Achiltibuie

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Achiltibuie is a community straggling along the west coast of Ross and Cromarty, north of Ullapool in the Scottish Highlands. As well as Achiltibuie itself and the name (which in Gaelic means "field of the yellow-haired boy") applies to all the coast between Achduart and Reiff, taking in the hamlets of Polglass, Polbain and Altandhu.

Travel to Achiltibuie

Follow A835 north from Ullapool or south from Ledmore (the junction with A837) to the turn-off at Drumrunie; then take the narrow single-track lane west. There's no through road along the coast from Ullapool, though the historic "postman's path" came this way via Ardmair and you can hike the ten miles. You can also drive south from Lochinver along a twisty, hilly, narrow but scenic and well-tarmacked lane. KSM Bus 811 runs from Ullapool to Achiltibuie, twice Monday to Friday and once on Saturday, taking 80 mins. See Ullapool for buses to Inverness and ferries to Stornoway on Lewis.

Getting around

You'll need a vehicle or bike, or be a hard-core hiker.

Sightseeing Tips

Inverpolly Nature Reserve 58.0558,-5.20309 Inverpolly is the area centred around Loch Sionasgaig and Knockan Crag, a National Nature Reserve and SSSI. It's part of the North West Highlands Geopark and contains the Moine Thrust, which puzzled 19th C geologists because much older rocks lay over relatively younger. It's a product of plate tectonics, which had shifted the older rocks 40 miles west.
Boat trips run to The Summer Isles - GPS: 58.017,-5.402 , a mile offshore, from Bardentarbet Pier - GPS: 58.02961,-5.37552 by Polglass. Trips also run from Ullapool.

What to do as a Muslim in Achiltibuie

Shoreline near the ruined broch at Polglass, Achiltibuie - - 586582 - Shoreline near the ruined broch at Polglass, Achiltibuie

Stac Pollaidh 58.044,-5.208811 Stac Pollaidh Stac Pollaidh If you're fit, go up and along its delightful ridge or go around if only moderately fit }} Ben Mor Coigach - The long ridge of Ben Mor Coigach
Ben Mor Coigach | type=do 57.986061,-5.225619 Ben Mor Coigach - is the Table Mountain of this area, a six-mile ridge of Torridonian sandstone weathered into striking shapes. The summit is 743 m / 2438 feet, very prominent as it rears up from sea level. The simplest approach is to drive to the road's end at Culnacraig and ascend from the southwest. It can also be climbed from the vehicle park at Bleughasary from the southeast. Trying to traverse the ridge, to ascend one way and descend the other, is much harder than it looks, with bogs, fast streams and scrambles; allow at least four hours.
Achnahaird 58.0652,-5.3781 Achnahaird is a lonely village and beach along the lane between Achiltibuie and Stac Pollaidh.
Rock climbing: Rieff has sandstone sea-cliffs suitable for all levels of ability. A rock-climbing festival was held here in Oct 2023, with introductory and competitive climbs; it's not been announced whether this will be repeated.

Muslim Friendly Shopping

Achiltibuie Garden 58.021414,-5.346263 on the road south towards Polglass ☎ +44 1854 622202 Opening Hours: April - Oct Monday to Friday 10:00-16:00 Garden Centre for soil- and hydroponic-based semi-tropical plants and others; the centre runs "off-grid". From the 1980s to 2011 this was the "Hydroponicum" visitor attraction, but that's long been closed and demolished. }}
The Summer Isles Smokehouse at Altandhu is well known for its smoked venison, lamb, beef, eel, haddock, sea trout and five varieties of smoked salmon.
Achiltibuie Stores 58.025824,-5.353002 ☎ +44 1854 622496 }}

Halal Restaurants Please be informed that on some destination such as Achiltibuie we had no local Muslim that has researched some of the area. If you are a Muslim/Muslima and have been to Achiltibuie or would like to maintain the eHalal Guide to Achiltibuie, please contact us at guides@ehalal.io and email us your updates.

Am Fuaran Altandhu 58.05423,-5.40977 on coast north of Achiltibuie Opening Hours: meals daily 12.30PM - 2.30PM; Monday to Saturday 6PM - 8.30PM Sunday 6PM - 8PM, café 12.30AM -11PM or longer. mains from £14 is a seafood restaurant.
Piping School Cafe Old Village Hall 58.014750,-5.339162 ☎ +44 1854 622777 Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00 Coffee, cakes and lunch fare.
Summer Isles Hotel (see "sleep") has a good restaurant, only open in summer.
Catch your own mackerel off Badantarbet Pier and cook it fresh on a barbeque.
Am Fuaran and the Summer Isles Hotel are the only bars.

Where to stay

Acheninver Hostel 57.99719,-5.31442 (former SYHA) has dorms, a pod and private doubles.
Bracken Brae - Bruaich Rainich Polbain ☎ +44 2380 453473 (booking number in Southampton) £412 - £685 per week Self catering detached crofthouse overlooking the summer Isles and Torridan mountains. Sleeps 4+ baby.open all year. Welcomes children and dogs
192 Bed & Breakfast - Polbain 58.03620,-5.39642 ☎ +44 1854 622228 Comfortable, friendly lodging overlooking the summer isles and the hills of Torridon. Open all year.
Castlehill - self catering sleeps 6 - Polbain 58.0359,-5.3959 ☎ +44 1854 622228 from £300 Tastefully modernised croft house with panoramic views over the Summer Isles to the Torridon hills.
Greenhill - 114 Achiltibuie ☎ +44 7917 178326 Extended crofters house in its own grounds with great views over the Summer Isles and direct access to the sea shore. Sleeps 2-6 people and available to rent by the week for self-catering lodging.
Summer Isles Hotel - Achiltibuie, IV26 2YQ | 58.018321,-5.343086 ☎ +44 1854 622282 Hotel & restaurant re-opens from April 2019 and the café is occasionally open through winter.==Telecommunication== The Post Office at Achiltibuie is the contact point for information and booking for the Summer Isles boat. +44 1854 622200

Achiltibuie Halal Travel Guide

Take a boat across to the Summer Isles, where you can rent a cottage.
To go north, if the weather's nice take the twisty back lane to Lochinver.

To Advertise or sponsor this Travel Guide, please visit our Media Kit and Advertising Rates. GPS of this Halal Travel Guide 58.01968|-5.34199}}