The picturesque village of Plockton is often referred to as the ‘Jewel of the Highlands’. Palm trees grow in the sea-facing gardens; in the distance, high hills and majestic woodland rise above the crystal-clear waters. Boats bobbing in the bay and tree-covered islets all add to the panorama.
The majority of the village is situated on a sheltered bay, facing east and overlooking Loch Carron. Established to support the booming herring fishing industry, Plockton is a planned village that dates from 1801. It now draws visitors from all over the world who enjoy its bustling harbour, shops, cafés and vibrant traditional music scene.
Plockton is best explored on foot – a description of a possible route can be found on the Walk Highlands site. Down on the shore and adjacent to the car parking area is a small visitor centre (open Easter–October), providing an informative introduction to the village. A highlight in the village is the Open Air Church, set up after the Disruption of 1843 when the Church of Scotland split and the Free Church was created. Members of the Free Church required a place of worship and so they turned this natural amphitheatre into an open-air church, building a walled entrance and a set of stone pews for the congregation. Some of the stone pews are still visible today and the site is designated a scheduled monument.
Many visitors choose to arrive by train (the station is a 10-minute walk away) and some even travel by sea, taking advantage of the moorings and the pontoons managed by the local community.
For information about accommodation, restaurants, shops, galleries and other local businesses, please visit the Plockton Tourist Association website. If you’d like to know more about the local community, please check out the community website.
