Major £1.1 million project sees facilities at Achmelvich Beach ‘transformed’
A PUBLIC car park and toilets at a popular beach in north-west Sutherland have reopened to the public following a major £1.1 million upgrade project.
Highland Council has opened the new facilities at Achmelvich Beach in time for the busy Easter weekend.
Cllr Ken Gowans, chairperson of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, described the upgrade as “transformational”.
He said high-quality facilities had been developed to meet the needs of visitors to the beach while being sympathetic to the beautiful surroundings.
Achmelvich Beach, lying three miles to the north-west of Lochinver and on the North Coast 500 tourist route, is renowned for its stunning white sand, clear waters and beautiful surroundings.
It has been ranked as one of the top 10 beaches in the UK by an analysis of the number of TikTok views of the site.
The beach is a magnet for windsurfers, kayakers and water skiers as well as visitors to the North Coast.
However, the beach’s previous facilities - a dilapidated toilet block - had long been considered inadequate for the growing number of visitors.
Work began in January last year on a £1 million project to provide new toilets and extend the car park.
Funding came from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (£500,000), the Community Regeneration Fund (£275,000), and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (£57,000), along with a £300,000 loan from Highland Council.
The project was managed by the council’s Property and Assets Service, and the appointed contractor was G Simpson (Builders) Ltd.
The extended car park has 70 vehicle bays with designated blue badge spaces, while the new toilet facilities include an accessible toilet, a baby changing facility, and two outdoor cold water showers.
A cycle rack has been provided along with recycling bins and new signage and interpretation.
Cllr Gowans said: “Achmelvich is a key destination for day visitors; its popularity had outgrown the current facilities, and as part of the council’s aim to deliver sustainable and responsible tourism in the Highlands, Achmelvich was identified as a priority in the council’s strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan.”
“I’d like to thank all the stakeholders and funding partners for their support throughout this transformational project, the wider community for their patience during construction and G Simpson (Builders) Ltd for creating high-quality facilities that now meet the needs of visitors to Achmelvich Beach, whilst being sympathetic to the beautiful surroundings.”
Adam Pellant, development officer for Assynt Development Trust, said: We're very pleased that this long-required project for improved car park and public toilet facilities at Achmelvich beach has been completed.
“We hope that this will encourage and enable responsible tourism in this key tourist location for the benefit of all, including the residents, local crofters, and tourists themselves.
“We commend the Highland Council, the contractors and all partners, including the original designers Fraser/Livingstone Architects, for the high quality of design and construction.”
Chris Taylor, destination development director at VisitScotland, said: "The new car park and public amenities at Achmelvich Beach are a great example of how targeted investment can support rural communities with high visitor numbers while improving the overall visitor experience.
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“These improvements not only benefit visitors with improved facilities, including for those with additional access needs, but also the local community by improving visitor management at the site and helping to ensure that the area remains vibrant and more resilient.
“By investing in infrastructure and promoting responsible tourism, we can help protect Scotland’s stunning natural landscapes and improve the sustainability of our destinations for years to come."
