pint while watching the ferries is a hugely recommended pastime. The birdlife is never dull. Don’t be seduced by the prices in the estate agent’s window.
ADVENTURES FURTHER AFIELD
Handa Island
Managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, this small island offers a thrilling day trip to see vast seabird colonies, seals, wildfowl and colonies of skuas across the inland moors
