Achmelvich – White Sand and a Tiny Concrete Fort on the Rocks
About a mile on foot.
Achmelvich is a cove of white sand between grey rocks on the Assynt coast of the north-west Highlands, where the sea turns turquoise on a bright day.
On the next rocky point stands the Hermit's Castle, a tiny concrete fort built around 1950. The walk out to it over the headland and back is about a mile.
- Time
- About an hour: about a mile to the Hermit's Castle and back, about 15 minutes each way, with time on the sand.
- The path
- Sand, then a worn path over a grassy and rocky headland, and a short scramble over bare rock at the castle.
- Where to start
- The Achmelvich beach car park, at the end of the single-track road: 70 spaces, with blue badge spaces. It is a paid car park.
- When to go
- All year in daylight, in dry and calm weather: the rock at the castle is slippery when wet.
- Children
- Sand and a small fort to find. Hold small hands on the rock and keep back from the edge.
- Toilets
- At the car park, with an accessible toilet and baby changing. There is a charge.
- Before you set out
- The road in is single-track with passing places. In December the sun sets at about half past three.
The walk
Park at the Achmelvich beach car park, at the end of the single-track road, and walk down to the sand. The beach is a cove of white sand between grey rocks, and on a bright day the water over it turns turquoise. The Hermit's Castle is on the next rocky point, about 15 minutes away by a worn path over a grassy, rocky headland.
It's a tiny fort of grey concrete with a stubby tower and a few small square windows, built around 1950, with the sea below it. There and back is about a mile. The last stretch is a short scramble over bare rock, slippery when wet, so keep back from the edge and save it for a dry, calm day.
From mid October to March the days are short and the wind can be strong. The road in is narrow, with passing places, so take it slowly.
If it rains
There's no shelter on the headland and the rock at the castle is slippery when wet. In rain or a strong wind keep to the beach.
Before you go
For further reading, before you go.