Garve Tourist Information

The Scottish highland village of Garve is situated beside the Black Water River in Ross-shire. The small village straddles along the A835, the main road from Tore, near Inverness, to Ullapool on the west coast of the Northern Highlands.

The village is named after the nearby Loch Garve and is in a quiet and peaceful area of great natural beauty, especially when the bright yellow gorse is in bloom. Surrounded by bleak moorland and impressive peaks, Garve is known as the Gateway to Ross-shire.

The area around Garve is rich in battle history with Culloden, the site of the last pitched battle to take place on British soil, 24 miles away.

An easy four mile walk away, on the banks of Loch Luichart, is the pretty settlement of Lochluichart village. The row of small cottages was originally built to house the workers from the hydro-electrical works which brought power to the Highlands in the early 20th century.

Present Day Garve

The small village of Garve is quiet and remote, despite its excellent road and rail links, yet it offers great charm and natural beauty. It is an idyllic place to make a base for exploring the surrounding Highlands.

The village is made up of small stone cottages with neat gardens tucked behind low stone walls. The area offers superb natural landscapes and the river and loch provide the opportunity for fishing.

Garve has its own local railway station on the Kyle of Lochalsh Line which connects Dingwall with the Kyle of Lochalsh.

Things to do in Garve

Hill walkers and climbers will appreciate the many peaks surrounding Garve, offering challenges for all levels of fitness on Ben Wyvis, the Dearg or the Fannichs. Walkways have been constructed by the Forestry Commission and provide trails to Silverbridge and Rogie Falls, about 4 miles from Garve.

Other activities around Garve include wildlife spotting, Munro bagging (that's climbing all the Munro Mountains), fishing, cycling, golf or just admiring the magnificent scenery with a scenic drive.

Visitors can take a trip on one of the heralded “Great Train Journeys of the World”, along the Kyle Line from Inverness to Lochalsh. It has some of the most spectacular Highlands scenery and viewing it from the train is the perfect way to appreciate it.

In response to the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie's attempts to claim the throne, Fort George was built nearby on the shores of the North Sea. It provides an excellent day out for those interested in Scottish history, with a display of arms and military equipment and the huge magazine itself, built to hold 2,500 barrels of gunpowder.

Garve is 24 miles northwest of Inverness by road and about 31 miles from the head of Loch Ness, both popular tourist destinations to visit. Ullapool can be reached by road or train and also offers an interesting day out from Garve.