Gairloch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gairloch
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 View towards Strath |
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 Gairloch
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| Population | 610 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NG803769 |
| • Edinburgh | 155 mi (249 km) |
| • London | 484 mi (779 km) |
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| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GAIRLOCH |
| Postcode district | IV21 |
| Dialling code | 01445 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Gairloch (pronounced GAIR-lokh) is a charming village in the North-West Highlands of Scotland. Its name comes from the Scottish Gaelic Geàrrloch, which means "Short Loch." It sits right on the shores of Loch Gairloch.
Gairloch is a popular spot for tourists, especially in the summer. It has lots of fun things to do, like a golf course, a museum, shops, restaurants, and beautiful beaches. You can also find a community centre, a sports facility, and even a local radio station called Two Lochs Radio. The village is also a key stop on the famous North Coast 500 road trip route.
The wider area of Gairloch includes other villages like Poolewe, Kinlochewe, and Aultbea. About 950 people live in this larger parish. If you're traveling by train, the closest station is at Achnasheen. For flying, the nearest airport is in Inverness.
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Exploring Gairloch's Landscape
Gairloch isn't just one big town; it's a few smaller areas spread out along the shores of Loch Gairloch. The main parts are the Harbour area (which includes Charlestown), Achtercairn, and Strath.
If you arrive from the south on the A832 road, you'll first see the turning for Badachro and Port Henderson. These villages are on the south side of the loch. As you continue north, you'll reach Charlestown and the harbour. About 1 mile (1.5 km) further north is Achtercairn. This area is a central hub with a road that leads west to Strath and then towards Melvaig on the coast. The main A832 road then goes steeply uphill out of Gairloch towards Poolewe.
Coastal Climate and Wildlife
The weather along the coast of Gairloch is special because of the Gulf Stream. This ocean current brings warmer waters, especially in summer. These warm waters are great for jellyfish, which you might see in the local waters. Most jellyfish in the UK are harmless.
The main Gairloch beach, called Gaineabh Mhòr, and Sands beach are officially recognized as "Designated Bathing Waters." This means the water quality is regularly checked to make sure it's clean for swimming.
Beyond the Main Village
Northwest of Gairloch, you'll find smaller places like Big Sand, North Erradale, and Melvaig. The road past Sands campsite becomes a single-track road for about 6 miles (10 km) to Melvaig. After Melvaig, the road gets even narrower for about 3 miles (5 km) and leads close to the Rua Reidh Lighthouse. There's a small car park in Melvaig where people leave their cars to walk to the lighthouse.
Gairloch's History and Land
The land around Gairloch has mostly belonged to the Mackenzie family since the 1400s. They were known for being very kind to the people who lived on their land. In the 1800s, leaders like Sir Hector Mackenzie and his sons refused to force any tenants off their homes, even when the estate wasn't making money. Because of this, many Highlanders who were forced out of other areas came to live in Gairloch. This is why Gairloch still has a strong community today.
The Flowerdale glen, where the Mackenzie family house is, has a special climate. This allows many different plants and animals to thrive there. You can take a walk up the Flowerdale burn, past the Mackenzie house, to a beautiful waterfall. There are also new walking paths that let visitors explore the wooded areas.
Fishing in Gairloch
Gairloch and nearby Badachro have a long history of fishing. People used to catch shellfish using special traps called creels, and also did some small-scale trawling. While there are fewer active fishing boats now, some fishermen still work regularly. Others have started businesses that cater to tourists, like boat trips.
You can arrange boat trips for fishing or to see marine wildlife at the harbour. There are also many small lochs in the area where you can go trout fishing. You can even take a trip on a working creel boat from Badachro to see how shellfish are caught.
Things to Do and See
Gairloch has many shops in Strath, Achtercairn, and near the harbour. You'll find post offices in local convenience stores. For public services, there's a police station, a leisure centre, schools, a library, and a health centre in the central Achtercairn area. There's also a small supermarket and a home and garden centre. If you like water sports, the Gairloch Kayak Centre is based at Shieldaig Lodge Hotel.
Gairloch has a tourist information service to help you plan your visit. There's also a 24-hour petrol station and electric car charging points.
Places to Stay
For those who love camping, there are two campsites: Gairloch Holiday Park in Strath and Sands Caravan & Camping to the west. Carn Dearg Youth Hostel offers great views across the bay towards the Isle of Skye. You can also park recreational vehicles overnight in the Pier Road car park, and there's a free toilet emptying point at the harbour.
Gairloch Heritage Museum
A special Pictish stone with a salmon carving was found in Gairloch in 1880. This stone is now on display at the Gairloch Heritage Museum. The museum moved to a new building in 2019 and now has even more exhibits, a gallery, and a shop featuring local artists.
Fairy Lochs War Grave
The site of a plane crash from 1945 at the Fairy Lochs near Gairloch is now a special war grave. This hilltop site is kept as a memorial to the American servicemen who died in the accident.
Getting Around
There's a public bus service to and from Inverness a few times a week. There are also weekly services to Ullapool and Dingwall.
Education in Gairloch
Gairloch has schools for all ages in the central Achtercairn area. Gairloch Primary School teaches in both Gaelic and English. Gairloch High School is a modern secondary school. For older students, the West Highland College UHI offers some college courses.
Gairloch in the Media
Gairloch is home to the UK's smallest local radio station, Two Lochs Radio.
The village has also been featured on TV shows and films. It appeared in the BBC One series When Love Comes to Town in 2007. Older films like Crofter Boy (1955) and the documentary "Last Postbus to Gairloch" also showed the area.
Gairloch and its surroundings have been used as filming locations for movies such as Stardust (2007 film) (2007), What We Did on Our Holiday (2014), and Out of Darkness (2022).
Famous People from Gairloch
- An annual festival used to celebrate John Mackay (1656–1754), a famous bagpiper for the Mackenzie clan.
- Uilleam Ros or William Ross (1762–1791), a well-known Scottish Gaelic poet, is buried in Gairloch. His poem Moladh Gheàrrloch describes the winter sport of shinty being played on New Year's Day on the Big Sand beach.
- George McIver, a science fiction writer, was born in Gairloch.
- Former footballer Harold Davis lived in the village later in his life and ran a hotel.
