Sports
There are plenty of opportunities to engage in outdoor activities. There are a range of operators in Lochaber offering activities such as sea kayaking, white-water rafting, white-water kayaking, rock climbing, archery, mountain biking, paragliding, canoeing, mountaineering, canyoning, bridge swings and paintball. Further details of the range of adventure sports on offer can be found at the following links:
- The Nevis Range (High Wire Adventure and Mountain Biking)
- Vertical Descents (Canyoning and Via Feratta)
- Arisaig Sea Kayak Centre (based in Arisaig)
- Sea-Kayak Arisaig (based in Glenuig)
- Rockhopper Sea Kayaking
Snow sports include ice-climbing, skiing, snowboarding, sledging and snow-shoeing and winter mountaineering at the Nevis range, just north of Fort William around one hour drive away from Mingarry Lodges. A range of winter sports are also offered at the The Glencoe Ski Centre which is also just over an hour's drive away.
Eleven classic off-road cycle routes in the local area are described in the Sunart Oakwoods Cycling leaflet, ranging in length from 3km to 64 km. Similarly, the Nevis Range and the surrounding area of Lochaber offer a wide range of mountain bike trails. For the more adventurous, the trails around Leanachan Forest (The Nevis Range) and Glen Nevis are recommended. Leanachan is the venue for the mountain bike World Cup Cross Country and the Witch's Trails include sections from both the World Cup trail and the World Championship trails. Group guided tours are also available.
Cycle hire is available locally at Strontian and bicycles can be delivered to Mingarry Lodges by Sunart Cycles.
There are a number of golf courses within reach of Acharacle. Fort William Golf Club offers a challenging course with fantastic views. Traigh Golf Course, north of Arisaig, is a nine-hole course with terrific sea views. Spean Bridge Golf Club, is a nine-hole course, nine miles north of Fort William with good views of Ben Nevis. There is also the Dragon's Tooth Golf Course at Ballachulish (18 hole golf course).
For those of brave heart and stout spirit there are many opportunities for wild swimming off the fabulous white sanded beaches. Wet suits are recommended as the waters are cold, but it is well worth the effort.
For those of a more tender nature there are swimming pools in both Fort William and Mallaig.
There are plenty of opportunities for freshwater and sea fishing. The many hill locks in the area, as well as Loch Shiel, provide good fishing opportunities for brown trout. The River Shiel offers salmon and sea trout fishing. Permits are required. Sea fishing is also available in Loch Sunart by boat or from the shore.