THINGS TO DO

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Morning Reflections at Kylesku Lodges Bird Watching on handa Island Aerial View of Kylesku Peninsular

Places to Visit Wildlife Handa Island

Activities in the North West Highlands

There's something here for everyone

Walking 

There’s plenty to choose from - coastal treks, nature trails, mouBroadwalk on Handa Islandntain walks and guided walks.

 Guided Walks 

 A Ranger Service, at Lochinver, Achmelvich and Durness, runs a program of guided walks throughout the summer months. 

Touring 

Kylesku Lodges lie on the west coast and is within an hours drive of both the North and East Coast. It is centrally situated on "The North West Highlands Tourist Route", a journey from Ullapool to TongueSeaview from the Drumbeg Road through spectacular scenery. The area has beautiful deserted beaches and with three coasts boasts a wide variety of scenery and a very varied climate. It can be raining on the West coast but dry and sunny a short drive away to the east or north coast, and vice versa. Cliffs, mountains and lochs dominate both the north and west coast. The main road is excellent and there are many single track roads to explore at a more leisurely pace. Driving is hassle free- there are no traffic lights or roundabouts in Sutherland. It is the largest county with the smallest population in Britain. 

Hill Walking

Discover some of the most memorable hills in Scotland - like Suilven,Quinag, Assynt Mountain Range Quinaig, Arkle, Foinhaven and Ben Loyal, which are all within easy reach of Kylesku Lodges. There are also Munros - hills over 3,000 feet - including Conival, Ben More Assynt and Ben Hope. The Assynt area of North West Scotland is renowned for its spectacular mountains and there are climbs to suit all levels of experience. 

 Golf

  Durness and Ullapool both have courses and are within one hour drive from the lodges. The former is the most northerly on the British mainland - a must for short course enthusiasts. Slightly further away (a scenic one and a half hour drive) there is the famous Royal Dornoch links course ranked amongst the top ten in the world.

Fly Fishing

Brown Trout The widest choice of wild brown trout fishing in the UK. Fishing permits are sold locally. Expert tuition, equipment and boat hire are also available. Salmon fishing permits may be available for Loch Assynt, or one of the nearby rivers (Inver, Kirkaig, Oykel), all within easy reach of Kylesku Lodges.

 

Sea Angling 

Fancy trying sea angling? There are local boats at Lochinver, which welcome beginners and sightseers. All equipment provided; bring a sense of adventure. 

Kerrachar Gardens

Kerrachar GardensBoat trips can be taken from Kylesku Pier to Kerrachar Gardens, a new loch-side garden which is only accessible by boat. Boat departs from the slipway at Kylesku at 13.00 hours, every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The boat fare is £10.00 and entrance to the gardens is £2.50. The gardens are open from mid May to mid September.

 

Wildlife Cruises 

There are lots - just ask in Durness, Kinlochbervie, Scourie, Kylesku, Lochinver or Ullapool. Get a new view on the incredible scenery. Visit seal colonies. See myriads of seabirds. Who knows - you might even come across whales and dolphins. Within easy reach of Kylesku Lodges there are:
Eas A'Chual Aluinn, Britain's Highest Waterfall

Boat trips up Glencoul to see Eas a’Chual Aluinn, which at 650 feet is the highest waterfall in Britain. Cruises depart twice daily, morning and afternoon, from the slipway at Kylesku.  A seal colony and nesting terns are viewed on route.

Great Stack Handa IslandCruise around Handa Island to view the myriads of nesting seabirds in spring. Boats depart from Scourie Harbour, a mere 20 minute drive from Kylesku. Handa Island can also be visited on foot by taking a short boat trip from Tarbet.

Boat cruises are available from Lochinver Harbour to explore the beautiful Assynt coast and view seals and birds. If you are lucky you may spot whale and dolphin.

Cruises to the Summer Isles are popular. A seal colony is visited and many species of seabird can be seen during the cruise among the rugged rock formation. One hour is allowed ashore. Boats leave from the pier near Achiltibuie 

Bird Watching

 The nature reserve of Handa  is one of the largest seabird colonies in N.W. Europe.  Handa, an offshore island with sea cliffs , can be reached by boat from the pier at Tarbet. The turnoff for Tarbet is only a short half hour drive from Kylesku on the A894.   

In the north west of the island magnificent sea cliffs, formed from horizontally stratified Torridonian sandstone, rise vertically from the Atlantic. Each summer they come alive, when nearly 200,000 seabirds gather here to breed. Guillemots, razorbills, and great skuas reach internationally important numbers.  There is also attractive plant-life and archaeological remains of an old village which was inhabited until 1847.  

For more information on where to watch birds visit our wildlife page and click on "Birds" or follow the link Where to Watch Birds

 

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Kylesku Lodges

Kylesku, Sutherland IV27 4HW
Highlands of Scotland
Telephone: 01971 502003
info@kyleskulodges.co.uk