Lochinver boasts one of the largest fishing ports on the west coast of Scotland, and all manner of fish can be seen landed at the harbour, but if you would like to see them in the wild, or even catch one for your supper, the local angling club offers permits to over 100 trout lochs. The local rivers are full of salmon which can often be seen swimming upstream.
Lochinver bay is home to a large colony of Atlantic seals which can often be seen frolicking in the bay and begging for scraps from the local fishermen. It's not uncommon to see dolphins and basking sharks on the edge of the bay. Occasionally you may also see an otter playing by the shore.
On land, aside from the ubiquitous sheep, the most commonly sighted animal is the red deer. These may be found anywhere in the area, often close to the road. Nearer to woodland areas you may also catch a sight of the smaller roe deer. If you are extremely lucky, Assynt is one of the few places in the UK where the Scottish wildcat is still found. These reclusive animals are occasionally seen basking in the sunshine. Smaller mammals such as stoats, rabbits and mice are also common.
On the domestic side, there are the shaggy coated and long horned highland cattle and the highland ponies, bred over the years for their hardiness. The area around Lochinver is a birdwatchers paradise, with regular sightings of the spectacular golden eagle.
Lochinver is surrounded by mountains, from Quinaig (pronounced Coon-Yag) and Ben Mohr to the North, Canisp, Suilven (Sool-Ven) and Cul Mohr (Cool More) to the east and Cul Beag (Cool Beg) and Stac Pollaidh (Stack Polly) to the South. All of the surrounding peaks are climbable and well worth the effort of a strenuous walk. Your host at DAVAR will be able to provide you with the best routes for any of these peaks.
As well as the mountain walks, there are no end of walks around the area, some of the more notable ones include: The Culag woods behind the harbour – which lead down to a lovely pebbled beach. The bone caves at Inchnadamph – a virtually undisturbed prehistoric settlement less than three miles from the main road. The old man of Stoer – a natural sea stack jutting out into the sea. Kirkaig falls, the path up to the falls of Kirkaig follow the ride of the river up almost to the base of Suilven. The old mill at Stoer, less than a mile from the road are the remains of an old mill.
The beach at Achmelvich is one of the most spectacular you are ever likely to see. Soft white sands lead you down to the ocean, where the brave may even fancy a swim.