| Kyle of Lochalsh Harbour (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
Kyle of Lochalsh Harbour
Photographer Description of Kyle of Lochalsh Harbour
Scotland as it should be, but infrequently is. Tranquil, calm with fantastic reflections of the Isle of Skye and the clouds in the waters of Loch Alsh at Kyle of Lochalsh. This panorama was taken early in the morning before the wind picked up to disturb the water. 10 minutes later and the panoramic picture would have been very different. This is also the location of Kyle of Lochalsh Railway Station. What a way to end a train trip from Inverness.Kyle of Lochalsh Harbour - Further Information
Panorama over Loch Alsh taken from the end of the Fishery Pier at the harbour of Kyle of Lochalsh. This panoramic photograph was taken on an unusally quiet day and so gives a good view over the sea to the Isle of Skye and the Skye bridge.Kyle harbour is a major port for the west coast of the Scottish Highlands.There are piers for the Navy and their support craft, for large fishing boats and small cruise ships, for yachts and pleasure craft and also a seasonal floating pontoon pier for smaller crafts and the tourist boat trips operating locally.
The largest publicly accessible pier is this Fishery Pier. The railway line to Inverness also terminates at the station built on this pier. Built through the center of the pier, underneath the point at which this panorama was photographed, is an access ramp to allow cattle and livestock to be herded onto ships at lower tides (rather than loading them over the edge of the pier). It also eased the handling of cargo between ship and shore. This vital transportation connection between the only land route to the east coast and the major west coast shipping lane was a critical factor in the development of Kyle Harbour.
The railway line itself was inaugurated in 1897 as far as Dingwall, later connecting to Inverness. It was marked for closure by Dr Beeching in the 1960's after the advent of motor vehicle access and subsequent road haulage of freight and cattle greatly diminished the reliance on maritime transport. The line won a reprieve and today still has three trains a day to Inverness. Indeed, the scenery along the route is so highly regarded that the Orient Express and Flying Scotsman trains have run special tours to Kyle. Nowadays, these tours often carry foot passengers to connect with smaller cruise ships such as The Waverly, or Hebridean Princess often berthed at this pier as they tour the Highlands by sea. Still somewhat echoing the purpose for this railway pier at its inception, although today's transportees travel in a great deal more luxury!
Visible to the left is the tip of the Naval pier at the BUTEC base (British Underwater Testing and Evaluation Center). Between these piers, out of sight here, is another smaller jetty mainly used by fishing boats. The surrounding area around these piers has support industry such as garages, fish processing works, storage, fuel supply, etc.
To the right of this panorama, the distinctive yellow paintwork of The Tormentor, a support ship assisting Military operations centering around the Naval base. This area of pier is often used as a storage bay for timber, often piled so high it dwarfs the station buildings and museum and closes pier road for safety reasons.
Next to the Fishery Pier is the lifeboat station of the RNLI, Royal National Lifeboat Institution. A voluntary manned station covering a broad and busy area of sea between Mallaig, Portree and Applecross. The village of Kyleakin is visible across the sea at the foot of the mountain, Beinn na Callaidh. It was between Kyleakin Port Slipway and the jetty here in Kyle that the ferry sailed "Over the sea to Skye". Now since the Skye Bridge opened in 1995, the ferry is no more although both harbours remain as popular and busy as ever.
Travel and Getting There
Take the A87 from Inverness, or main Scotrail train service from Inverness to Kyle. If arriving via Skye from the outer isles, Kyle is on the mainland adjacent to the Skye Bridge entry road (A87).