# Achmelvich > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Achmelvich > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Achmelvich.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achmelvich > Source revision: 1303224325 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Achmelvich** ([Gaelic](/source/Scottish_Gaelic): *Achadh Mhealbhaich*) is a settlement situated in the [Highland](/source/Highland_(council_area)) region of [Scotland](/source/Scotland). The name comes from the Gaelic "*Achadh*" - a plain or meadow and "*mealbhaich*" - sandy [dunes](/source/Dune).[1] ## Location Achmelvich lies 3 miles (5 kilometres) northwest of [Lochinver](/source/Lochinver), and 40 miles (65 kilometres) north of [Ullapool](/source/Ullapool), in the northwest of the [Scotland](/source/Scotland), accessed by [single-track road](/source/Single-track_road) which leads from the B869 coastal tourist route. Despite the difficult road, the area is popular with tourists. ## Settlement and facilities As a settlement, Achmelvich is spread over the surrounding hillsides, with the focal point being the [beach](/source/Beach) which has consistently been awarded "[MCS](/source/Marine_Conservation_Society) recommended" status[2] and also given the blue flag award.[3] There are two [camping](/source/Camping) and [caravan](/source/Travel_trailer) parks open for business, both have residential [caravans](/source/Travel_trailer) to let, although only one has pitches for [tents](/source/Tent), [camper vans](/source/Campervan) and caravans.[4][5] There is also a small [laundrette](/source/Laundrette), [shop](/source/Retailing#Shops_and_Stores) and a [takeaway](/source/Takeaway). These sites overlook the [beach](/source/Beach), with views out into the [Minch](/source/Minch) as well as [Port Altan Na Bradhan](/source/Port_Altan_Na_Bradhan). The main beach car park is separated from the beach by the [machair](/source/Machair_(geography)) and has recently been upgraded. The [Youth Hostel](/source/Scottish_Youth_Hostels_Association),[6] [Tourist Information Hut](/source/Visitor_center) and public toilets are all located by the main beach car park. ## Tourist attractions [Water-skiing](/source/Water-skiing), [windsurfing](/source/Windsurfing) and [coasteering](/source/Coasteering) are popular pursuits on the beach. The production of a beach management guide in 2004 led to [dogs](/source/Dog) being banned from the beach during the peak tourist season and neither of the camping and caravan sites allow dogs. The unique morphology of the area means there are many nearby walks and climbs, including [Suilven](/source/Suilven), for those interested in [hiking](/source/Hiking). The [Inchnadamph](/source/Inchnadamph) National Nature Reserve, which is well within driving distance, has many [caves](/source/Caving) and [pot holes](/source/Caving) as well as being the access route to [Conival](/source/Conival) and [Ben More Assynt](/source/Ben_More_Assynt), the area's two [Munros](/source/Munros). There are also [fishing](/source/Fishing) opportunities to be had both in the sea, with [cod](/source/Cod), [haddock](/source/Haddock), [whiting](/source/Merlangius_merlangus), [pollack](/source/Pollock), [saithe](/source/Saithe) and [mackerel](/source/Scomber_scombrus) being common catches, or in the local lochs (subject to permit) which are stocked with [trout](/source/Trout), [salmon](/source/Salmon) and [Arctic char](/source/Arctic_char).[1] [Assynt](/source/Assynt) is renowned for having diverse wildlife and Achmelvich is no exceptions with [cetaceans](/source/Cetacean), [seals](/source/Pinniped), [basking sharks](/source/Basking_shark), [otters](/source/Otter), [pine martens](/source/Pine_marten), [ospreys](/source/Osprey) and [white-tailed eagles](/source/White-tailed_eagle) having been seen in the area.[7] ## "Hermit's Castle" Achmelvich is home to what is reputedly Europe's smallest castle, known locally as **Hermit's Castle**.[8] The castle was built in the 1950s by an English architect (David Scott), who left the area shortly after completion, spending only a weekend in the castle he spent months building. The castle was vandalised in the 1970s, when the windows were smashed and the door removed, but it is not unknown for people to use the castle as a [bothy](/source/Bothy). The detail design of this structure may give a clue to its popular name, as the entrance aperture consists of a tall but very narrow slit barely a foot wide. In this regard the design may be said to approach the concept of an [anchorite](/source/Anchorite)'s (or hermit's) cell, a ceremonially bricked up enclosure whose sole access was only large enough to allow for the passage of food in and waste out. Another feature of great interest is that the structure is perched quite high above, and close to the edge of, a small inlet of the sea, and the above-mentioned aperture is on the seaward side. This results in the need to enter the Castle from below. Such a location also suggests a defensive aspect to the design. Combined with the quite strong resemblance to a [pill-box](/source/Pillbox_(military)) or similar military structure, this leads one to speculate exactly what the Castle's architect designer had in his mind when building it. ## References 1. Ritchie, B. (1996) Making More of Assynt. Assynt Mountain Rescue 1. ["Good Beach Guide"](http://www.goodbeachguide.co.uk/beach/achmelvich-bay). [Marine Conservation Society](/source/Marine_Conservation_Society). Retrieved 4 June 2014. 1. ["Beach Awards- Achmelvich Bay"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140606211244/http://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/environmental-quality/beach-awards/beach-guide/map/achmelvich-bay/). Keep Scotland Beautiful. Archived from [the original](http://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/environmental-quality/beach-awards/beach-guide/map/achmelvich-bay/) on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014. 1. [Discover Assynt: Where to Stay (Retrieved 16 August 2006)](http://www.assynt.info/page10.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070811211421/http://www.assynt.info/page10.html) 11 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine 1. [Scottish Camping Guide: Shore Caravan Site (Retrieved 16 August 2006)](http://www.scottishcampingguide.com/link.php?n=7) 1. ["Where to stay: Achmelvich Hostel"](https://www.syha.org.uk/where-to-stay/highlands/achmelvich-beach.aspx). [Scottish Youth Hostels Association](/source/Scottish_Youth_Hostels_Association). Retrieved 21 December 2014. 1. ["Nature: Wildlife"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150523033944/http://www.discoverassynt.co.uk/wildlife.php). Discover Assynt. Archived from [the original](http://www.discoverassynt.co.uk/wildlife.php) on 23 May 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2014. 1. [Nothing to See Here: Hermit's Castle (Retrieved 16 August 2006)](http://www.nothingtoseehere.net/2006/07/the_hermits_castle_achmelvich.html) ## External links - [The Scottish Villages.co.uk](http://www.lochinver.bordernet.co.uk/places/achmelvich.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110720024756/http://www.lochinver.bordernet.co.uk/places/achmelvich.html) 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine - [Discover Assynt](https://web.archive.org/web/20061026110304/http://www.assynt.info/index.html) - [Geological features at Achmelvich](http://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/~oesis/nws/loc-achmelvich.html) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Achmelvich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achmelvich) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achmelvich?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.