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Lochcarron
The village stretches along the north shore of Loch Carron, a sea loch in Wester Ross, with houses facing the water and hills rising behind. To the west, the ruins of Strome Castle stand on a rocky point above the narrows, close to the old ferry slip at North Strome. Across the loch, Attadale Gardens opens in season, and Strathcarron station sits on the Kyle line from Inverness. The A896 runs through the village towards Kishorn, where the road to Applecross climbs to 626 metres over the Bealach na Bà. It’s single track, with passing places. Check the forecast before you cross, because cloud often sits on the high ground and the bends are tight.
What should you know before visiting Lochcarron, Scotland?
The village stretches for over 1 mile along the north-western shore of Loch Carron in Wester Ross. Its houses and shops line Main Street, with the water on one side and the hills rising behind. On Main Street, The Old Butchers is a coffee shop and gallery in a former butcher’s shop. It serves breakfast, lunch, coffee, and cake alongside local artwork. It’s seasonal. The café closes over winter, so check its Instagram page for opening dates before you travel.
- Strathcarron station, about 5 km east-northeast of the village, is on the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line. It’s unstaffed, so arrange your onward transport before you arrive.
- The A896 heads south-west to Kishorn, where the Bealach na Bà road to Applecross begins. It’s a single-track pass that climbs to 626 metres, so give yourself extra time and check the weather first.
- Strome Castle, the ruins of a tower house, stands on the shore west of the village. You can park beside it and walk out in about 5 minutes.
Image / visitwesthighlands.co.uk
Lochcarron sits at the head of Loch Carron, a sheltered sea loch on Scotland’s west coast; the village is a convenient gateway for coastal walks and for reaching the nearby Torridon hills and Applecross peninsula by road.
Lochcarron cafés and light lunches
Morning coffee and baked goods are the draw at The Old Butchers, a compact café in Lochcarron where light lunches follow later in the day. The food is honest and unfussy. Service is quick, which helps walkers who want to eat and get moving again without a long wait. You’ll share the room with locals as well as day-trippers on a run through Wester Ross. It’s well rated, and that mix of regulars and visitors backs it up. Call in mid-morning for coffee and something baked, or around midday if a light lunch suits your plans. Because the café is compact, seating is limited at busy times. Groups of three or more should arrive before the midday rush to sit together. Solo visitors and couples tend to find a seat faster, and the quick service keeps tables turning over steadily.
Image / visitwesthighlands.co.uk
The name is also home to Lochcarron of Scotland, a tartan and woven-goods maker founded in the village after World War II; the company continues to design and weave tartans and blankets that are sold internationally.