Achmelvich – White Sand, a Tiny Castle and Pies
A day.
The route
Achmelvich, on the Assynt coast, is a crescent of white sand between grey rocks, where the sea turns turquoise on a bright day, and a short scramble round the shore brings you to the Hermit's Castle, a tiny concrete fortress children love to find.
Lunch is back in Lochinver at the Larder, known for its pies.
Before you go
The day
Achmelvich
A morning on the white sand at Achmelvich, a hunt over the rocks for the Hermit's Castle, and pies by the river in Lochinver.
About four and a half hoursAbout 1 mile on foot
Achmelvich
An attraction
Achmelvich is at the end of a winding single-track road off the coast road north of Lochinver, with a car park behind the beach; check the signs there for any charge. A short walk over grass and sand brings you to a crescent of white sand between grey rocks and heather, with water that turns turquoise over the sand on a bright day. It's a place for sandcastles and a paddle, but the sea is cold all year, so keep children close at the water's edge. A campsite and a youth hostel sit by the beach, and there are public toilets beside the car park. The way onto the sand is over grass and soft sand, so a pushchair struggles.
About 10 min on foot
Hermit's Castle
An attraction
The Hermit's Castle is about ten minutes' scramble west of the car park, over rock, on a low point above the sea. It's a tiny concrete fortress built around 1950, with a stepped base, a little tower and a few small square windows, and children love finding it and peering inside. The rock is slippery when wet and the point drops straight into the sea, so hold small hands, keep well back from the edge, and go in dry, calm weather. Leave it just as you find it.
8 min by car
Lochinver Larder
Lunch
It's 8 minutes' drive back to Lochinver for lunch at the Larder on Main Street, open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm, with last orders to eat in at 3.30pm; it's closed on Sundays and Mondays. Its pies are baked on the spot, and its venison and cranberry was voted Scotland's best meat pie at the British Pie Awards 2022, by the Larder's own account. You can eat inside or take your order out beside the River Inver, looking over the sea loch. It can be busy at midday, and if the tables are full, take your pies away to eat by the river. Ring 01571 844356 if you're coming from far away.
If it rains
Achmelvich and the Hermit's Castle are out in the weather, and the rock is slippery when wet: on a wet day keep to the sand, skip the scramble, and take longer over lunch indoors at the Larder.
Where to stay