What To See & Do

Places to Visit

With lots to see and do in the area around Sealight holiday accommodation you will never get bored during your holiday. We'd like to make a few suggestions of where to go near at hand and also a little further afield.

Castle Tioram

Situated on a rocky tidal island at the meeting point of Loch Moidart and the River Sheil. Dating back to the 1200s with the castle in its present form possibly constructed mid 14th century. The traditional seat of Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald, the castle saw frequent action in the wars between the Scottish Crown and the Lords of the Isles and ultimately the Jacobite uprisings. Torched during the 1715 uprising to deny its use to the Hanoverians and unoccupied since. Now a ruin with no access to the public though visitors may cross the sandbar causeway - but be wary of falling masonry! While it is accepted that restoration is very much desired, a standoff between the present owners and Historic Scotland means that the structure continues to decay. The public road stops just a short distance from the causeway while an interesting route to the castle from Ardmorlich along the shore of Loch Moidart might suit the more active.

Ariundle Oakwoods

Ariundle Oakwood was designated a National Nature Reserve in 1961. The wood is a remnant of ancient coastal oakwood that once spanned the Atlantic coasts of Europe from Norway down to Portugal. During the late 18th and early 19th Centuries, the wood was protected and its oaks provided a source of charcoal to fuel the Bonawe Iron Furnace on Loch Etive and for use in the lead mining industry around Strontian. Managing the woodland, cropping the trees and charcoal-burning all demanded human input and brought hundreds of workers to the area. Lead mining dwindled in the early 19th Century and the Bonawe Furnace closed in 1876. From this point, the woods were no longer managed to supply fuel, but were used as a sheltered area for livestock, particularly sheep.

Ardnamurchan Point & Sanna Bay

Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point on the British mainland is a wild, lonely, and stunningly beautiful place offering superb views of the islands of Eigg, Muck and Rum. The Point is dominated by the 36m high lighthouse designed by Alan Stevenson and completed in 1849. THe lighthouse was automated in the 1980s and the site now has a small exhibition centre with access to the lighthouse itself - a great viewpoint to catch a glimpse of whales, dolphins, porpoises and the odd basking shark. Sanna Bay with its beautiful white sands and rocky outcrops is situated to the north of the Point. Popular with landscape artists the additional 10 miles is well worth the effort especially as you pass through the remnants of a 60 million year old volcano en route.

Ardtoe

Lying on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Ardtoe Beach is a stunning sandy beach divided into a number of sections by rocky outcrops. At low tide, the sands are exposed for miles into the bay and there are fabulous opportunities to look for shells. The beach is pristine and secluded and offers spectacular views to the Isles of Eigg & Rhum. The beach offers stunning walks and breathtaking scenery, with a walkway along the top of the beach and across the cliffs. There is a small car park near the beach with a small parking charge.

Kentra Bay & 'The Singing Sands'

A pleasant walk from the village of Arivegaig follows the coastline at Kentra Bay before passing through a forest plantation and arriving at Gortenfern beach with the famous 'singing sands' - as you walk a perfect combination of roundness, size and silica content of the grains of sand coupled with the humidity level produces a low frequency sound.

On Our Doorstep

Looking for B&B Accommodation? Stay with our friends and Sealight's caretakers at Craig na Shee Bed & Breakfast.

A warm welcome awaits at the Ben View Hotel just a five minute walk from Sealight.

Strontian Hotel good food, good company and live music on occasions.

Useful Links

Moidart Local History Group - Castle Tioram.

Visitor Centre - Ardnamurchan Lighthouse.

Scotland's National Nature Reserves - Ariundle Oakwoods.

Walk Highlands - walks in Ardnamurchan.

Sunnart Centre - offering a wide range of activities, including music and theatre, for all ages and interests.

Nàdurra Visitor Centre - provides visitors with an introduction to the breathtaking variety of flora and fauna to be found in this area.

Ardnamurchan Charters - wildlife trips on Loch Sunart.

Resipole Studios - unique art gallery allowing contemporary scottish artists to develop, exhibit and promote their work.

Woodland Pottery & Crafts - situated in Strontian offers a wide range of slip-cast and hand decorated pottery.

Further Afield

GLENFINNAN at the head of Loch Sheil is where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in August 1745 at the start of the ill-fated attempt at restoring the Stuarts to the throne. A circular route from Sealight will take you along the shores of Loch Linnhe to the Glenfinnan Monument and Visitor Centre, in the care of the National Trust for Scotland, returning via Acharacle making for a pleasant day out. Why not also make "The Greatest Railway Journey in the World" on board The Jacobite - travelling between Fort William and Mallaig on the railway line used in the 'Harry Potter' films!

FORT WILLIAM is just 25 miles away via the Corran Ferry with its wide range of shops, pubs & restaurants.

NEVIS RANGE famous for its gondola trips provides all year round activities to suit everyone from skiing and snowboarding in the winter months to mountain biking, forest walks and even summer ceilidhs - visit www.nevisrange.co.uk to see all that's on offer. Situated on the Fort William-Spean Bridge road.

ISLE OF MULL Renowned for the majestic Duart Castle, sandy beaches, wildlife, diverse landscapes and much more, Mull is perfect for a day trip. A ferry runs from Lochaline in Morvern, about 20 miles from Strontian to Fishnish on the east coast of Mull. An alternative is the ferry at Kilchaon to Tobermory, you can even travel as foot passengers and perhaps have lunch and spend a few hours. From Mull it's just a hop across to the Isle of Iona that holds a unique place in the story of Scotland and Christianity.

STAFFA & LUNGA Staffa famous for Fingal's Cave, and Lunga – a puffin paradise – the largest of the Treshnish Isles, present a fantastic opportunity to sight iconic wildlife species within their habitat; sea eagles, puffins, minke whales, orcas, basking sharks, dolphins and seals! www.staffatours.com.