Exploring Ardnamurchan, Moidart and Morvern

Ardnamurchan is the most westerly point of mainland Great Britain, with a whacking great lighthouse to prove it! The peninsula, along with neighbouring Moidart and Morvern, is full of stunning landscapes you will see as you wind along the single track roads past extinct volcanoes, ancient Viking boat burials, historic castles and the landing site of Bonnie Prince Charlie for the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. This is one of the wildest and most unspoilt parts of Scotland, steeped in history and nature, where much of the traditional Highlands culture still survives alongside wildlife considered rare anywhere else in Scotland.

There are many local attractions to see including:
Resipole Studios and Art Gallery
Castle Tioram
Ardnamurchan Natural History Centre – a local natural history visitor centre
Ardnamurchan Distillery – Scotland’s newest and greenest whiskey distillery
Kilchoan village and Mingary Castle
Sanna Beach – a large white sandy beach at the tip of Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan Lighthouse
The Jacobite – Historic steam railway made famous by Harry Potter!

Enjoying Local Food

No stay on Carna is quite complete without feasting on our, ever increasing, fantastic local nosh and we can facilitate the delivery of it direct from the producer to the island for your stay. There’s local smoked fish, cheese & meat from Ardshealach Smokehouse. You can also order local shellfish like langoustine fresh off the boat at Salen Jetty Shop and we reckon you’ll never have tasted it so good! The shop also has an excellent café and is great for stocking up on essentials or local produce.

Fancy dinner or lunch off the island? We have a couple of great nearby options there is the Salen Hotel whose restaurant serves a good variety of locally sourced produce and Ardshealach Lodge Restaurant which has its own kitchen garden supplying vegetables and fruit.

Gardens

There are a few ornamental gardens in the area open to the public which are well worth a visit as part of a day out or on their own for the green fingered!

Ardtornish Gardens at Lochaline on Morvern comprises 24 acres sculpted out of a rocky hillside surrounding Ardtornish House. There are fine views down to the coast and a large variety of plants, trees and shrubs to see throughout the year.

Ard Daraich Garden is located en route to Carna after crossing the corran ferry, so is easy to stop there on your way here or home. It is a lovely hill garden surrounding the former holiday home of Constance Spry.

Larachmhor Gardens is a 28 acre woodland garden on the Arisaig Estate with a fine display of rhododendrons as well as exotic trees and shrubs. There is a woodland walk going through it you can access.

Mountain Biking and Cycling

Mountain Bike Hire and Tours are available from Sunart Cycles based in Strontian at the head of Loch Sunart. They can pick you up from Laga if needed and hire includes a helmet, pump, spare tube and lock. They also have bike racks available and can tell you the best trails to follow.

If you want to bring your own bicycles we can store them securely at Laga and they make a good alternative for exploring the peninsula. Although some people prefer to bring them onto Carna itself for the ultimate challenge!

Golf

Big golf fan? If you can’t keep away from your clubs there is a solution even if staying on Carna. Traigh Golf Club is an hour’s scenic drive away along the ‘Road to the Isles’ and was described as “Probably the most beautifully sited nine-hole golf course in the world…” by The Scotsman. With £20 green fees, normally no need to book as well as clubs and trolleys the club welcomes anyone and everyone. A day trip here can also be fun for all the family as there are fantastic beaches, walks, fishing and local shops nearby.

If you’re even more adventurous there is an 18 hole course at Fort William and the 9 hole Dragons Tooth at Ballachulish.

Photo courtesy of Traigh Golf Club