Page 157 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS  155

administrative centre for the ranger-led excursions in the
Highland Clearances, when the summer. Further west, the road
tolbooth was used as a jail. All is passes the romantic Eilean
explained in the heritage centre, Donan Castle, connected to
Tain Through Time. the land by a causeway. After
becoming a Jacobite (see p151)
+ Dunrobin Castle strong hold, it was destroyed in
Near Golspie. Tel (01408) 633177. 1719 by English warships. In the
Open Apr–mid-Oct: daily. & 8 - 19th century it was restored,
E Tain Through Time and it now contains a number
Tower St. Tel (01862) 894089. Open of relics of the Jacobite cause.
Apr–Oct: Mon–Fri; Jun–Aug: Mon–Sat.
& 7 ∑ tainmuseum.org.uk + Eilean Donan Castle Typical Torridonian mountain scenery in
Off A87, near Dornie. Tel (01599) Wester Ross
555202. Open Feb–Dec: daily. & -
∑ eileandonancastle.com Skye. The Torridon Countryside
Centre offers guided walks in
season, and information on the
m Isle of Skye natural history of the region.
Further north, the A832
See pp156–7.
cuts through the Beinn Eighe
National Nature Reserve, Britain’s
, Wester Ross oldest wildlife sanc tuary. Rem-
nants of the ancient Caledonian
Ross & Cromarty. 3 Achnasheen,
Strathcarron. @ Gairloch. pine forest still stand on the banks
n Achnasheen, (01445) 791221 or and isles of Loch Maree, provid-
791368. ∑ visitscotland.com ing shelter for pine martens and
wildcats. Buzzards and golden
The striking Eilean Donan Castle, northwest Leaving Loch Carron to the eagles nest on the alpine slopes.
of Glen Shiel south, the A890 suddenly enters Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre has
the northern Highlands and the information on the reserve.
great wilderness of Wester Ross. Along the coast, a series of
n Glen Shiel The Torridon Estate, sprawling exotic gardens thrive in the
on either side of Glen Torridon, warming influence of the Gulf
Skye & Lochalsh. 3 Kyle of Lochalsh.
@ Glen Shiel. n Bayfield House, includes some of the oldest Stream. The most impressive is
Bayfield Road, Portree (01478) 612992. mountains on earth (Torridonian Inverewe Garden (see p160).
rock is over 600 million years old),
Dominating one of Scotland’s and is home to red deer, wildcats E Torridon Countryside Centre
most haunting regions, the and wild goats. Peregrine fal cons Torridon. Tel (01445) 791368. Open
awesome summits of the Five and golden eagles nest in the Apr–Sep: Sun–Fri. 8 7 «
Sisters of Kintail rear into view at towering sandstone mass of O Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre
the northern end of Loch Cluanie Beinn Eighe, above the village Near Kinlochewe, on A832. Tel (01445)
as the A87 enters Glen Shiel. The of Torridon, with its breath taking 760258. Open Apr–Oct: daily. 7
Visitor Centre at Morvich offers views over Applecross towards ∑ nnr-scotland.org.uk

The western side of the Five Sisters of Kintail, seen from a viewpoint above Ratagan

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