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Situated on the grassy sand dunes at Clachtoll, next to the Norman Macleod Memorial is the Salmon Bothy. Formerly, this salmon station was one of many round the coast which netted salmon passing along the coast on their return to the river in which they were born.
Closed in 1994, along with the others in the area, at Culkein, Drumbeg and Raffin, this building has been converted into a museum dedicated to the men of the area who made their living from the salmon netting.
On the site are all four parts of the process: the Port, where the coble was moored; the Ice House which kept the ice, which had been cut and transported from the lochs in winter, to keep the salmon fresh, the Drying Green where the nets were strung up to dry and to be checked and repaired as necessary; and the Bothy where the men prepared for sea, waiting for tide and weather, and in the 19th century wher they actually lived.
With support from various funding bodies, the Assynt Historical Society has renovated the buildings, starting almost from scratch, and turned them into a small mueum with a fascinating collection of photographs of those locals who during the 20th century spent time at the salmon netting.
Maintenance will continue and contributions to that ongoing cost is always welcome.
Back to: Clachtoll
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