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The parish of Assynt is situated amongst some of the wildest and most remote scenery in the United Kingdom. Located in the far north west highlands of Scotland the area is dominated by spectacular mountain scenery. Isolated sandstone mountains rise up from an undulating landscape of hummocks and lochs that is itself formed of Lewisian Gneiss, one of the oldest rock types found in the world. |
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The whole of the Assynt and the Coigach region (just to the south) is officially designated a National Scenic Area. |
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The village and fishing port of Lochinver is at the heart of Assynt - with all the necessary tourist facilities. Outside Lochinver, the population is concentrated in small crofting communities, the majority of which lie along the rugged coastline, either to the north or south of the village. |
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The Coastline of Assynt is a mixture of cliffs, rocky inlets and unspoilt sandy beaches - at Achmelvich, Clachtoll, Stoer and Clashnessie. The clear blue waters are great for swimming and watersports. The beaches are ideal for families during the summer, but hardly ever over-crowded! |
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Here you are free to breathe the air and explore the wilderness - either on your own or on organised walks. There is an abundance of wildlife - both flora and fauna - to be seen at every turn. The views can be spectacular - and the sunsets stunning! |
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Assynt has a long and varied history, and many reminders of this can be seen all around the parish. Perhaps the most significant sites of interest for the visitor lie on shores of Loch Assynt, south of Lochinver, in particular the dramatic ruins of Ardvreck Castle, once the stronghold of the MacLeods of Assynt, but abandoned after a siege in around 1672 - although its fame in history dates from 1650, when the Duke of Montrose was held prisoner here prior to being tried and executed in Edinburgh. Nearby there is also the ruined Calda House. |
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(These ruins are in the process of being preserved. The project also aims to restore Inchnadamph Parish Church and carry out essential repairs to the MacLeod Vault in the churchyard. |
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Assynt is now also famous as being the first crofting area to be bought by the local crofters - the Assynt Crofters’ Trust. This historic event fuelled the change in land ownership in Scotland and laid the framework for the current community buy-outs. The Assynt Crofters took title to the land in February 1993. |
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Guide books and information on Assynt |
