Applecross
Applecross A' Chomraich | |||
Location Map ( geo) | |||
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County | |||
Ross-shire | |||
Highway Authority | |||
Highland | |||
Applecross is a hamlet in Wester Ross on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands. Originally reached by boat, during the 20th century it became best known for being reached by the Bealach na Ba, a challenging single track road with multiple hairpins. Whilst this is an ancient road, in use for centuries as a drovers route and certainly in use in the 1810s when Thomas Telford worked on the Lochcarron to Shieldaig road, it was only with the arrival of the motor car that its infamy grew as a difficult route to navigate. In winter months the route was invariably blocked by snow, cutting off the village from the outside world, except by reverting to travel by boat. In the Victorian era, steamers would regularly call at Applecross Pier on their way north up the coast, or across to the Western Isles, however as these services gradually dwindled with the arrival of the car ferries, the service to Applecross was under threat. In order to help protect the community and ensure its survival, a coastal all-weather route was completed in 1976. Whilst this has allowed access to the community all year round, its primary purpose may have been in order to serve the torpedo station which lies a little to the north.
The village now has a thriving community, which largely relies on the tourist trade, although the more traditional activities of fishing and crofting survive. The Applecross Inn is normally busy, being the main eatery in the area, and there are plenty of campsites and holiday accommodation nearby. The local community now own some of the local facilities, like the shop and filling station after the previous owners found it uneconomic to continue them as stand alone businesses.
Route | To | Notes |
Toscaig, Camusterrach, Camusteel | ||
Lochcarron, Achnasheen | NC500 & Wester Ross Coastal Trail via Bealach na Ba | |
Shieldaig, Kenmare, Cuaig | NC500 & Wester Ross Coastal Trail via Coast Road |