Life in Morvern

Morvern is a peninsula of hills, woodland and coastline in the west coast of highland Scotland. It is bounded by the Sound of Mull to the south and west, Loch Sunart and Glen Tarbet to the north and Loch Linnie to the east. Morvern’s two main population centres are Drimnin and Lochaline and it also comprises a number of traditional highland estates including Ardtornish Estate, Drimnin Estate, Killundine Estate, Kingairloch Estate, Laudale Estate and Rahoy Estate.

Biodiversity

Morvern is home to a number of rare species. Golden Eagles soar above the treetops whilst pine martins scamper through gardens. Otters bask on sunlit rocks up and down our coastline whilst deep under the surface glide flapper skate. There are numerous projects locally to monitor and improve our biodiversity. The Rahoy Nature Reserve is managed in a collaboration between x and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Caolas (Community Association of Lochs and Sounds) was set up to help increase understanding and conservation of our local marine environment and in recent years have begun a project to reintroduce native oysters back into Lochaline.

Community Assets and Groups

Alongside Morvern Community Development Company assets, other community groups manage and own land and assets on behalf of the wider community. Knock Park has recently come under community ownership under the management of the Morvern Games and Gala Committee. Morvern Community Woodlands own and manage Achnaha Community Wood on behalf of the community and host various activities there throughout the year. Lochaline Village Hall and Drimnin Village Hall both hold numerous community events throughout the year and are available to hire by following the links. CLAM (Community Land Association Morvern) run the allotments including their own pizza oven. Our local Gaelic Choir Burach have achieved national success at the Royal Mod. Morvern Heritage Society host talks and walks throughout the year and are currently converting the phone box in Larachbeag into a St Kilda Museum to commemorate the St Kildans who were evacuated to Morvern in 1930.  

On behalf of the Morvern community, Morvern Community Development Company own and manage the fuel pumps in the village, a community electric car, ebikes, Lochaline Harbour, Lochaline Business Hub, three one-bedroom houses at Miners’ Court and Barr Hydro which produces x energy a year making it the largest community owned renewable scheme in UK/Europe.  

All the work Morvern Community Development Company does is guided by a series of community plans, the most recent of which was completed in 2022 and can be read by following this link – Live Life Morvern.

Employment and Facilities

Lochaline Sand Mine has been in operation since the Second World War producing pure white, high-qualityproduces silica sand. It is situated on the shore of Lochaline, near the village and next to  Lochaline Harbour which is operated by Morvern Community Trading Company and provides locals and visitors with a mixture of pontoons, moorings and on shore facilities. In Drimnin the Nc’nean Distillery produce net zero organic whisky. A Calmac Ferry operates from Lochaline with numerous daily sailings over the Sound to Fishnish on Mull from which you can drive to Craignure in ten minutes and Tobermory in thirty. Lochaline itself is home to the Highland Basecamp, Hub Café, Lochaline Hotel, Lochaline Snack Bar, Lochaline Social Club, Lochaline Stores (including post office), Morvern Medical Centre and The White House. Lochaline Primary School (rated Excellent by Ofstead in 2019) was built on the site of the old school and opened in 2013 alongside a brand-new fire station.