Best bay

Published on Friday 26 June 2009 20:17

SANNA BAY, Ardnamurchan Nearly as far west as you can go in mainland Britain. White sand, rocks for clambering and shallow sea for paddling combine with spectacular views out to the Small Isles to make a near perfect experience. If you feel energetic walk over the hill towards Portuairk and explore the rock pools and sandy beaches; there's always the chance to spot an otter there and almost definitely seals.

TALISKER BAY, SKYE: A short, pleasant walk from the end of the road from Carbost and you can hear the waves tumbling in the rocky bay before it even comes into sight; when you reach it an almost primeval sight of black rocks, a waterfall tumbling down the cliff and an impressive sea-stack lead you on to explore this wonderful landscape. Talisker, the local whisky, is made a couple of miles from the bay.

SANDAIG, BY GLENELG: More often known as Camusfearna, this bay is famous as the location for Gavin Maxwell's Ring of Bright Water, where he lived in a croft (since burnt down) with his pet otters. The graves and memorials to Maxwell and otter Edal can be found in the bay. The beauty is tinged with the sense of isolation and ghosts of past inhabitants.

SANDWOOD BAY, Sutherland: This has all the requirements of a perfect bay – a wild moorland walk to get there (about four miles), vast expanse of sand dunes and a huge finger of a sea-stack standing proud from the cliffs like a sentinel at the edge of the bay. Great on a wild day as the waves crash hypnotically on the shore.

LUSKENTYRE: Harris has many stunningly beautiful bays, but this is one of the jewels. Climb Ben Luskentyre on a sunny day and look down upon this bay and it would be easy to believe you were on a tropical island – the sand is endlessly golden and the sea is sparklingly turquoise.