the peak bathing season in the summer, with basic septic tank treatment for the rest of the year. Beyond Gairloch to the northwest a number of small settlements can be found: Big Sand, North Erradale, and Melvaig. From Big Sands the road becomes single-track for to Melvaig. Beyond Melvaig the road narrows to a private stretch (which is open to the public and has right of passage for cars) and ends close to the Rua Reidh Lighthouse. There is a small local authority car park in Melvaig for five cars where people park to walk out to the Lighthouse. Land ownership The lands around Gairloch have been mostly in the ownership of the Mackenzies of Gairloch since the 15th century, when they were acquired by Hector Roy Mackenzie (died 1528), with a family house in the sheltered glen of Flowerdale. The Mackenzies were clan leaders in the traditional sense and were known for their attachment to their tenants. During the 19th century, Sir Hector Mackenzie and his sons Sir Francis and Dr John Mackenzie refused to evict a single tenant during the clearances, despite the estate running at a loss. As a result, evicted Highlanders from other communities came to live in the area and has caused Gairloch to maintain a thriving community even today. The glen has a microclimate and vegetation that are home to a diverse range of natural life. Christina Byam Shaw states in her memoir Pigeonholes of Memory, that her father was able to grow fruiting peaches outdoors. Osgood Mackenzie created the Inverewe Garden in nearby Poolewe. There is a walk up the Flowerdale burn, going past the Mackenzie house, Tigh Digh, to a waterfall at the head of the glen. With the aid of public grants, new and refurbished footpaths have been established which allow residents and visitors to access the wooded areas. The Estate has also developed several micro hydroelectric schemes to generate additional income. Fishing Gairloch and nearby Badachro on the south side (the "overside") have a history of creel shellfish fishing as well as small scale trawl fishing. The number of active boats has been in decline, however, and Gairloch has seen both of its shellfish processing businesses fall by the wayside over the last 10 years. There are still a few fishermen who work regularly for their living, but many have moved on; some have diversified into catering for tourism and