NC 500 Pods - Achmelvich

Achmelvich beach (two minutes’ walk) is a fabulous spot for many reasons – as well as being incredibly gorgeous, it’s also renowned as a place to spot marine wildlife like dolphins and porpoises. There’s plenty of activity down here too, as the sheltered bays are suitable for fishing, kayaking and surfing as well as swimming. A short walk from the beach takes you out to Hermit’s Castle, a somewhat mysterious building constructed in the 1950s and often said to be the smallest castle in Europe. Also rather intriguing is Ardvreck Castle (20 minutes’ drive), which has been standing on the shores of Loch Assynt since the 15th century. As you may expect from such a scenic area, there are lots of places to get out for a good hike nearby too. Popular trails include those up Suilven (20 minutes), said to be some of the country’s best hillwalking territory, and the route to Bone Caves of Inchnadamph (half an hour), where various prehistoric remains have been found.