Wester Ross in the North West Highlands of Scotland is a popular tourist destination, renowned for its stunning loch and mountain scenery, fantastic white beaches and abundant wildlife, with its remoteness and slower pace of life offering a peaceful sanctuary from the pressures of modern living.

Applecross and Toscaig are accessed by only two roads, one of which being the infamous 'Bealach na Ba' (Scottish Gaelic for 'Pass of the Cattle') due to it historically being used as an old drovers road to take cattle to market. At 2,054 feet with hairpin bends and gradients approaching 20%, it is more akin to the great mountain passes of the Alps and boasts the greatest ascent of any road in the UK. The adventurous few who take this option are however rewarded with the truly spectacular views across the Applecross hills, the world famous Cuillins of Skye and the sandy bay below.

For those preferring a gentler route, there is an alternative longer road in from Shieldaig along the rugged coastline, which whilst a less intense drive still provides panoramic views over the Torridon Mountains and Loch Torridon. The bonus of having such a limited route in is that Applecross has retained a simple unspoilt charm that is no longer evident in most parts of the Scottish Highlands these days.

There are a wide variety of activities on offer in the area including superb walking, climbing, cycling, sailing, fishing and kayaking, with the gulf stream warmed and calm waters making the latter activities even more appealing. The bay at Sand has a beautiful sandy beach with views over the Inner Sound to Raasay and Skye, with nearby Applecross Bay offering one of the largest sandy inlets in the Western Highlands, complete with aquamarine seas and 70 foot sand dunes providing the ideal opportunity to experience some sand sledging fun!

Local attractions include the beautiful walled garden of Applecross House with its Potting Shed restaurant and the Heritage Centre complete with spinning demonstrations and locally crafted gifts. The award-winning Applecross Inn with its 'best pub food in Britain' award, provides great meals as well as the Kishorn Seafood Bar or for locally famed pizza, visit the unusual Flower Tunnel surrounded by a wide variety of colourful plant life.

Boasting an amazing clear night sky with little light pollution, the milky way is clearly visible here and the Northern Lights can often been seen on clear crisp nights. For nature lovers, the area is teeming with wildlife including red deer, otters living near the pier (who can be seen going for early morning swims), buzzards and even golden eagles, including a nest on the cliffs in Toscaig. If you leave out jam sandwiches (especially strawberry), the rare pine martens will often come near to the door and eat them of an evening. There are also a wide variety of sea birds and seals can often be seen basking, as well as the occasional whale passing through the Inner Sound. Toscaig pier is locally known for great mackerel fishing in the summer, so have the BBQ ready!