New Achmelvich Beach Car Park And Public Toilets Now Open

15th April 2025

Ahead of Easter, the new Achmelvich beach car park and public amenities are now open.

Achmelvich beach facilities have undergone a remarkable £1.1m upgrade and transformation of facilities that include an extensive 70 space car park, designated blue badge spaces, new toilet facilities with an accessible toilet, baby changing facility and two outdoor cold-water showers, cycle rack, recycling bins and new signage and interpretation.

The project was funded by £500k from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF), £257k Community Regeneration Fund, £57k UK Shared Prosperity Fund and £300k loan funding from The Highland Council with associated loan charges to be fully funded from income generated from parking charges from the Achmelvich Beach car park and toilet facilities.

Economy and Infrastructure Chair, Cllr Ken 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 of delivering sustainable and responsible tourism in the Highlands, Achmelvich was identified as a priority in the Highland Council 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 to G Simpson (Builders) Ltd for creating quality facilities that now meet the needs of visitors to Achmelvich beach, whilst being sympathetic to the beautiful surroundings."

Assynt Development Trust, Adam Pellant said: We're very pleased that this long-required project for improved car park and public toilet facilities at Achmelvich beach has now 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 works."

Managed by VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, the RTIF was created to improve the quality of the visitor experience in rural parts of Scotland that have faced pressure on their infrastructure due to this increase in visitor numbers.

Destination Development Director at VisitScotland, Chris Taylor said: "The new car park and public amenities at Achmelvich Beach is a great example of how targeted investment can support rural communities experiencing high visitor numbers while enhancing the overall visitor experience.

“These improvements not only benefit visitors with enhanced facilities, including for those with additional access requirements, but also the local community, improving management of visitors at the site and helping ensure that the area remains vibrant and more resilient.

“By investing in infrastructure and promoting responsible tourism, we can help to protect Scotland’s stunning natural landscapes and improve the sustainability of our destinations for years to come."

To ensure the facilities can operate as net zero as possible, sustainable materials and construction methods were used by the appointed Highland contractor - G Simpson (Builders) Ltd, and landscaping kept minimal to not interfere with the existing landscape. The project was managed by the Council’s Property & Assets service.