Gairloch trip planner

Gairloch is a village, civil parish and community on the shores of Loch Gairloch in Wester Ross, in the North-West Highlands of Scotland. A popular tourist destination in the summer months, Gairloch has a golf course, a small museum, several hotels, a variety of shops, chinese and fish and chip takeaways, a community centre, a leisure centre with sports facilities, a local radio station, beaches and nearby mountains. Gairloch is one of the principal villages on the North Coast 500 route.The parish of Gairloch extends over a much wider area, including the villages of Poolewe and Kinlochewe, and has a population of 950. The nearest railway station is located at Achnasheen. The nearest mainland airport is in Inverness.GeographyGairloch is a loosely defined area of settlement along the shores of Loch Gairloch, but primarily comprises three main clusters of shops, houses and amenities: the Harbour area, Achtercairn and Strath. Approaching from the south, the B8056 turning for Badachro, Port Henderson and other settlements on the south side of the loch leaves left from the main road over a picturesque but narrow 'hump-backed' bridge. Continuing north on the A832 towards the Charlestown and the harbour are the first settlements of central Gairloch to be met. About 1 km further north Achtercairn is centred on the road junction with the B8021 coastal road that leads west along the north sore of the loch to Strath and on towards Melvaig on the west coast. The main A832 road leaves Gairloch, heading steeply up Achtercairn Brae leading out of the village to the north and on to Poolewe.