Lochcarron

Lochcarron Scottish Gaelic: Loch Carrann
Population	923 (2001)
OS grid reference	NG857387
Civil parish	Lochcarron
Council area	Highland
Lieutenancy area	Ross and Cromarty
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Lochcarron
Postcode district	IV54
Dialling code	01520
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Scottish Parliament	Caithness, Sutherland and Ross

Lochcarron (Template:Lang-gd) is a village, community and civil parish in the Wester Ross area of Highland, Scotland. It has a population of 923.

Local information

The name Lochcarron is also applied to the collection of small settlements strung out along Loch Carron, a sea loch on the west coast of Ross and Cromarty. The village stretches for almost 2 miles, meandering along the shore of the loch. In the 19th Century the village was named Janetown, then Jeantown. The local newspaper, An Carrannach, is published on a monthly basis.

Local services

Lochcarron contains a variety of local services. These include:

• Two petrol stations, one at either end of the village (one 24hr)
• Spar shop, which contains a Post Office counter. The shop is open 7 days a week
• Highland Council service point (located at library)
• Two hotels offering regular entertainment, sit-in or take-away meals
• Restaurants - Lochcarron Bistro
• Cafes - The Waterside & The Tee Off
• Nursing home, attached to which is the local library
• Medical centre
• Tartan weaving factory
• Community hall offering a range of public events including ceilidhs and sales; and sports such as indoor bowls and short tennis
• Heritage centre

Self-catering is popular amongst the local population and visitors to the area. This is reflected in the large number of self catering and bed and breakfast establishments, many of which are members of the local business association.

The surrounding area

Lochcarron is a central location for hillwalking and touring the West Coast Highlands, including the Torridon, Plockton and Skye regions. Not too far from the village lies the famous road Bealach na Bà (Gaelic: Pass of the cattle), which links the town of Applecross to the rest of the mainland. It is a road popular with tourists, drivers, and motorcyclists alike for its stunning scenery and hairpin bends.

Primary and secondary education

The local primary school stands at the entrance to the village, with approximately 40 pupils (as of April 2015). The primary school offers both English and Gaelic Medium education. Plockton High School is the nearest secondary school to Lochcarron.

Area employment

Currently the area's biggest employment sectors include tourism, crofting, and fish farming. Other employers include transportation via sea and road, and quarry work. Service industries include engineering, motor garages, health services and education. The Howard Doris Centre is a European leader in the care of the elderly, and employs people in the care sector. Many people in the area are self-employed.

Sport and recreation

There are many popular and established clubs within Lochcarron:

Sailing is a popular activity amongst the local and visiting population, and as such, a local RYA accredited, and Volvo Championship Club hosts free sailing sessions every Wednesday evening (between April and October), and racing sessions every Sunday afternoon. It currently enlists over 100 members.

Lochcarron is home to the local shinty team Lochcarron Camanachd. The team currently play their home games at Battery Park in the west end of the village. The playing field is used during the week for training, and knockabout sessions.

Golf is another popular sport within the village. The golf course itself is a 9-hole course. The club is over 150 years old, and contains a clubhouse which offers catering facilities and golf clubs available to hire.

The nearby Attadale hosts an annual Highland Games every third Saturday of July.

Gallery

• 
  Smoke rising in Lochcarron is stopped by an overlying layer of warmer air.
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  Tartan weaving in Lochcarron