Kenmore offers two distinct ways to explore its surroundings: traces of an extensive crofting settlement and cultivation on the one hand, and woodland remnants at Loch Torridon and described routes on the other. The modern settlement is surrounded by the remains of the crofting settlement; traces of cultivation can be seen to the west. If you are planning a stay, you can therefore explore Kenmore through its local history or landscape, treating these as two separate focal points.

Crofting traces in the surrounding area

The historical dimension begins right beside the modern settlement: its surroundings include the remains of an extensive crofting settlement. There are also visible traces of cultivation west of Kenmore. This brings two distinct clues together: settlement remains and traces of land use. This distinction is helpful if you are interested in the development of the cultural landscape. The focus is not just on buildings, but also on how the land was used. Kenmore therefore offers a range of topics for a historical focus, which can be considered separately.

What the 1881 map records

A first edition of the OS six-inch map from 1881 provides a specific historical snapshot. It shows a settlement with twenty-five roofed and two unroofed buildings, as well as two enclosures and some field walls. The map depicts more than buildings: enclosures and field walls are also among the features shown. The map’s depiction of a settlement at the time can thus be compared with the traces of cultivation west of the modern settlement. The map offers a clearly defined point in time; the traces on the ground provide a different way to explore local history.

Woodland remnants at Loch Torridon

There are woodland remnants in the Kenmore area on the sheltered southwestern shore of Loch Torridon. They are associated with the larger North Applecross native woodland planting scheme, established in 2000. This connection links a local landscape feature with a larger planting project. The woodland theme thus offers a different perspective from the Crofting traces: here, the focus is on woodland remnants and their place within a larger project, while the other perspective concerns the settlement and cultivation around Kenmore.

Routes offering different perspectives

The route descriptions also differ in their orientation. The Applecross Coffin Roads route starts at Clachan Church and ends on the unclassified road at Camas an Eilgan in Kenmore. Its two named points help you follow the route as described: the church is the starting point, and the road at Camas an Eilgan is the endpoint. The walking section of the Applecross Duathlon, by contrast, follows an old route across the Applecross Peninsula to the north coast near the village of Kenmore on Loch Torridon. The cycling section follows the coastal road and offers views of Loch Torridon and, across the Inner Sound, of Raasay and Skye with the Cuillin Hills. The two sections therefore have different emphases: the walking section follows the old route across the peninsula to the north coast, while the cycling section is shaped by the coastal road and the views mentioned.

The difference is clear when choosing a theme: the 1881 map brings together specific details of buildings, enclosures, and field walls, while woodland remnants and duathlon routes bring landscape features into focus.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Dalwhinnie, Gairloch, Shieldaig, Duntulm, Mey, Spinningdale, Balintore, Boat Of Garten.

For the main travel overview: Highland.