Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan (sometimes incorrectly spelt as Adnamurchan or other variations) is a peninsular on the North West coast of Scotland. The coast looks out in the direction of Muck, Eigg and Rhum islands ("Small Isles") with Skye and the Western Isles beyond.
Ardnamurchan is a rather remote place, some two hours by car from Fort William, and less than 2000 people inhabit an area 50 square miles. Many of these are Gaelic speakers, giving it the highest concentration of Gaelic speakers on the mainland. It's one of those places that is paradoxically popular with tourists partly because there are so few tourists there.
The area's sparse population and remoteless from human civilisation probably accounts for its abundance of wildlife, including rare species such as pine martins and even golden eagles. However - according to one legend - you'll never see a swan there.
The Lighthouse
The most famous location on the Ardnamurchan peninsular is the lighthouse. This is built on Ardnamurchan Point which is described as the most westerly point of mainland Britain (although this claim is disupted by some). The lighthouse was built by the Stevenson family and is unusual - perhaps unique - in having an Egyptian style design.The lighthouse is 36 metres tall and was built in 1849 with local stone from the Isle of Mull. It's beam is visible up to 16 miles out at sea. It no longer has a keeper but remains operational on an automated basis. The old principle keeper's house is now home to an exhibition centre which (at the time of writing) is open April to October.
A local legend says that in the 19th century the three keepers working at the lighthouse simply disappeared one night. The lighthouse was found deserted and no trace by the missing men was ever discovered. This legend was in part the inspiration for Alice Thompson's novel "Pharos", set on the fictional Jacob's Rock in 19th century Scotland.
