:Ardelve
{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = Scotland
| static_image = Croft in Upper Ardelve.jpg
| static_image_width = 250px
| static_image_caption = A croft in Upper Ardelve
| coordinates = {{coord|57.27|-05.55|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Ardelve
| gaelic_name = Àird Eilbh
| population = 157
| shire_district =
| unitary_scotland = Highland
| region =
| constituency_westminster = Ross, Skye and Lochaber
| constituency_scottish_parliament = Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
| post_town =
| postcode_district =
| postcode_area = IV
| dial_code = 01599555
| os_grid_reference = NG8626
}}
Ardelve ({{langx|gd|Àird Eilbh}}) is a village in Highland, Scotland, on Loch Alsh. It overlooks the Eilean Donan Castle, which is in Dornie, also on Loch Alsh, to the east of Skye. A caravan park, several guest houses, a bakery, and pizzeria are located within Ardelve.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hkvwtwl3oigC&pg=PA182|author=Beith, Alexander|title=Three Weeks with Dr. Candlish, a Highland Tour|publisher=BiblioBazaar, LLC|year=2008|page=182|isbn=978-0-554-57977-1}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.yesscotland.com/region113cos.php|title=Scotland|publisher=Yes Scotland}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ardelvecaravanandcampingpark.co.uk/|title=about the park|publisher=Caravan and Camping Park|accessdate=20 October 2010}}
Willie McRae (18 May 1923 – 7 April 1985) was a Scottish lawyer, orator, naval officer, politician and anti-nuclear campaigner. His ancestors lived here and he used the family croft as a holiday home. He died in suspicious circumstances while en route here.
Geography
The road from Invergarry to Invermoriston, today the A87 road, passes through the village and once terminated at the ferry station (today the road crosses the water by a bridge).{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P14AAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA664|title=The Scots magazine and Edinburgh literary miscellany, Volume 77|publisher=Archibald Constable|year=1815|page=664}} It connects the village to Auchtertyre in the west. In 1882 it had a post office and a school.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wGZQFIhkWWYC&pg=PA16|author=Wilson, John E.|title=The Gazetteer of Scotland|year=1882|publisher=Heritage Books|page=17|isbn=1-888265-07-8}} The village is divided into Upper and Lower Ardelve.{{cite map|title=Google Maps|publisher=Google}} Important landmarks on the road to Ardelve are the Loch Cluanie, the Seven Sisters of Kintail, the Kintail Lodge Hotel and Loch Duich and Balmacara Gardens of the National Trust for Scotland (4 miles to the west of the village). A forest area with historic linkage to Bonnie Prince Charlie's hiding in 1746, is the Glen Shiel with Glen Affric Forest to the north of the village.
Avifauna
During bird sighting tours to the Loch Alsh and the surrounding areas, sparrowhawk, whimbrel, house martin, sedge warbler and grebes have been sighted at Ardelve. Grebes were also sighted at Ardelve Point.{{Cite web|url=http://www.swrfc.org.uk/publications/newsletter%2034.pdf |title=Newsletter 34 – August 2001 |accessdate=21 October 2010 |publisher=swrfc.org |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314035241/http://www.swrfc.org.uk/publications/newsletter%2034.pdf |archivedate=14 March 2012 }} Little grebes have also been seen all along the coast from Ardelve to Balmacara Bay. It is also inferred that little grebes seen at Ardelve in July or August could be migrants from the continent or Scandinavia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.swrfc.org.uk/publications/newsletter%2059.pdf|title=Newsletter 59 – February 2008 |work=The Little Grebe |accessdate=21 October 2010 |publisher=Swrfc.org |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314035301/http://www.swrfc.org.uk/publications/newsletter%2059.pdf |archivedate=14 March 2012 }}
Governance
Ardelve is in the Ross, Skye and Lochaber UK Parliament constituency and the Ross, Skye and Inverness West Scottish Parliament constituency.{{cite web|title=Search on IV40 8DY|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/postcode/?pc=iv40+8dy|work=Theyworkforyou|accessdate=20 October 2010}} It is in the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh ward of the Highland council area, represented by four councillors.{{cite web|title=Ward 06 – Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh |url=http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/yourcouncillors/councillorscontactdetails/ward06/ |work=Highland Council |accessdate=20 October 2010 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217071008/http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/yourcouncillors/councillorscontactdetails/ward06/ |archivedate=17 December 2009 }}
Attractions
{{multiple image
| align = left
| image1 = Eilean Donan Castle from Ardelve Point - geograph.org.uk - 8332.jpg
| width1 = 162
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = Eilean Donan Castle, West Coast of Scotland - geograph.org.uk - 736.jpg
| width2 = 150
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| footer = Left: Eilean Donan Castle from Ardelve Point. A stronghold of the Mackenzies of Kintail. Right: Eilean Donan Castle. Ardelve Point is the headland to the left of the picture.
}}
The attractions in the precincts of Ardelve are the Ardelve Point that offers scenic views across to Eilean Donan Castle, about 400 metres off the point, Local Church and the bridge across the Loch.
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References
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