If you enjoy taking pictures then a feast awaits you when travelling through the Highland scenery of Scotland. Pictures are around every corner, the Highland scenery is truly breathtaking and the area around Loch Carron will have your shutter clickin merrily.
A peaceful looking scene from Stromferry across the narrows of Loch Carron to North Strome and yet in years gone by this was a bustling ferry port. The Skye railway from Inverness, terminated at Stromeferry and the steamers supplied the Isle of Skye from here, until the line was extended to Kyle of Lochalsh in 1897. The ferry continued to transfer the visitor across Loch Carron from where they would continue their journey north, or stop overnight at Lochcarron village. It was the only place in the Highlands where you would find a traffic jam at the height of the tourist season. A new road was built along the Strome Ferry side of the loch which cured the problem of the bottleneck, but closed the ferry and left the village desolate. In recent months (October 2002 being the latest ) landslips have caused problems for both the rail and road user.The Highland council and Railtrack are looking at plans to re- route both the road and rail line, so who knows, there may be a bridge in this photograph the next time I update it. The rail line from Inverness to Kyle provides the traveller with one of the lovliest train journeys to be made in Britain, passing through some spectacular scenery on it's way to the sea.

The village of Lochcarron itself is a grand spot and with plenty accomodation is a fine base from which to tour the area. To the left of the large building in the foreground of the photograph is the ruin of Strome Castle, which was destroyed by the MacKenzies of Kintail after a struggle for possesion with the MacDonalds in 1602. For golfers there is a nine hole course at Kirkton which lies at the north end of the Loch.

A drive north on the A896 will soon have you in the lovely village of Shieldaig, whilst a more dramatic journey can be made by taking the road for Applecross at the head of Loch Kishorn. Negotiate the hairpin bends over the Bealach Na Bo Pass or Pass of the Cattle,at the summit you are sitting at 2,300ft and the vista is wonderful, this I promise, is a drive you won't forget. Passing through Applecross the road hugs the coast as you head for Shieldaig and provides great views to the Isles of Raasay, Skye and Rona. The picturesque village of Plockton is also worth a visit and it's not that far to Kyle of Lochalsh and the Skye Bridge and another ferry which has of course closed. I'm sure I'm not the only one who misses the ferries, ok there were queues but you were on holiday, not in a rush, not trying to break any records, it was all parft of the romance of the Highlands. Now let me say right away that bridges (WITHOUT TOLLS) and new roads are of great benefit to the local people and local businesses, but wouldn't it be possible to leave the ferries for us old romantics?.

You can still take a ferry to Skye by way of Glenelg to Kylerhea, although it is seasonal and only takes a few cars at a time.