Sandwood Bay is a distant seaside positioned in Sutherland, within the far north-west of Scotland. It’s inaccessible by motorised car so that you require some planning to get there, whether or not on foot, part-way by bicycle or by kayak.

Wild tenting is allowed so long as you behave responsibly and cling to the Scottish Out of doors Entry Code. This implies you keep for less than an evening or two; carry all of your in a single day package with you (to and from the seaside); depart no hint (together with tenting and toileting) and don’t arrange a tent close to livestock (there are sheep that graze on the dunes close to the seaside).

That is an article that describes a latest wild tenting journey with buddies to Sandwood Bay.

Magnificence, wrecks and ghosts of Sandwood Bay

Distant and wildly lovely, Sandwood Bay has grow to be a well known attraction for modern-day guests to the north-west of Scotland. In centuries previous, the seaside witnessed dying and tragedy.

The bay is round 7.5 miles south of Cape Wrath, which is essentially the most north-westerly level of mainland Britain and a spot of tough and typically treacherous seas. Earlier than a lighthouse was in-built 1828 at Cape Wrath level, the size of coast claimed many boats and lives, together with service provider ships, galleons of the Spanish Armada and Viking longboats.

It’s simple to see how Sandwood Bay grew to become a graveyard for a few of these coastal disasters and, today, you possibly can solely think about what may be hidden by time and tides far under the white sand.

Inevitably, there are lots of tales of ghosts and ghoulish sightings, particularly at an deserted cottage near a close-by loch. The constructing is now a roofless smash, which you move near as you stroll to Sandwood seaside from Oldshoremore, and many individuals who’ve taken shelter there have spoken of ghostly sounds and sightings.

One ghost is alleged to take the type of a sailor, who reportedly haunts the seaside wearing boots, a coat with brass buttons and a peaked hat.

One other supernatural sighting is of a mermaid. The story goes that within the early 1900s, an area crofter known as Sandy Gunn was strolling alone on the seaside when his canine all of the sudden began barking at a creature within the rocks. Gunn claimed he noticed one thing that regarded human with lengthy golden hair and blue-green eyes. This, he believed, was a mermaid that many sailors additionally reckoned they’d noticed within the sea close to Sandwood Bay.

These tales and legends are simpler to dispel as myths on a sunny day on the seaside, however come night-time, the bay has way more of an ethereal environment and it’s not tough to let your creativeness get the higher of you… However don’t let me put you off!

Who owns Sandwood Bay?

The John Muir Belief cares for Sandwood Property, which covers 4703 hectares of untamed and crofted land. Sandwood Bay is the jewel within the crown of the property. The seaside is guarded at one finish by the ocean stack Am Buachaille (translated as “the shepherd”).

Learn: Blind climber Pink Szell completes triple sea stack problem at Am Buachaille.

Learn how to get to Sandwood Bay

As a result of there is no such thing as a motorised car entry to Sandwood Bay, you could be self-propelled. This implies strolling, biking or arriving by boat or kayak.

The beginning level for many walkers and cyclists is Oldshoremore, simply north of Kinlochbervie. There’s a John Muir Belief-run automobile park with bathrooms (money donations are welcomed). The stroll is round 6.5km to the dunes after which as far alongside the seaside as you fancy. See Stroll Highlands route description.

With a bunch of buddies, adults and youngsters, I just lately walked a gently undulating observe and well-trodden path to succeed in the sand dunes that again the seaside after which the bay itself.

It’s not an arduous stroll however in case you are carrying your in a single day package, meals and water, it might take round 1.5 hours. In any case, there is no such thing as a rush and the route by way of coastal moorland and previous a number of sandy lochs is fulfilling.

On the ultimate stretch, you’ll see your first vista of the spectacular white sands and sea. The setting by no means fails to amaze me every time I’ve walked or run the route.

Walkers return the identical means.

Cycle, different stroll route and kayak

You could possibly cycle a number of the route, leaving your bike the place the observe turns to rugged path, earlier than strolling the ultimate stretch.

Different walkers journey from Cape Wrath. It’s a principally pathless route over tough moorland and extends to some 7.5 miles and a few 400m of ascent. (Examine my south-to-north run of this route, from Olsdmoreshore to Cape Wrath.)

It’s additionally potential to kayak to the seaside in case you are an skilled and assured paddler. Hubby G and our good friend Stew set off from Droman Pier, simply alongside the coast from Oldshoremore. Getting on to – and off – the seaside at Sandwood Bay proved to be a testing problem.

The fantastic thing about Sandwood Bay

You want to go to the seaside to actually consider its unbelievable magnificence. It additionally helps when you time it with a window of excellent climate.

An enormous expanse of white sand is backed by excessive dunes. The bluey-turquoise waters of the Atlantic crash white-topped on to the sand.

The cliffs and rocks of Sandwood Bay, to the south and north, are primarily Torridonian gritstone, sandstone and conglomerate, with outcrops of Lewisian gneiss.

It’s sufficient to take a seat and stare throughout the bay and out to sea, taking within the wonderful pure splendour. You could possibly simply wander for hours alongside the seaside and into the sand dunes.

With my buddies, we prolonged our stick with an in a single day wild camped, selecting a spot above excessive tide however with fabulous seaside and ocean views.

Tip: Take sand pegs to pitch your tent.

There’s an choice to remain at Strathchailleach Bothy, a former farmstead that has been changed into a shelter with three rooms. Nevertheless, the bothy, positioned away from the seaside to the east, is commonly busy so you can be sharing your lodging. (To succeed in Strathchailleach, stroll alongside the seaside to the outflow of Sandwood Loch. You may must paddle to ford the stream. Then ascend a slope, heading proper of rocky outcrops.)

When you’ve got not visited, I’ll let my pictures present you what awaits at Sandwood Bay.

In case you do go to Sandwood Bay, whether or not for a stroll or a camp, please make sure you take away all the pieces you’re taking with you. Depart completely no hint so the seaside will be loved for generations to come back and to keep away from environmental air pollution or contamination.

Package checklist for wild tenting at Sandwood Bay

We every carried rucksacks. The youngsters had smaller packs wherein they’d a sleeping bag, pillow, garments, waterproof jackwet and toothbrush.

Adults carried tents (as light-weight as potential), sleeping bag, inflatable mattress, spare garments, waterproof jacket, insulated jacket, meals for an evening and morning, water and cooking range, plus toileting package, midge nets and Smidge spray.

The kayakers took a number of the heavier package, together with a few tents, booze and a few firewood. (We did make a fireplace but in addition ensured it was put out and buried earlier than we left. This isn’t advisable the place the flames and embers may trigger wildfires.)

We took away all garbage and left the seaside trying as clear and pristine as once we arrived.