Applecross Bay


Applecross Bay is large remote tidal coastal embayment, located next to the small fishing village of Applecross and is on the west coast of the Applecross peninsula in the Wester Ross part of Ross and Cromarty, in the Scottish Highlands in the west coast of Scotland. It lies between Loch Torridon and Loch Kishorn. The bay and village was inaccessible by road until the late 18th century and can now be reached by the long coastal road Shieldaig that was completed in 1982, or from the Bealach na Bà or Pass of the Cattle which at 625metres, is one of the highest roads in Scotland. The village of Applecross was established by St. Moalrubha, in the 7th century. A sculptured stone is the only relic of St. Moalrubha remaining, who built a chapel there.

Settlements

This row of houses which is often referred to as Applecross, and is marked as Applecross on some maps and sits at the head of the bay, is actually called 'Shore Street' and is referred to locally just as 'The Street'. The name Applecross applies to all the settlements around the peninsula, including Toscaig, Culduie, Camusterrach, Sand, and many others. Applecross is also the name of the local estate and the civil parish, which includes Shieldaig and Torridon, and has a population of 544.

Geography

Applecross bay is over looked by the flat plain of the Applecross peninsula, which is bounded on three sides, by three hills. To the north of Applecross bay is Beinn a'Chlachain at 624metres, to the west of the bay is An Staonach at 516metres. To the southeast and south of An Staonach is Sgurr a'Chaorachain at 792metres, which is far the largest in the area. Ten miles to the west of Applecross bay, is the highest peak of Sgurr a'Gharaidh at 732metres.

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