SCOTLANDS 15 BEST BEACHES

MY BEST 15 SCOTTISH BEACHES

These are my favourite Scottish Beaches, my only caveat is that there are many I have not walked "As Yet".

There will be beaches others find worthy of inclusion in their lists, this is just in my opinion.

1 WEST BEACH ON BERNERAY IN THE OUTER HEBRIDES

I have no hesitation in naming West Beach on Berneray as my favourite beach, nearly 5Km of pristine sands which we had totally to ourselves back in late September of 2009.

Most walking sites on the web list the full circuit as 12 km, but in truth that only covers 2/3rds of the island's coastline, cutting across the island at Borve and missing out all of the south-west corner and Loch Bhuirgh. The full round of the island's coastline is more like 17 km.

We camped overnight in the dunes at Baile near the Gatliff Trust Hostel before making an early start. Beinn Shleibhe was our first objective before making an anticlockwise circuit of the Island, ending up in The Bernaray Cafe now a "Bistro" for tea and Cakes.

2 SANDWOOD BAY IN SUTHERLAND

Sandwood Bay is another fairly long walk of just over 4 miles from the car park at Blairmore, the route is over barren moorland studded with lochans. The return journey however can be made more interesting, but longer, by following the coast round past the sea stack "Am Buchaille" (The Shepherd) to Sheigra. Alternatively the more adventurous can carry on across the moorland to Strathchailleach Bothy. The history of the bothy, Sandwood Cottage and the bay itself is well worth looking us with tales of mermaids, shipwrecks and the recluse of Strathchailleach.

3 TRAIGH SCARASTA ON HARRIS IN THE OUTER HEBRIDES

Scarasta beach is far less popular than the Luskentyre beaches further up the coast, maybe that's because its full extent is hidden by dunes or just less parking, despite that it takes third place on my list. We have walked the beach on three occasions in very different weather yet can still count other people seen on both hands.

4 TRAIGH BAN ON THE INNER HEBRIDEAN ISLE OF COLONSAY

Kiloran Bay on Colonsay may only be small by the standards of the first three beaches it may also be far easier to get to but in the evening light as seen here it is a magical place to be. A good track leads from here to the north end of the island and another beach at Traigh Ban, unusually for the hebridean isles this beach faces west

5 TRAIGH HALUM ON THE INNER HEBRIDEAN ISLE OF COLL

There are 21 beaches listed on The Isle of Coll and although Traigh Halum is nowhere near the largest it is my favourite and requires a little effort to reach. Another magical place in the right conditions.

6 TRAIGH MHEILEN ON THE OUTER HEBRIDEAN ISLE OF HARRIS

Traigh Mheilen is another wild beach in North Harris which requires a short walk of a one and a half miles to reach. The beach lies on the Sound of Scarp north of the road end at Husinish with has its own attractive beach. The walk can be turned into a circular route by following the coast round into Glen Cravadale and retuning to Hushinish via Loch Cleavaig and Cravadale Lodge.

7 BALNAKEIL BAY IN SUTHERLAND

We have visited Balnakeil Bay many times over the years and hopefully will do so again. The beach forms the most part of the west side of a penninsular which culminates in the spectacular sea cliffs at Faraid Head. One of the best coastal walks in Scotland is to follow the beach north to Faraid Head returning through the dunes before continuing along the Kyle of Durness coastal path to Keoldale and the Cape Wrath Ferry. The return is along Loch Borralie past the ruins of the old Schoolhouse to The Balnakeil Craft Village and a great coffee at the Wee Shop.

8 TRAIGH SHEILEBOST

Another of Harris's great beaches seen here in evening light, The beach lies along the south side of Luskentyre Bay and can easily be reached by parking near the old Seilebost school currently used as offices for rent.

9 TRAIGH BHOUSD ON THE ISLE OF COLL

My second choice of the many beaches on the Inner Hebredean Isle of Coll is Traigh Bhousd known as Struan Beach by the locals. The tiny north facing bay lies only a few hundred metres from the road and pretty much guaranteed solitude.

10 COILLEAG A' PHRIONNSA ON ERISKAY

The Princes Cockleshell Strand on Eriskay, in gaelic Coilleag a'Phrionnsa, was so named because this is where Charles Edward Stuart "Bonnie Prince Charlie" is thought to have taken his first steps on Scottish soil.

Another beach which can be incorporated into a circular walk around an island, this one takes in Eriskay's famous inn the "Am Politician" , the tiny harbour at Haunn, a climb up to Beinn Sciathan then back across the moorland to Acairseid, a walk we have done a couple of times.

11 TRAIGH ROSAMOL AT LUSKENTYRE ON HARRIS

Commonly called Luskentyre beach and despite our having been here many times over the years some of you will be surprised it doesn't feature higher up the list. For me its popularity has been its downfall but that's only my opinion and it is still stunning place especially in bad weather as in the above photo

12 THE SOUTH UIST WEST COAST

The beach on South Uist stretches almost continuously for 20 Miles backed by a strip of fertile Machair and freshwater lochs, the land then rises to remote and rugged hills topped by Beinn Mhor at 2,035 ft.

13 TRAIGH MHOR AT TOLSTADH, ISLE OF LEWIS

Tolsta Beach at near 2.5 Km is the longest beach on The isle of lewis and unusual in the Outer Hebrides as it faces east.

From here a Heritage Trail runs north along the remote east coast for 12.5 km to Lional near Port Ness. The part we walked before returning to the car was across incredibly boggy moorland.

14 TRAIGH UDAL ON NORTH UIST

Traigh Udal is another beach needing a little effort, we approached from Malacleit opposite Vallay on a very windy day.

Our route went north through the dunes to the south end of 3 km long Traighh Iar a favourite beach for kitesurfers, on past Rubha Bellis to Traigh Udal as seen above, yet another little visited paradise.

The tiny promontory in the centre is Aird a'Mhorain the end of the penninsular with fantastic views north to Harris just visible covered in snow. The return can be made along the east skirting the shallow bay of Traigh Ear

15 UIG BAY FROM CRADHLASTADH LEWIS

Last but not least is Uig Beach in South West Lewis another stunning beach which deserves its place here.

The famous Lewis Chessmen were found in the dunes opposite this picture. The hoard comprised of 93 pieces, 78 were chess pieces, 14 were tablemen, all were carved from walrus ivory, the last piece was a belt buckle. In 2019 a "newly" discovered piece a castle was sold for £735,00