Sound of Arisaig

The Sound of Arisaig lies between the Arisaig and Moidart peninsulas in the Scottish Highlands. At its eastern end it splits into two sea lochs, Loch nan Uamh to the north and Loch Ailort to the south, separated by the Ardnish peninsula. Small islands dot the water, with Eilean nan Gobhar and Samalaman Island near Glenuig on the southern shore being the largest. The West Highland Line and the A830 Road to the Isles run along its shores, crossing the Loch nan Uamh Viaduct. The A861 follows the southern coast as far as Glenuig. This stretch of water holds historical weight as the place where Bonnie Prince Charlie left Scotland after the 1745 Jacobite rising. A cairn on the shore marks the spot where he departed on 20 September 1746. The sound is also protected as a marine Special Area of Conservation. The surrounding landscape inspired settings in Elinor Lyon’s ‘Ian and Sovra’ children’s novels. Trains and roads trace the same route through terrain shaped by sea and history. Visitors find a quiet coastal scene framed by rolling hills and wooded shores. The Loch nan Uamh Viaduct carries trains high above the water, while the Prince’s Cairn overlooks the loch where history turned. Glenuig’s small settlement sits at the western end, where the A861 meets the sound. Walkers can follow paths along the shore or watch seals and seabirds in the clear waters. The islands and peninsulas offer sheltered coves and open views across to the Small Isles on clear days.