It's a shame this anchorage is right in the face of the prevailing wind, with quite a lot of swell too. Not only is there a fabulous beach, albeit quite touristy, and an ancient walled burial ground — Cladh Mhuire — behind it, but there is something else worth a detour just up the hill. The combination of café, an always interesting art gallery, and a short woodland walk with sculptures which seem to vary from time to time, and are mostly made with wood from the local trees. Here and there are all sorts of little artistic touches, charming and interesting. So, from the northeast corner of the bay, walk up the track past some of the sculptures towards the old Calgary Farmhouse (definitely do not take the road). It is a lovely place to wander around, look at the art gallery, and have lunch in the café. However, the café ownership changed in 2024 so things may be a bit different now. Since I last visited 'Robin's Boat' has appeared behind the beach, for ice cream when the sun is shining.
The remains of about 20 ruined cottages — Inevie —on the hill above an old pier can be seen on the north side of the bay, yet another reminder of the Highland Clearances. Although migrants no doubt left from here for the New World, the modern city of Calgary in Canada was not directly named after Calgary Bay. A Colonel Macleod from Skye, Commissioner of the Northwest Mounted Police, once stayed here on holiday. In 1876 he named one of his forts Calgary, a name which was retained when the city arose later in the same place.
