You have to have a certain amount of patience if you choose to visit this secluded Scottish getaway. A car used to be the easiest way of getting there but the gripping North Atlantic wind has slowly eroded the four mile track which leads to the panoramic pinkish sands. Leaving your car at Baltimore, begin your journey on foot, armed with a map. Don’t feel too frustrated, its like you’re in a mini epic. A huge moor land walk stretches out before you, if it’s early in the day a grey mist will hang at your feet as you follow the trail.

Flanked by enormous cliffs, the sound of the sea will creep up on you, just when you were thinking of turning back. You know you’re almost there when the path passes between two wooden stakes. This may look slightly ominous, but don’t worry there’ll be no sign of the “The Green Mann Inn” or Britt Ekland dancing around swathed with flowers. Instead, beautiful Sandwood loch lies before you in a serene pool.

Passed the loch you begin a descent to the bay. A dejected roofless cottage lies to the side; perhaps you’ll meet its inhabitant, the ghost of the mariner. Legend has it that he is all that remains of an Armada galleon that foundered on the bay many years ago. His treasure has never been found… Huge, basking sand dunes begin to surround you as you step onto the unfamiliar looking pinkish sands. The expanse reaches over two kilometres and as you look out, Am Bauchaille stretches up into the sky. Meaning “shepherd” in Scottish Gallic, the vertical rock formation from a distant looks like a giant guarding his shore. The beach has a mystical feel to it, camp in its numinous sands and you’ll realise the trail there was worth it.

Written by  Sybilla Harvey.

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Comments, reviews and questions

hi, could kids make the trip (age 12,10,7)- plan to camp overnight at the bay.What are the midges like? PS Great photos

 

Comment posted 1st November 2009 by Miranda.

1 reply...

It's four miles walk from Blairmore, which is where the road ends and if you're only carrying gear for one night and pack carefully so no one has too much then you should all be fine.

 

Reply posted 2nd November 2009 by Andrew.

where to stay in sandwood bay

any accomadation in sandwood bay

 

Question posted 23rd August 2009 by jenny mann.

1 reply...

Hi Jenny,

Have a look down the right hand side of this page and under the sponsored links section you'll see a list of hotels nearby.

 

Reply posted 24th August 2009 by World Reviewer Staff.

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