Arisaig
Arisaig is a small village with a population of about 300 which nestles amongst the hills, beside a bay littered with islands, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Gulf Stream warms this small locality, conferring a lushness and profusion of flowers and often better weather than the forecasters tell you!
The harbour is a popular haven for sailing boats and is the departure point for day trips to the Small Isles of Eigg, Rum and Muck - there is time to explore and the chance of spotting whales or dolphins en route. Each island has it's own very different personality.
Eigg, the largest and most populated, came to the attention of the media in 1997 when a trust was set up by the islanders to secure the island's future for the benefit of it's population.
Rum, run by Scottish Natural Heritage, is famous for Kinloch Castle, built at great expense by the Lancashire industrialist George Bullough in 1897, and also for its colonies of Manx Shearwater which have their burrows in the high, dramatic mountains on the island. Muck, the smallest of the three islands, is a more gentle pastoral and fertile island with a rich variety of bird life. A trip to at least one of the islands is a must for every visit.
There is a wide variety of flora, fauna and bird life. Six varieties of orchid grow wild. Oystercatchers, heron, lapwing and curlew are common, sea eagles, golden eagles, eider duck and shearwater are resident. There are red deer aplenty. Careful observers may see pine marten, wild cat and otter. At sea there are minke whale, porpoises, dolphin and basking shark and there are seals in abundance around the shore. The white tailed sea eagle is the fourth largest eagle in the world. There are many sea eagles living and breeding on the west coast of Scotland. Both common and grey seal can be seen in the area.
The village has a railway station (the "West Highland Line" - steam trains run from Fort William to Mallaig in summer), a General Store with Post Office, Restaurant, Cafés and a Hotel with bars which serves lunches and dinners to non-residents and non-residents alike.
The "Land, Sea & Islands Centre", built on the site of a derelict smiddy in 1999, houses an exhibition that celebrates the social and natural history of the area old and new with photographic displays and artefacts and also has a small shop selling local and island crafts and cards.
More information about Arisaig
We are lucky to have this wilderness on our doorstep ..... come and try it for yourself.
"I came here as a kid 30 years ago and Im glad to say and see that this area has lost none of its magic. Great chalets at Ach na skia Croft. Thanks. " Will - Australia
