Lochcarron
Encyclopedia
Lochcarron is a village, community
and civil parish
in the Wester Ross
area of Highland
, Scotland
. It has a population of 923.
, 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. The local paper, The An Carrannach, is published on a monthly basis.
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.
, 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.
, 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 using the vast scope of the internet.
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. The Club's Website
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 Strathcarron
hosts an annual Highland Games every third Saturday of July. This is a well organised and popular event.
Community council
A community council is a public representative body in Great Britain.In England they may be statutory parish councils by another name, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or they may be non-statutory bodies...
and civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Wester Ross
Wester Ross
is a western area of Ross and Cromarty in Scotland, notably containing the villages on the west coast such as:* Lochcarron* Applecross* Shieldaig* Torridon* Kinlochewe * * * Aultbea* Laide* Ullapool* Achiltibuie...
area of Highland
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It has a population of 923.
Local Information
The name Lochcarron is also applied to the collection of small settlements strung out along Loch CarronLoch Carron
Loch Carron is a sea loch on the west coast of Ross and Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands. It is the point at which the River Carron enters the North Atlantic Ocean....
, a sea loch on the west coast of Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty is a variously defined area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is a registration county and a lieutenancy area in current use...
. The village stretches for almost 2 miles, meandering along the shore of the loch. The local paper, The An Carrannach, is published on a monthly basis.
Local Services
Lochcarron contains a variety of local services. These include:- 2 Petrol Stations located at either end of the village
- A local Spar Shop (in which there is a small post office). The shop is open 7 days a week
- A branch of the Halifax Bank of Scotland
- A Highland Council service point
- 2 Hotels offering regular entertainment, sit-in or take-away meals
- A Bistro and Café
- A Nursing Home attached to which, is the local Library
- A Medical Centre
- A nearby Tartan Weaving Factory
- A Community Hall offering a range of public events including ceilidhs and sales; and sports such as indoor bowls and short tennisShort tennisShort tennis is a format of the sport tennis. It is designed as a training game for players learning to play tennis. As such it is played on a smaller court - usually a badminton court - using a lower net and larger, softer ball. West Lothian Lesiure] Accessed 24-09-10 Short tennis has been...
- A 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.
The Surrounding Environment
Lochcarron is a central location for hillwalking and touring the West Coast Highlands, including the TorridonTorridon
Torridon is a small village in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. However the name is also applied to the area surrounding the village, particularly the Torridon Hills, mountains to the north of Glen Torridon. It lies on the shore of Loch Torridon.Torridon is on the west coast of Scotland, ...
, Plockton
Plockton
Plockton is a village in the Highlands of Scotland with a population of 378 .- Details :Plockton is a picturesque settlement on the shores of Loch Carron...
and Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
regions. Not too far from the village lies the famous road Bealach na Bà
Bealach na Ba
Bealach na Bà is a historic pass through the mountains of the Applecross peninsula, in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands—and the name of a famous twisting, single-track mountain road through the pass and mountains....
(Gaelic: Pass of the cattle), which links the town of Applecross
Applecross
The Applecross peninsula is a peninsula in Wester Ross, Highland, on the west coast of Scotland. The name Applecross is at least 1300 years old and is not used locally to refer to the 19th century village with the pub and post office, lying on the small Applecross Bay, facing the Inner Sound, on...
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 60 pupils (as of 2010). The primary school offers both English and Gaelic Medium education. Plockton High School is the nearest secondary school to Lochcarron.Area Employment
Currently the areas biggest employment sectors include Tourism, croftingCrofting
Crofting is a form of land tenure and small-scale food production unique to the Scottish Highlands, the Islands of Scotland, and formerly on the Isle of Man....
, and fish farming
Fish farming
Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases young fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species'...
. 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 using the vast scope of the internet.
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
Royal Yachting Association
The Royal Yachting Association is the national governing body for certain watersports in the United Kingdom. Activities it covers include:* Sailing* Windsurfing* Motor cruising* Sportsboats* Personal watercraft* Powerboat racing...
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. The Club's Website
Lochcarron is home to the local shinty
Shinty
Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...
team Lochcarron Camanachd
Lochcarron Camanachd
Lochcarron Camanachd is a shinty club from Wester Ross, Scotland. It has two teams, a senior team which was relegated from the Marine Harvest Premier Division in 2007 and a reserve team which plays in the North Division Three.-History:...
. 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 Strathcarron
Strathcarron
Strathcarron may refer to:*Baron Strathcarron*Strathcarron railway station*Strathcarron, Highland, a village in Scotland*the strath of the River Carron, Wester Ross*the strath of the River Carron *the strath of the River Carron, Sutherland...
hosts an annual Highland Games every third Saturday of July. This is a well organised and popular event.