Arisaig

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Coordinates: 56°54′40″N 5°50′33″W / 56.91103°N 5.84252°W / 56.91103; -5.84252

Arisaig
Scottish Gaelic: Àrasaig
Arisaig is located in Scotland
Arisaig

 Arisaig shown within Scotland
OS grid reference NM661865
Council area Highland
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Postcode district PH39 4
Police Northern
Fire Highlands and Islands
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
List of places: UK • Scotland •
For the Canadian village, see Arisaig, Nova Scotia.

Arisaig (Scottish Gaelic: Àrasaig) is a small village in Lochaber, Invernessshire, on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands. It lies on the Road to the Isles, the A830 which leads to Mallaig to the north and Fort William to the east.

Arisaig is served by Arisaig railway station on the West Highland Line which connects the village to Mallaig and Fort William. It is the most westerly station on the British mainland. Tourism is the main industry in the Arisaig area, due to the spectacular scenery and great beaches.

The Land, Sea and Island Centre

A small passenger ferry sails from Arisaig to the Small Isles of Eigg, Muck and Rum, though the main CalMac service to the Small Isles operates from Mallaig.

To the east of Arisaig lies Loch nan Uamh, where the Prince's Cairn is located, which marks the spot where Bonnie Prince Charlie, left Scotland for France in 20 September 1746.

The legendary Scottish Gaelic poet Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair died in Arisaig in 1770. He is known to be buried in the village's Roman Catholic cemetery.

Emigrants from this area founded Arisaig, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Arisaig has a Spar shop complete with cafe. It also has a hotel and bar.

Arisaig is in the Scottish council area of Highland.

Contents

[edit] History

Arisaig House, and many other houses in the area, were used as training schools by the Special Operations Executive during World War II[1]. The Land, Sea and Islands Centre[2] in Arisaig has a display on the connection between SOE and the Arisaig area and has published a book on the subject[3].

[edit] Moorings land-grab controversy

A new landowner and publican, a Mr MacFarlane, applied in 2009 for permission to the Crown Estate and the Scottish Executive to line Glenuig Bay with ten private moorings. Local fishermen and boat owners, who have for time immemorial been able to moor in the bay free of charge, fear he will start extorting fees and charges from them to use the area after he creates his own moorings.[citation needed]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Commando Country, Stuart Allan, National Museums Scotland 2007, ISBN 9781905267149
  2. ^ Land, Sea and Islands Centre
  3. ^ Special Operations Executive: Para-Military Training in Scotland during World War 2, David M Harrison, Land Sea and Islands Centre, Arisaig

[edit] External links