Tuesday 26 June 2012

Lots of space

I think you should all come to this beach. It is absolutely wonderful and the colours and scenery very special
Here it is and here are the directions. Follow the highlighted yellow road on the left hand  side of the map up to the yellow blob at the very top of Scotland to a place called Faraid Head.
You won't be disappointed 
Follow a sandy path through the dunes
and down on to the beach
whichever way you look
the sand sea and sky fill the space
At times the camera couldn't find a focus point, I used the black dot on the sand (my husband) who was a handy fixed point - when he wasn't moving!
Breathtaking. There were black headed gulls and terns flying overhead and little birds that looked like swallows but without the long tail - we thought they might be sand martins. 
Although it was overcast the light was bright and the colour of the sea almost turquoise in places
The beach is flanked by enormous sand dunes
the highest in Scotland I read
At the start of the walk sits Balnakeil House and near it just through the car park by the gate 
this old ruined church. You can't miss it. I'm assuming you'll come by car, or coach, or bike, or even on foot  (it's a long walk) you will, in all probability, come through the car park and you'll see the church on the other side of the wall.
On our homeward journey from Faraid Head we followed the road round the shores of loch Eriboll before taking a sharp right hand turn and following the smallest of single tracks  overgrown with grass, to reach the second yellow blob on the map.
Dun Dornaigil Broch. A picture of how it was and how it is now. An iron age broch some 2000 years old. 
We came upon it by chance on the banks of the river Hope. I really recommend this detour home. A twisty winding track. I'm sure you'll love it too. We drove for miles and didn't meet a single car - which was just as well as passing places were very overgrown, but the scenery was beautiful. We saw deer, rabbits and pheasants and birds that were too quick for us to identify.
We got home late and had a well deserved cup of tea. A day full of sea and sky and staggeringly beautiful landscapes - as you'll see when you take the tour!

12 comments:

rachel said...

Isn't it just breathtaking? I want to be there NOW!

annie hoff said...

Come on then Rachel!

Mac n' Janet said...

As always, gorgeous. Though it's not how I pictured Scotland.

annie hoff said...

Scotland has a very varied landscape. The north and north west is very different from the east. and again further down in the central belt and lowlands there is much variation. We spent time recently in Dumfries and Galloway, a beautiful area to the left of Gretna Green on the borders. I think there is something for everyone in Scotland!

ju-north said...

Adding it to our list! Been to some of these places but not all!

Lesley said...

Just stunning. I've been mulling about where to go....maybe it will be Scotland next year....

Lesley x

S. Etole said...

Breathtaking beauty here ... always.

Anonymous said...

Stunning - I've added it to my list of places to see!

Carmen said...

I love following your blog! Thank you for posting such beautiful photos! I'm in the United States and can only dream of visiting the UK.

Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Your photos are just stunning. I've never been quite that far north in Scotland. The colours of the landscape are very like Harris - the turquoise water. Just so beautiful. Scotland is, as you say, very varied. Thanks for taking us on this walk!

Linda said...

It's been a few years since I've been up this way, although our son cycled round the north of Scotland on a school trip. I wonder if this is the same beach as yours in one of his photos here:
http://occasionalscotland.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Cycling%20Project

Lori ann said...

hi annie, i've just been through this post twice and each time it took my breath away. oh how lucky to are to have been here. i know my husband and i would love it. someday...

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