Glenelg

Glenelg is a small village on the coast of Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands, which historically was one of the main crossings to and from Skye. The cattle swam across on their way to market, while the humans took a ferry. Paradoxically the ferry was boosted when the road bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh opened in 1995, as this had high tolls, prompting community protests, refusals to pay, and work-around routes. The bridge became toll-free in 2004 and now takes the bulk of the traffic but the Glenelg ferry still sails in summer.

Glenelg and the coast to Arnidale had a population of 291 in 2011. The village has helpfully put up a sign on its outskirts confirming that you've reached the Glenelg that's on Earth, not the one on Mars.

Get in
The only road in is the narrow lane branching off A87 at Shiel Bridge at the head of Loch Duich. It climbs over the hills to Glenelg then continues south for 10 miles along the shores of Loch Hourn to dead-end at Arnisdale and Corran. Macrae Kintail Bus 712 runs once in the morning M-F from Corran via Glenelg (around 8AM), Dornie and Kyle of Lochalsh (9:30AM) to Plockton. It immediately turns round for the return, passing Kyle at 11:40 and Glenelg at 12:50PM. Inter-city buses between Glasgow / Inverness and Skye stop at Shiel Bridge but from there it's a seven-mile walk to Glenelg.

By train: the nearest railway station Kyle of Lochalsh is ten miles north as the crow flies, but over 30 miles by road winding around Loch Duich. Kyle has four trains a day from Inverness; buses to Portree and Uig on Skye meet these trains. With bike on train, consider cycling from Kyle over the Skye Bridge then doubling back to Kylerhea for the ferry to Glenelg.

Get around
The barracks, brochs and ferry jetty are easily reached on foot; there's no onward transport from Kylerhea on the Skye side.

See

 * Kirkton is the tiny main settlement. The parish church is from the 18th century.
 * is a broch a further mile up the glen by a steep path. This is a "semi-broch", D-shaped rather than circular, some 17 x 12 m in area. It's not to be confused with Caisteal Grugaig broch by Loch Duich, see Dornie.
 * is a broch a further mile up the glen by a steep path. This is a "semi-broch", D-shaped rather than circular, some 17 x 12 m in area. It's not to be confused with Caisteal Grugaig broch by Loch Duich, see Dornie.
 * is a broch a further mile up the glen by a steep path. This is a "semi-broch", D-shaped rather than circular, some 17 x 12 m in area. It's not to be confused with Caisteal Grugaig broch by Loch Duich, see Dornie.
 * is a broch a further mile up the glen by a steep path. This is a "semi-broch", D-shaped rather than circular, some 17 x 12 m in area. It's not to be confused with Caisteal Grugaig broch by Loch Duich, see Dornie.

Do

 * Wildlife: watch for ospreys anywhere along the waterside. They're often seen near the ferry pier.

Eat

 * "The inn was furnished with not a single article that we could either eat or drink."
 * - Boswell and Johnson had a miserable stay in Glenelg on their 1773 “Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland”.


 * Ruth's Cafe in the village community centre is open M-Th 10AM-3PM, F 5-7:30PM.
 * Shore Station by the ferry pier has a coffee shop open daily 10AM-5PM.

Drink
Glenelg Inn is the only pub.

On the road towards Glenelg, Dr Johnson glad-handed a group of soldiers with money for drink. They got utterly wasted.

Sleep

 * Self-catering places are Larach Sithe and Lamont Chalets on the approach lane, and The Green House south edge of the village.
 * Self-catering places are Larach Sithe and Lamont Chalets on the approach lane, and The Green House south edge of the village.
 * Self-catering places are Larach Sithe and Lamont Chalets on the approach lane, and The Green House south edge of the village.

Connect
As of April 2024, Glenelg has 4G from EE, but nothing from O2, Three or Vodafone. There are many dead spots on the approach road, and no signal on the road across Skye from the opposite ferry pier. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Dornie has the scenic Eilean Donan Castle.
 * Kyle of Lochalsh is where you cross the bridge to Skye.
 * The lane on the other side of the ferry crossing leads to Broadford on Skye, where you have to double back to reach Armadale.
 * Plockton harbour is popular with yacht and dingy sailors.
 * Glenelg on Mars was named as a palindrome, as Curiosity was planned to return there. However since landing in 2012 it has kept going and going, and is now exploring areas 30 km away.