When Richard and I went to Sutherland a couple of years ago to do the two Munros up there and also for me to do some Corbetts, we were impressed by how beautiful and peaceful all the beaches up there were. We were based around Durness and the local village beach, Sango Bay, was the best of the lot in our opinion. Here are some of the highlights starting with the beaches around Keoldale…
Standing Stone at Kyle of Durness
Balnakeil Beach
Smoo Cave (photo above by Richard Wood)
Traigh Allt na Chailgeag…
We took the 4.5 mile walk out across the moorland to Sandwood Bay – this is everyone’s favourite beach but we didn’t find it all that stunning – the weather was awful though and these are the best three photos I got:
It didn’t help Sandwood Bay’s popularity with us that we had this beach, Sango Bay, just a few moments’ walk from our holiday let…
A little arete I used to like to play along…
3 of Richard’s Sango Bay Photos:
It’s a very long drive right to the very northern coastline of Scotland but, as you can probably see, it’s worth it for the quality of the beaches alone!
The Adventures of a Mountain Coward 
Head I thinks???, Its not that bad really, just dont take deaf dogs who are 13 years old & Jack Russels because you are forever throwing him up onto rocks…!!!!,..but isnt that bad at all you will be fine!!! but it is a very nice hill/mountian..My favourite to date!!!.
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LOL! Well at least I don’t have to throw Richard up onto rocks!
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Hello Carol yeah I did manage to get to the west/true summit, a little cheeky with 3 dogs”1 which is deaf” & 1 Missus in tow, Aly & the Mutts stayed just before the step & I bagged the top, 1 of my favourite mountains I thinks??.Small but very exciting…Cheers Terry.
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I’ve seen various detailed routes of the scramble up to the true summit – it looks quite exciting – I gather it’s exposure rather than difficulty? Did you take the side route over the huge drop or tackle it head on (my preferred option when I get there I think)?
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Some lovely photos there Carol, I was up that end of the world last month with the Missus doing some Munros….visited Smoo caves etc.. .
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I’m thoroughly jealous! Have you written any reports anywhere?
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No sorry not a member of any forum so all the pix are just sat on my computer!!!! shame that. I also climbed Stac Polly an excellent mountain to do!!!.Cheers Terry
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I’m dying to get to Stac Pollaidh – did you manage to get to the true summit? I believe it’s quite hard
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Great pics Carol.
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Thanks Paul 🙂
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Some great beaches and equally some great photos. I’ve been to Durness a few times so its a nice reminder 🙂 Personally I thought Sandwood was a great beach but it’s famous for its remoteness and solitude which with good parking and good track it fails on both counts. I take it you are still restricted 😦 any sign of an improvement ?
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I’m back at work but still have a potted-up foot. Not sure how it’s doing but I’m due my next x-rays on 10 September so I should know more then.
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Good luck
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Thanks Simon. It’s actually feeling quite a bit better but that’s not really anything to go by I don’t think, especially seeing as it wasn’t all that noticeably painful in the first place…
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I,ve never been that impressed with Sandwood bay either.Apart from the Iconic sea stack it suffers from being so well publicised these days.There are far more dramatic beaches all along the north west coast that are still empty.You,ve captured some nice ones here.Camped at Sango bay once in winter.So cold the sea froze into sheets of ice on the beach and the sand dunes were buried under snow.
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What year was that? The sea froze in the Hebrides in the winter of 1977 when I was still living there! 😮
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Beautiful shots – what a great place for a long walk.
Thanks for sharing.
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It’s a great place for a paddle too 🙂
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