Discover Altandhu: Coastal Views and Traces of the Past

Altandhu combines views of the Isle Ristol and Old Dornie Bay with traces of a long history of settlement. As one of Coigach’s original Crofting hamlets, the village is of interest to travellers who want to combine coastal scenery and history. The wider region also offers geological excursions, walking trails and waterside experiences. When choosing your holiday rental, you can consider whether you are mainly looking for the village’s character or also want to make time for activities in Coigach.

Coastal Views and Island Scenery

From Altandhu, you can enjoy views of the Isle Ristol and Old Dornie Bay. The Summer Isles, a group of around 20 islands, rocks and skerries, lie off the Coigach peninsula. The Isle Ristol is accessible on foot at low tide, and has a long white sandy beach. As access depends on the tides, check the tide information before setting out.

Coigach itself also offers a variety of landscapes: the Coigach Geotrail features geology-focused excursions around the peninsula. Its routes pass coastal stretches, beaches and hills with views of the Summer Isles. Geological discoveries along the trail include Britain’s oldest rocks, fossils of early life and traces of a massive asteroid impact. Coigach lies within the North West Highlands Geopark, the Coigach Assynt National Scenic Area, the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area and the Wester Ross Biosphere Reserve.

Traces of Altandhu’s History

The village’s history can be seen in several archaeological remains. The hut circle is dated to approximately 4000 BC to AD 560. It is a poorly preserved circular stone structure on a gently west-sloping hillside beside a single-track road. There is also a group of buildings from a pre-crofting settlement on a terrace within the Crofting settlement.

Another example is the Altandhu field system: it comprises two interconnected enclosures and a smaller, roughly circular enclosure measuring about 30 to 40 metres in diameter. The enclosures may once have been connected by a wall. These structures differ from the hut circle, which is a single stone structure, and provide further insight into the area’s earlier settlement. The village’s more recent history is also connected with Coigach: until the 1930s, there were five schools in the area, including one in Altandhu.

Things to Do in Coigach

For coastal walks, Coigach offers everything from trails by the large sandy beach at Achnahaird to routes along the high cliffs at Reiff. The North West Highland Snorkel Trail offers several easily accessible spots where you can explore the diverse marine wildlife in clear Atlantic waters. Coigach and the Summer Isles are also places to observe wildlife in its natural habitat. Which of these experiences you choose to focus on can shape the pace you want for your stay.

For trips to the Summer Isles, Summer Isles Sea Tours offers excursions aboard the Isabella. Check whether trips are running on your preferred date before making plans. Kayak Summer Isles offers half-day, full-day and multi-day adventures with overnight camping; ask in advance about available dates. Near Altandhu, a pier provides the main access to Tanera Mor, the largest of the Summer Isles.

Cyclists can also get a sense of the route’s character from a route description published in 2013, which mentions a challenging climb beyond Altandhu on the final section of a cycling circuit in northwest Scotland. This describes the route as it was at that time, not current route conditions; check these before setting off today.

Choosing the Right Holiday Rental

When looking for a holiday rental in Altandhu, you can decide which aspects of the area you want to shape your stay: the views and archaeological traces in the village, or the coastal, geological and marine experiences throughout Coigach. If you plan to include several of these activities, also take into account that access to the Isle Ristol depends on the tides and that tours run on specific dates. This way, you can choose where to stay based on the experiences that matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Farr, John o' Groats, Polloch, Kenmore, Tongue, Lybster, Lochcarron, Applecross.

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