Winter Wonderland

20/01/2023

As much as we enjoy the flood of new faces and the summer buzz in the village, there's nothing quite like the peacefulness that comes with winter. It might sound silly, being that Arisaig is a small village and surely it cant get too loud!? The peace is as simple as less traffic on the roads or walking on an empty beach.

After the festive period, Arisaig is the perfect place for some quiet time. The stars are unreal and if you're lucky enough, you might see the Northern Lights. When is snows, it's magic. When it's crisp, it's stunning and when it storms, it's wild.

Northern Lights photo by Hannah Waterston

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

It's likely that the only beings you'll bump into on your walks are wildlife, and perhaps some sheep or cattle. There are plenty of walks right on the doorstep of Arisaig, all completely different. Take your pick of the hills, coast, on road or off road, lochs or gardens.

Aside from walks, another popular activity is wild swimming all year round. It's suggested that there are multiple health benefits including boosting your immunity and improving your circulation. Would you brave an icy dip? The pristine beaches are just as beautiful on a frosty day. Loch Morar is another stunning swimming location just 5 minutes up the road, and if you're feeling extra, super courageous, there's a loch at the top of Creag Mhor!

RELAX

The pace is definitely slower for most of us living in the Highlands during winter. A number of business's close or reduce hours for the majority of the season, and with the cold brings hibernation mode for most. Sometimes the weather is just too wild to head for the hills, so this is the perfect time to relax, rejuvenate and reset. An ideal time to read that book you've had on your nightstand for months, cook some delicious warming recipes or get your craft on.

Best of all, coorie in with a beverage and watch the weather roll in. There's something comforting about sitting in the warmth and listening to rain (and hopefully snow).

SNOW MUCH FUN

If we do get a good dumping of snow, we're not far up the road from the Nevis Range if you're keen on snow sports. Fort William also has indoor climbing and a cinema for those days that might put you off being outside. Did we mention the impressive scenery? The stretch of road between Fort William and Arisaig is worth the drive alone. Our bunkhouse is open all year round, along with some local airbnb's.

Photo by Fern Lunan

There are various accommodations open for winter, Arisaig Bunkhouse being one of them. It sleeps up to 14 guests between 5 rooms. Another source for accommodation is roadtotheisles.com. There are also a couple of venues in the area that stay open for food.