Lochcarron
| Lochcarron | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Loch Carrann | |
  Lochcarron |
|
| Population | 923 (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | NG857387 |
| Civil parish | Lochcarron |
| Council area | Highland |
| Lieutenancy area | Ross and Cromarty |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Lochcarron |
| Postcode district | IV54 |
| Dialling code | 01520 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Ross, Skye and Lochaber |
| Scottish Parliament | Caithness, Sutherland and Ross |
Coordinates: 57°24′00″N 5°30′00″W / 57.4000°N 5.5000°W
Lochcarron (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Carrann) is a village, community and civil parish in the Wester Ross area of Highland, Scotland. It has a population of 923.[1]
Local information
The name Lochcarron is also applied to the collection of small settlements strung out along Loch Carron, a sea loch on the west coast of Ross and Cromarty. The village stretches for almost 2 miles, meandering along the shore of the loch. In the 19th Century the village was named Janetown, then Jeantown.[2] The local newspaper, An Carrannach, is published on a monthly basis.
Local services
Lochcarron contains a variety of local services. These include:
- Two petrol stations, one at either end of the village (one 24hr)
- Spar shop, which contains a Post Office counter. The shop is open 7 days a week
- Highland Council service point (located at library)
- Two hotels offering regular entertainment, sit-in or take-away meals
- Restaurants - Lochcarron Bistro
- Cafes - The Waterside & The Tee Off
- Nursing home, attached to which is the local library
- Medical centre
- Tartan weaving factory
- Community hall offering a range of public events including ceilidhs and sales; and sports such as indoor bowls and short tennis
- Heritage centre
Self-catering is popular amongst the local population and visitors to the area. This is reflected in the large number of self catering and bed and breakfast establishments, many of which are members of the local business association.[3]
The surrounding area
Lochcarron is a central location for hillwalking and touring the West Coast Highlands, including the Torridon, Plockton and Skye regions. Not too far from the village lies the famous road Bealach na Bà (Gaelic: Pass of the cattle), which links the town of Applecross to the rest of the mainland. It is a road popular with tourists, drivers, and motorcyclists alike for its stunning scenery and hairpin bends.
Primary and secondary education
The local primary school stands at the entrance to the village, with approximately 40 pupils (as of April 2015). The primary school offers both English and Gaelic Medium education. Plockton High School is the nearest secondary school to Lochcarron.
Area employment
Currently the area's biggest employment sectors include tourism, crofting, and fish farming. Other employers include transportation via sea and road, and quarry work. Service industries include engineering, motor garages, health services and education. The Howard Doris Centre is a European leader in the care of the elderly, and employs people in the care sector. Many people in the area are self-employed.
Sport and recreation
There are many popular and established clubs within Lochcarron:
Sailing is a popular activity amongst the local and visiting population, and as such, a local RYA accredited, and Volvo Championship Club hosts free sailing sessions every Wednesday evening (between April and October), and racing sessions every Sunday afternoon. It currently enlists over 100 members.[4]
Lochcarron is home to the local shinty team Lochcarron Camanachd. The team currently play their home games at Battery Park in the west end of the village. The playing field is used during the week for training, and knockabout sessions.
Golf is another popular sport within the village. The golf course itself is a 9-hole course. The club is over 150 years old, and contains a clubhouse which offers catering facilities and golf clubs available to hire.
The nearby Attadale hosts an annual Highland Games every third Saturday of July.
Gallery
Smoke rising in Lochcarron is stopped by an overlying layer of warmer air.
Tartan weaving in Lochcarron
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lochcarron. |
- ↑ General Register Office for Scotland : Census 2001 : Usual Resident Population : Lochcarron Civil Parish Retrieved 2009-11-18
- ↑ John E Wilson. The Gazetteer of Scotland. Heritage Books. p. 247. ISBN 9781888265071.
- ↑ "Lochcarron and District Business Association". Lochcarron and District Business Association.
- ↑ "Lochcarron Sailing Club - Home". lochcarronsailing.com.