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Lochinver is a coastal Village 93 miles
northwest of Inverness, one of the most remote
areas in Scotland known as Assynt in
Sutherland.
Lochinver is popular for its Scenic Bay,
Highland
Stoneware, and a number of scenic mountains
including the dome shaped Suilven.
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The image top is of Loch Inver Bay looking
out towards the Isle of Lewis.
The second image is of the Marina at the
south side of the Village with a fairly large
Fish Market and Seafood Bar.
The Culag Hotel is
on the south side, close to the Marina.
The Town Hall and Visitor Centre are in the
centre of the Village, by the War Memorial and
Kids Play.
The Caberfeidh Bar & Restaurant is also
in the centre of the Village, specializing in
Seafood and Game.
Assynt Free Church is on the north side of
the Village, a good place for views out to
Suilven Mountain.
The Highland Stoneware
Company is also on the north side of the
Village, an interesting place to visit to view
pieces being hand painted and the Shops large
display of Stoneware.
The Inver Lodge
Hotel sits up on a hillside with views over
the Village. You can walk up past the hotel to
the top of the hill for great views of Suilven,
or even drive to the top.
Suilven Mountain is about 7 miles out
from Lochinver with the hiking car park being
about 1 mile east of the Village, so a 6 mile
hike through Moorland before you start on the
path to the top. The Mountain is 731 m / 2,398
ft in height, not the highest in Scotland, but
one of the most famous due to its shape and
with it standing alone.
Lochinver History
5000 BC - this area was largely covered by
woodland, said to be home to small groups of
Mesolithic hunter-gatherers.
4000 BC - the herding of livestock begins
with settlements evolving at a time the climate
was warmer and drier than it is today. The
remains of over 30 Chambered Cairns built
around that time are in the area.
2,400 BC - people are said to have began
cereal production alongside livestock farming,
living in Round Houses.
1500 BC - the climate turned colder and
wetter, leading to many settlements being
abandoned.
500 BC - the people that remained in the
area tended to live in large Round Houses close
to the Coast or on Islands. There are the
remains of about 10 large Round Houses in the
area.
800s - the Vikings began settling in the
Northern and Western Isles, and parts of north
Scotland. There have been a number of Viking
artifacts found in the area.
1200s? - Clan MacNichol were credited with
clearing the area of Cattle Rustlers.
1300s - Clan MacLeod were given control of
the area by King David II.
1400s - Ardvreck Castle was built 11
miles east of Lochinver for the MacLeod's.
1600s - Clan MacKenzie took control of the
area.
1757 - the Sutherland's gained control of
the area.
1812 - the Sutherland's began clearing
Crofters from the area to make way for large
scale sheep farming.
Some locals took to fishing, moved south to
large towns and cities, or emigrated to America
and Canada.
Any locals seen as disruptive, could be
accused of sheep steeling, cattle rustling, or
a number of petty crimes, so they could be
deported to the penal colonies in
Australia.
1873 - the Culag Hotel was built as a
shooting lodge.
1973 - a documentary about Prince Charles
named The Highlands and Islands - A Royal Tour,
was part filmed around Lochinver.
1990s - Lochinver Fishing Port was extended,
becoming the second largest fishing port in
Scotland, used by fishermen around Europe.
2005 - the people of Assynt bought the
Glencanisp and Drumrunie estates that cover
44,594 acres around Lochinver from the Vestey
family that owns vast amounts of land in the
area. The Estates contain the Mountains - 2,398
ft Suilven, 2,779 ft Canisp, 2,785
ft Cul Mor, and
2,523 ft Cul Beag.
Glencanisp Lodge also became the property of
the people of Assynt. This was a former Deer
Stalking Lodge of Vesty family
that made their fortune with food production
around the world from 1897.
Glencanisp
Lodge is now run as a B&B or for self
catering.
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