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Because
of its spectacular setting and traditional
Highland atmosphere, Plockton has
appeared in numerous film and television
productions. None has had more impact on the
village than the three 'Hamish Macbeth'
series, shown originally on BBC television
between 1995 and 1997, and still shown
throughout the world. Robert Carlyle plays
the laid back policeman, transferred from
his Glasgow beat to the fictional Highland
village of Loch Dubh - meaning; black loch
(Plockton), where he finds he is a natural
at dealing with the inhabitants' quirky
ways. A typical episode - In Search of a
Rose - involves a seal trip skipper in
despair at the refusal of the seals to show
themselves to his passengers. Inflatable
rubber whales are his answer but it nearly
goes tragically wrong until our hero sorts
it all out. (This episode was based on
genuine, scurrilous rumours, but you'll need
to speak to Calum at Calum's Seal Trips for
the full story.) If you are a
Hamish Macbeth fan, and they still come
every year, you'll see many of the locations
used in the shooting - the police station at
Rhu, Rory Campbell's shop at Edmund's
corner, the Stag Bar (the house opposite,
although the interior shots were filmed in
the bar of the Balmacara Hotel). If you're a
real fanatic, you may even recognise some of
the bit players - local people were involved
in most episodes.
Balmacara Hotel, Skye beckons from
the front windows, the glorious hills of
Wester Ross from the back, and the scenery
tends to set its own very high standards.
The Balmacara Hotel is situated on the
shores of Loch Alsh, approximately 3 miles
from Kyle of Lochalsh, the main crossing
point to the Isle of Skye.
SEAL TRIP; The first thing you need
to know is that there are two departure
points depending on the tidal conditions -
the Main Pier at the end of Cooper Street,
and the Pontoon at the car park. Please
check the village notices for daily
departure points. The One-hour Seal Trip is
unique because unlike other boat trip
operators who may promise you will see seals
on every trip, we don't, but we guarantee
that you will get the trip free if there are
no seals. As the longest established boat
trip operator in Skye & Lochalsh, there are
times when the seals will have simply
disappeared. There could be many reasons -
high tide, canoes chasing them off or they
have just gone elsewhere; after all it is
nature in the wild. Do not believe anyone
who says you'll see seals every trip.
A large proportion of the peninsula is made
up of the Balmacara Estate owned by the
National Trust for Scotland. It includes the
Lochalsh woodland garden and the late 18th
century planned port village of Plock, now
known as Plockton. Lying round a sheltered
bay looking eastwards down Lock Carron the
views from this enchanting village main
street are of dotted islands on the loch and
of Duncraig Castle, until not long ago a
thriving catering college. Plockton is proud
of its rich heritage and naturally, Gaelic
plays a large part in the life of the
village. If your preference is for dry land
then Plockton and its surrounding district
has an abundance of places to visit and
explore. And at the end of the day there are
popular hostelries like the Plockton Hotel
or "Off the Rails" the former ladies waiting
room at the [railway]station now a small
restaurant with a cosy atmosphere offering
delicious home made cooking run by Jane
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