Situated on the west coast of Scotland, Achmelvich Bay, with its beautiful blue waters and white sandy beach, is a touch of paradise. Here is a complete guide.
How To Get To Achmelvich Bay
Located in the north west of Scotland, Achmelvich Bay is approximately 4 miles north west of the fishing village of Lochinver or 20 miles south west if coming from Kylesku.
Car
Drive north on the A387 from Lochniver for approximately a mile. Turn left at Lochniver Fire Station onto the B869.
Follow the B869 for just over a mile until you come to a single track leading off to the left to Achmelvich Bay.
If driving from Kylesku, stay on the A894 until you reach the A837 turn off to the right. Continue on this road past Loch Assynt until you reach the B869 turning right towards Achmelvich.
As above, stay on this road for just over a mile until you come to the single tack leading off to the left to Achmelvich Bay.
This is a narrow, single track road that has passing places along its route. Follow the road past the campsite until you see a sign on your right, directing you towards Achmelvich beach car park.
The parking here is free and there are also public toilets available.
Just off the road you drove down to the car park, you will see a short boardwalk that takes you to the beach/bay.
Tour
For those short on time, or that prefer everything to be organised for them, there are some awesome tours on Get Your Guide available to book in advance.
Achmelvich Bay Entrance Fee
It is free to visit this bay.
Achmelvich Bay Opening Times
The bay is open every day of the year, all year round.
Best Time To Visit Achmelvich Bay
As with most bays, it is probably best to visit during the summer to enjoy all the warm weather activities.
However, if you prefer it a little quieter, I’m sure this bay is just as beautiful out of peak season.
This bay is recommended for great sunsets.
Don’t forget your camera as the colours and views are stunning here.
There is a campsite next to the bay, where you will find a small shop and fish and chips and there is also a Youth Hostel nearby.
What To Pack
What To Expect At Achmelvich Bay
This beautiful bay is a popular stopping place for people travelling the NC500, due to it being known as one of the best bays on the route.
With its soft, white sandy beach and stunning turquoise blue water, it’s easy to see why this bay is so highly spoken of.
Again, another of Scotlands fantastic spots that, on a warm day, makes you feel like you could be somewhere tropical!
This sheltered bay is favoured by those who enjoy swimming and water sports such as water skiing, windsurfing and kayaking.
In addition, this bay is a favourite with fishermen, with cod, haddock, whiting, pollack and mackerel being some of the fish caught here.
There are also some great little rock pools for children to explore and try catch some marine life.
However, if water sports are not your thing, then there are also some lovely walking trails, with stunning views, around the bay.
Furthermore, there have been dolphins, porpoises and even a Minke whale spotted in the bay, as well as many different seabirds.
This lovely, family friendly bay with lots to keep children happy is a beautiful place to have a picnic and definitely worth visiting when in this area of Scotland.
Unfortunately we picked one of the worst days of the year for it. But sometimes when on a strict NC500 itinerary it can’t be avoided.
So we drove over Kylesku Bridge in the morning before heading over to camp in Ullapool for the night.
The next day we would attack Ullapool Hill & Bealach Na Ba Pass to end our NC500 itinerary.
Where To Stay In Scotland
Luxury
Offering free WiFi and free private parking, exploreNESS Apartment is located in Inverness, just 0.8 miles from Inverness Castle.
The property is less than 0.6 miles from Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and 1.6 miles from Caledonian Thistle.
The apartment features 1 bedroom, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a washing machine, and 1 bathroom with a shower. Towels and bed linen are provided.
A buffet breakfast is available daily at the apartment.
Mid-Budget
Located 1.7 miles from Inverness Castle, Loch Earn provides accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.
There is also a kitchen in some of the units with a dishwasher, a fridge, and an oven.
A continental breakfast is available daily at the bed and breakfast.
Guests can relax in the garden at the property.
Budget
Just 10 minutes’ walk from Inverness Rail Station, Inverness Youth Hostel offers free private parking and bicycle storage.
Eastgate shopping centre is a 10-minute walk from this hostel. Hootananny, a popular music venue, is just 15 minutes’ walk away.
Culloden Battlefield and its visitor centre is just a 10-minute drive away. The banks of Loch Ness and the country village of Dores are both a 20-minute drive away.
All rooms have a shared bathroom. Packed lunch and luggage storage is available on request.
For more places to stay in Scotland, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.
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