~ Loch Shieldaig, Loch Torridon, Diabaig ~

~ Shieldaig Village and island ~

Shieldaig village was built specifically to 'raise and train' sailors to counter the threat from Napoleon. Grants were given for boats, and £2,700 was spent building the three main streets. Then Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo, and the brave men of Shieldaig were never asked to fight. The church was built in 1825, and the school added at the end of that century.

The Shieldaig fishing industry is now limited to prawns and mussels - so the name Shieldaig (Norse for 'Herring Bay') is rather redundant - although the herring gulls are fatter. Shieldaig island is covered with Scots pine which are thought to have been planted deliberately about 130 years ago to provide the village with poles for ships and fishing nets. The island is now a National Trust site of special scientific interest and has a thriving bird population. Herons, Kestrels, Black Guillemots, Long Eared Owls and Mergansers.

~ Shieldaig Village with Beinn Alligin in the background ~

In 1893, the minister of Shieldaig broke away from the established church along with the minister of Raasay to form the Free Presbyterian Church. The road to Lochcarron remained the only route to Shieldaig until the 1960's when the route east to Torridon was constructed. In the 1970's the Kenmore road was built and in 1996 the coastal defence barrier was built around Shieldaig.

~ Loch Torridon ~

Loch Torridon and Glen Torridon are well known to climbers, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, hikers, and countless visitors from around the world, for what is considered to be some of the finest scenery in Europe. The mountains (Liathach, Beinn Alligan, Sgorr Ruadh, Maol Chean-deargare) are very nearly the highest in Britain, rising in places almost vertically to 3500 feet from the deep sea lochs. Many visitors to the area remark upon the unusual atmosphere - it is truly one of the world's rarest and special places.

Rock visible in the Torridon area is some of the oldest on Earth - hundreds of millions of years old - rock that predates life itself. On top of this ancient rock is a layer of 'Torridonian Sandstone' which makes up the bulk of the mountains that surround the area. Many of the local placenames originate from the Norse occupation - Diabaig (Deep Bay), Ardheslaig (Hazel Bay).

~ Loch Torridon & the Torridon hills ~

The road through Torridon village, past Alligin to Diabaig has stunning views across Loch Torridon and into the heart of the highlands, as well as views over the Isle of Skye. The road eventually grinds to a delightful halt in the charming fishing village of Diabaig, with its scattered hillside crofts, sheltered harbour and salmon farm. The village was used as a filming location for the Hollywood movie 'Loch Ness' (which is worth watching solely for the scenery).

~ Cotton plants near Diabaig ~

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