Loch Carron

Loch Carron is a sea loch on Scotland’s north-west coast, cutting between the rugged Applecross and Lochalsh peninsulas. The River Carron empties into its salt water near the Atlantic, and the narrows at Stromeferry mark where tides race at up to three knots. Charts show depths drop from under twenty metres in the channel to over a hundred metres in the wider basins on either side. Steep cliffs flank the water, and beneath them lies the world’s largest flame shell bed, home to more than 250 million shells. The loch draws visitors for its wild scenery and protected marine life. A Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area now covers twenty-three square kilometres, banning damaging fishing gear while allowing rod and line work. Steam trains of the Kyle of Lochalsh Line still run along the southern shore, stopping at stations such as Plockton and Stromeferry. The line threads through Wester Ross, bringing walkers and photographers to the water’s edge. Beyond the water, archaeologists have found nine new Mesolithic sites around Loch Carron. Five caves and rock shelters plus four scatters of stone tools were recorded between 1999 and 2004. The village of Lochcarron sits on the north bank, while Plockton at the western end offers boat trips to a nearby seal colony. The railway and the road follow the loch’s curve, giving easy access to its cliffs, bays and the constant play of light on the water.