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Plockton Circuit

Starts at the famously pretty village of Plockton

Route Profile

Plockton Circuit profile

Route Map

Map of Plockton Circuit

Key route details

Region(s): The Highlands and Skye
Distance: 15 miles
Difficulty: Hilly route
Type of Ride: Road Cycling
Surface: Tarmac
Environment: Rural

Start Point: Plockton - Duirinish
End Point: Balmacara - Plockton

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This small lochside village is a lovely place - straight off a chocolate box! Painted cottages hug the shore, palm trees line the street and the sea is studded with tiny islets covered in pine trees. Plockton is a favourite haunt for artists in summer when the light seems to have a wonderful quality. Visiting yachts provide an additional interest. The village was originally called Am Ploc - a crofting hamlet until the late 1700s; and later a port for those displaced to make room for sheep during the Clearances. Following this it became a fishing village and was renamed Plocktown. Though the fishing is now gone there are still plenty of other things happening. In the mid-1990s, the BBC filmed a drama series here - Hamish Macbeth. The TV programme is mostly now forgotten.

Plockton is perhaps the prettiest village in Scotland. There are several hotels plus bed and breakfast establishments, also many places to buy food. The railway follows the coast so there is the advantage that you can hop on a train if you get tired of cycling. The roads around here are narrow and twisting with wonderful views at every turn - just remember that they also have a few cars! There is a Rare Breeds Farm between Plockton and Stromeferry, this has ancient breeds of Scottish farm animals not to mention llamas. Near here too is Lochalsh Woodland Garden, maintained by the National Trust for Scotland. The gardens are sheltered and a walk by the loch shows many trees over 100 years old. The route distance of 15 miles assumes you enter all the villages. You will get occasional views across Loch Carron towards the Applecross Peninsula and the Isle of Raasay - there are some wonderful (hilly) cycling roads there too!