Strome Ferry: Walking, History and Loch Carron

For a trip to Strome Ferry, walking opportunities, historic buildings and the landscape around Loch Carron offer different points of interest. The routes vary in length, terrain and destination; the historic sites include both the remains of a medieval castle and buildings from the late 19th century.

Walking: Routes, Terrain and Destinations

The Strome Woodland Trail is 1.2 km long and runs along rough, narrow grass and earth paths. Some sections are rocky and muddy. When planning, take these described path conditions into account as well as the distance.

Above Stromeferry lies the steep woodland of Strome Wood, with a network of short forest walks. A well-defined path runs through Strome Wood and open pasture to the ruins of the settlement of Stromemeanach. This lets you combine a walk with a visit to a historic settlement site: Stromemeanach was abandoned in the late 19th century. The ruins include well-preserved walls of blackhouses and a circular kiln beside the stream.

The climb from Stromemeanach to Bad a’Chreamha takes 30 minutes to reach the ridge and crosses rough terrain. From Bad a’Chreamha, views extend across Applecross, Glen Carron, Plockton and the hills of Skye. The route details differ considerably: the Strome Woodland Trail is described by distance, while the climb is described by the time it takes to reach the ridge. Terrain and destination are further practical points to help guide your choice.

Historic Sites in Stromeferry and the Surrounding Area

Nearby is Strome Castle, the remains of a nationally important late-medieval castle. The site consists mainly of the remains of a tower and a great hall. This description gives the castle remains a concrete form: alongside their historical context, the surviving structures are the focus.

Stromeferry is also connected to the history of transport. The Dingwall and Skye Line of the Highland Railway was built in 1870 and had its terminus at Stromeferry. Regular steamer services to Skye, Lewis and mainland villages met the trains there. The ferry through the narrows at Stromeferry operated until 1970. The railway, steamers and ferry therefore belong to different chapters in local transport history; the ferry service is explicitly historical.

Two former church buildings illustrate the architectural history of the late 19th century. The former Free Church Mission Hall in Stromeferry was built by Ross & Macbeth in 1891 and is a Category C listed building. The former Church of Scotland was built by D Mackintosh in 1889, is also protected as a Category C listed building, and is now used as a house. The names and construction dates help distinguish the two buildings.

Loch Carron and the Surrounding Views

Loch Carron is a fjord shaped by the glaciers of the Ice Ages, with a narrow entrance at Strome. Nearby, the Loch Carron viewpoint offers panoramas of the sea loch framed by gentle hills. This offers a different perspective from the views associated with the walks.

Walking opportunities in Stromeferry and the nearby village of Achmore offer impressive views across the lower part of Loch Carron towards Plockton, Skye and Applecross. Along with the panorama from Bad a’Chreamha, these provide several named directions of view: from there, the panorama also extends across Glen Carron and to the hills of Skye. This helps you distinguish between views of the fjord framed by hills and the wider vistas along the walking routes.

Discover more destinations: Dornie, Shandwick, Lybster, Plockton, Spean Bridge, Talmine, Tarskavaig, Rhiconich

For the main travel overview: Highland.