Shiel Bridge

Shiel Bridge Scottish Gaelic: Drochaid Sheile Scots: Shiel Brig
Shiel Bridge Location within the Highland council area
OS grid reference	NG937188
Council area	Highland
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Postcode district	IV40 8
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish

Shiel Bridge is a hamlet on the south east shore of Loch Duich at the foot of Glen Shiel, in the Lochalsh area of the Scottish Highlands. It is in the council area of Highland.

Geography

To the east of the hamlet, the River Shiel empties into the small Loch Shiel. The river then continues east, under the old bridge over the river (from where the hamlet derives its name), until it empties in Loch Duich.

The River Shiel, before it arrives at Shiel Bridge, is joined by a tributary river, the Allt Undalain, which flows down the eastern side of Sgùrr Mhic Bharraich.

The hamlet of Ratagan is 1 mile (2 kilometres) south east of the hamet. The A87 road passes through the hamlet, continuing on along the north coast of Loch Duich, passing Dornie, Nostie and Kirkton on to Kyle of Lochalsh.

Over the original Shiel Bridge is an old military road (the C1123) that is known as the Bealach Ratagain, connecting the communities of Ratagan, Glenelg, Arnisdale, Letterfearn and Corran to the A87.

Due to the surrounding mountains and forests, Shiel Bridge is a popular site for hillwalkers, accessible via bus from both Kyle of Lochalsh and Inverness. Both the Cape Wrath and Knoydart Trails pass through the village, the latter leading to Suardalan bothy^[1] if followed south and west.

History

Nearby, the Battle of Glenshiel took place in 1719, where Jacobites, supported by around 300 Spanish troops, fought a government army loyal to King George I. Despite their superior numbers, the Jacobites lost.

Facilities

The hamlet has few amenities, but includes a caravan park & campsite,^[2] and pony tours.^[3] Recently, a small filling station has been converted into a coffee shop and handmade chocolate factory.

Just south of the village are the Five Sisters of Kintail, a sub-range of the Western Highlands containing three Munros (Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe, Sgùrr na Càrnach, and Sgùrr Fhuaran). Golden eagles, red deer, and wild goats are among some of the area's native species.^[4]

• 
  Shiel Bridge and the A87 viewed from the north, with its filling station on the left
• 
  The village's eponymous bridge, crossing over the River Shiel

References

1. "Bothy: Suardalan". Mountain Bothies Association. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017.
2. "Shielbridge Caravan Park & Campsite Home". shielbridgecaravanpark.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
3. "Highland Pony Trekking". www.highlandponytrekking.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
4. "Shiel Bridge". AboutBritain.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.