Kyle of Lochalsh
| Kyle of Lochalsh Gaelic: Caol Loch Aillse | |
| Ross-shire | |
|---|---|
 Kyle of Lochalsh and the Skye Bridge | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NG765275 |
| Location: | 57°16’48"N, 5°43’12"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 739 |
| Post town: | Kyle of Lochalsh |
| Postcode: | IV40 |
| Dialling code: | 01599 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Highland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Ross, Skye and Lochaber |
| Website: | http://www.kyle-of-lochalsh.co.uk |
Kyle of Lochalsh is a quiet village on the coast of mainland Ross-shire, in the very southwest of that county, 63 miles west of Inverness. It nestles on sheltered waters beneath heather- and gorse-clad hills from the slopes of which are fine views across the sound and over Skye.
The village stands at the entrance to Loch Alsh, opposite the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye, to which island it is now the main gate, since the Skye Bridge crosses the water here, about a mile from the village, replacing the ferry which used to sail to Skye from Kyle of Lochalsh. The bridge was opened in 1995.
The village’s name is Gaelic: Caol Loch Aillse means "strait of the foaming lake".
The village is the transport and shopping centre for the area as well as having a harbour, marina with pontoons for maritime visitors. The surrounding scenery and wildlife are regarded as attractions of the village, as is the slow pace of life. Crofting as well as more recent crofting pursuits like salmon farming are some of the activities taking place in Kyle of Lochalsh.
Kyle of Lochalsh railway station is connected to Inverness by the Kyle of Lochalsh railway line, built in 1897 to improve public transport to the north-west of Scotland. The line ends on the water's edge, near where the ferry connection used to run.
A land-based control centre of the Royal Naval BUTEC submarine range is based in Kyle of Lochalsh.[1]
In popular culture
- The Kyle of Lochalsh appeared in the 1980 BBC did a series ‘’Great Railway Journeys Of The World", in which Michael Palin traveled from London to the furthest railhead, Kyle of Lochalsh. The ending credits showed Palin taking an oversized railway station sign, bought as a memento, back with him on the train.
- Kyle and nearby Plockton were the backdrop to the BBC drama series "Hamish MacBeth’’ (nominally adapted from books set in Sutherland).
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Kyle of Lochalsh) |
References
- ↑ "British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre (BUTEC)" Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
