We are situated on the North West coast of the Highlands, 4-miles from the small village of Lochinver. Achmelvich bay - shown in photo- is right next to the Caravan Site itself and has had a clean beach award since 2000. The beach is perfect for all water-sports and activities and there is plenty of hillwalking, mountain-climbing and fishing to be done in the surrounding area.
We are family run caravan site with young staff and try to make the site suitable for everyone! In the summer it is prodominately a family site - a lot of repeat campers who's kids bring their kids. Everyone is very friendly and we try and make sure that everyone has a great stay. The school holidays are our busiest time, especially if the weather holds, and there is always a great atmosphere on the site.
We have a range of facilities on the caravan site itself - The toilet block has hot showers, a disabled toilet, a chemical toilet and indoor and outdoor washing-up facilities (we shut part of the toilet block down in quiet months to save energy).
Static caravans
The static caravans have been very popular for many years. We have 3 to rent, all with a beach view. They are fully equipped with water, electricity, gas, microwave, TV, cookers and bedding. All you need to bring is your own personal towels! They can sleep up to 6 people - there is a double bedroom, a twin bedroom and a pull-out double bed in the living room. They are available to rent from April until October every year. We only rent Saturday to Saturday, and we do not allow dogs.
- In March 2012 'Highland Wi-Fi Ltd' installed Wi-Fi on the site, this will be operated and maintained by 'Highland Wi-Fi Ltd' and there will be charges for use. The range is around 1000 metres and there will be a number of antenae on the site so the whole site and surrounding areas will have access.
- A chip shop open during busy periods (approx. End of May - Early September)
- A laundrette with two washing machines and a tumble dryer - tokens for which are available from reception and cost £4 a wash and £1 for 20 minutes in the dryer. You can also use the washing line located next to entrance of site.
- An on-site shop, open June until August that sells basic food stuff, milk, rolls, eggs, ice cream, juice, sweeties, crisps etc. This is also where the reception is during opening hours which are 8 am - 8 pm in high season.
The beach is situated right beside the caravan site, it has safe, clean waters for a range of activities - swimming, water-skiing, kayaking, sailing - whatever takes your fancy!! Unfortunately, you need to provide your own equipment for these activities as there are no rentals available. The beach has had a "Clean Beach Award" since 2000 and in recent years has been a prime spot for watching the dolphins, porpoises and whales that come into the bay. People also fish from the rocks or from boats, and a Fishing Competition was established in July 2008.
There is also a range of games set up during the first few weeks of July which include "The Sandcastle Competition" and "The Achmelvich Olympics" which are available for all ages. Occasionally, there will be a group playing "British Bulldogs" or "Rounders" although due to the maram grass & sea lyme grass eating up a lot of the beach this, sadly, has been harder to do.
You are welcome to have bonfires and barbeques on the beach, so long as you clean up everything afterwards and make sure there is no nails/glass left around. Normally, a group of regulars have fires on the small beach known as "Sinky Sands" and they place a stone circle on the outside of the fire pit. You can have barbeques on site - just don't burn the grass!!
In the long grass, bracken or heather you will encounter ticks, unfortunately, they are now an unavoidable part of life due to the increasing number of deer and stags coming off the hill for food. They are usually very easy to remove but, please be vigilant for the symptoms of Lyme's Disease - tiredness, muscle pain, joint pain, fever and headaches.
We do get jelly fish in our water, although in the last few years there have been much fewer stinging ones due to the water not being warm enough for them - stinging ones are coloured: red, blue, brown, pink, and these can be quite sore. You can buy creams to treat, use vinegar or ammonia. Another water danger is the weaver fish, these are in the sand - you will never see it - and are exceptionally sore when you stand on them. The treatment is to put your foot in as hot a water as you can bare as it pulls out the sting that has been deposited.
During the Scottish School holidays we get extremely busy, and as we don't have set pitches we do not take bookings for pitches. However, if you ring on the day, or day before, and we know we will be able to take you then we will keep a space for you. During the busiest part of the season we use an overflow site just a hundred yards up the road that is for tents only, we aim to send tents there when needed to keep space on the main site for caravans and camper-vans - we don't want to turn anyone away!
Hermits castle
Behind the campsite, about a ten minute walk over the hill, sits 'Europes smallest castle' - commonly known by the names "Hermits Castle" or "Scott's Castle". It was built in the 1950s by an English Architect called David Scott. After months of building he stayed in it for one weekend then never returned! It sits near the water and is a very popular attraction. The land that it is on is owned by the Caravan Site owner Mrs. M MacLeod and therefore this is also an No Dogs Allowed area.
