Three miles north of Inverkirkaig is Lochinver, which has excellent facilities for such a small town.

These include the Assynt Tourist Center, a bank (with cash machine), butcher, newsagent, two small supermarkets, a petrol station (closed on Sundays in winter), a mountaineering shop, post office, and the excellent pie shop, Lochinver Larder. There is a chandlery with a wide range of goods, including waterproofs, fishing tackle etc. Also the Assynt Health Center boasts 2 doctors for a population of under a thousand. In Inverkirkaig itself is Achins bookshop, which also includes a cafe.

There are many excellent restaurants in the area, most open from Easter till early October. These include:

• Lochinver Larder (award winning savory and dessert pies)
• Albannach Hotel (Michelin Star - excellent menu, set 5 course meals £50)
• Summer Isles Hotel (just voted into the top 10 UK seafood restaurants in the Times - and worth it!)
• Handa Island Sea Food Cafe (delightful, inexpensive seafood)
• Kylesku Hotel (excellent seafood and location)
• Drumbeg Hotel (excellent a la carte restaurant)
• The local Caberfedh Public House (Main Street, Lochinver, good pub food)

Forty minutes to the south is Ullapool which boasts more extensive facilities, including a Tesco supermarket and many shops, a museum, pottery, leisure center, and port.