- Ardnamurchan Latitude: 56.7167° N Longitude: -6.0000° W
- Ardnamurchan Postcode PH36
- Ardnamurchan Map
- Ardnamurchan Weather Forecast
- Ardnamurchan Reviews
Ardnamurchan, This is one of the many peninsulas that make up the deeply indented west coast of Scotland. Its seaward tip is the most westerly point on the British mainland.
Its name, derived from the Gaelic, means 'Point of the Great Ocean'.
It is quite exposed to the westerly winds but this, far from being a disadvantage, means that large quantities of shell sand are regularly blown inland to sweeten the soil, and allow some significant crofting activity, ensuring some degree of support for the scattered townships.
At Mingary there is the remnant of one of a chain of castles built to guard the western approaches of the Highlands.
The Ardnamurchan LIght House at height off some 55 metres this granite tower soars the rocks, the tower was built in 1849 utilising local granite from the Island of Mull. The tower was designed by Alan Stevenson, uncle of Robert Louis Stevenson, the family was involved in designing many of Scotland’s lighthouses. It is the only lighthouse in the world designed in an “Egyptian“ style. Like all the other lighthouses in Scotland, Ardnamurchan now operates automatically.
Ardnamurchan is also blessed with clean golden sands at Tangasdale, Borve, Allasdale and Vaslane, and for the benefit of those who travel by air there are self-drive cars and a taxi service.
The island‘s most interesting and impressive antiquity is Kisimul Castle at Castlebay.
In more recent times, Barra achieved some fame as the location for the film of Compton Mackenzie’s hilarious founded-on-fact story Whisky Galore the events on which it was based occurred between the island and south Uist.
The adventurous or ambitious may be warned that the spoils from that sunken ship are still being recovered by divers but the contents have been classified as undrink able, even dangerous.
The island of Mingulay some l0 miles south west from Castlebay, is noted for its thousands of sea birds.
It may be reached by boat, and there is a ferry to Vatersay.
The Ardnamurchan and Morvern Peninsulas offer a good range of Bed and Breakfast accommodation that will suit most visitors to the area.
