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Lochinver is a coastal Village 93 miles
northwest of Inverness, one of the most remote
areas in Scotland known as Assynt in
Sutherland.
Lochinver is popular for its Scenic Bay,
Highland
Stoneware, and a number of scenic mountains
including the dome shaped Suilven.
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The image top is of Loch Inver Bay looking
out towards the Isle of Lewis.
The second image is of the Marina at the
south side of the Village with a fairly large
Fish Market and Seafood Bar.
The Culag Hotel is
on the south side, close to the Marina, Culag
may stand for Sheltered Bay.
The Town Hall and Visitor Centre are in the
centre of the Village, by the War Memorial and
Kids Play.
The Church of Scotland is in the Village
centre, originally built at Nairn by Inverness
in 1845, transported here in Ships in 1903.
The Caberfeidh Bar & Restaurant is also
in the centre of the Village, specializing in
Seafood and Game, this is now part of the
Lochinver Larder.
Assynt Free Church is on the north side of
the Village, a good place for views out to
Suilven Mountain.
The Highland Stoneware
Company is also on the north side of the
Village, an interesting place to visit to view
pieces being hand painted and the Shops large
display of Stoneware.
The Inver Lodge
Hotel sits up on a hillside with views over
the Village. You can walk up past the hotel to
the top of the hill for great views of Suilven,
or even drive to the top.
Suilven Mountain is about 6 or 7
miles out from Lochinver with the hiking car
park being about 1 mile east of the Village, so
a 5 or 6 mile hike through Moorland before you
start on the path to the top. The Mountain is
731m / 2,398ft in height, not the highest in
Scotland, but one of the most famous due to its
shape and with it standing alone.
Lochinver History
5000 BC - this area was largely covered by
woodland, said to be home to small groups of
Mesolithic hunter-gatherers.
4000 BC - the herding of livestock and
growing crops begins with settlements evolving
at a time the climate was warmer and drier than
it is today. The remains of over 30 Chambered
Cairns built around that time are in the
area.
1500 BC - the climate turned colder and
wetter, leading to many settlements being
abandoned.
500 BC - the people that remained in the
area tended to live in large Round Houses close
to the Coast or on Islands. There are the
remains of about 10 large Round Houses in the
area.
800s - the Vikings began settling in the
Northern and Western Isles, and parts of north
Scotland. There have been a number of Viking
artifacts found in the area.
1200s - Clan MacNichol were credited with
clearing the area of Cattle Rustlers.
This was a time people lived in communal
townships where families farmed small,
subdivided strips of land, paying rent to the
Land Owners.
1300s - Clan MacLeod gained control of the
area through marriage with Clan MacNichol.
1400s - Ardvreck Castle was built 11
miles east of Lochinver for the MacLeod's.
1600s - Clan MacKenzie took control of the
area and Ardvreck Castle after battles with the
MacLeod's.
1600s - small scale sea fishing was taking
place in the area.
1757 - the Sutherland's gained control of
the area through legal means after the
MacKenzie's fell foul of the King for
supporting the last Jacobite Rising.
1775 - the British Fishery Society built its
first Herring Station here.
1788 - any locals seen as disruptive, could
be accused of sheep steeling, cattle rustling,
or a number of petty crimes, so they could be
deported to the penal colonies in Australia.
1812 - the Sutherland's began clearing
Farmers from the area to make way for large
scale sheep farming.
Some locals took to fishing, moved south to
large towns and cities, or emigrated to America
and Canada.
1830s - the first Carriage Road from
Inverness to Lochinver was built by Thomas
Telford.
Before this time, trade and travel were done
by Boat or Cattle Droving trails.
1873 - the Culag Hotel was built as a
shooting lodge for George Leveson-Gower, 3rd
Duke of Sutherland.
1903 - the Church of Scotland was built in
the centre of Lochinver, with this Church
originating in Nairn by Inverness in 1845,
transported in pieces by ships to
Lochinver.
1936 - the Vesty family bought the Assynt
Estate as an investment and to be used for
hunting with them building the Glencanisp
Hunting Lodge one and a half miles east of
Lochinver.
1967 - the Lifeboat Station opened.
1973 - a documentary about Prince Charles
named The Highlands and Islands - A Royal Tour,
was part filmed around Lochinver.
1990s - Lochinver Fishing Port was extended,
becoming the second largest fishing port in
Scotland, used by fishermen around Europe.
Fish such as cod, haddock, monkfish,
scallops, crab and lobsters can be transported
by Truck to London in about 24 hours.
Pontoons were also installed at that time to
serve as a Marina.
2005 - the people of Assynt bought the
Glencanisp and Drumrunie estates that cover
44,594 acres around Lochinver from the Vestey
family. The Estates contain the Mountains -
2,398 ft Suilven, 2,779 ft Canisp, 2,785
ft Cul Mor, and
2,523 ft Cul Beag.
Glencanisp Hunting Lodge also became the
property of the people of Assynt. This was a
former Deer Stalking Lodge of Vesty family
that made their fortune with food production
around the world from 1897.
Glencanisp
Lodge is now run as a B&B or for self
catering.
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