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I'm looking for a nice secluded beach about 2 or 3 hours drive from Glasgow, preferably on the west coast for a cheeky weekend away with the missus, a metal detector and a picnic hamper. I know there are loads, but what are your favourites?
Ps. The harder to get to the better ;o)
great, you've just alerted all the scottish STW peeping toms that there will be some action on a west-coast beach sometime soon.
i'll get searching google earth once i know you've been.
Filthy man. 'Cheeky' as in quick, not dirty.
If I do get Google Streetmapped, hopefully they won't enable the zoom feature.
A bit further away that you asked for but Harris is where its at for beaches.
{Copyrighted image removed at the request of copyright holder. Please be careful when poaching images on the internet and posting them here...}
Calgary beach on Mull looks awesome as well, but the ferries are so expensive!
Looking on Google Earth all of the western isles look beautiful from above.
We did a tour of the Scottish coast last summer and the West coast is littered with stunning beaches. Couldn't name any specifically, like but I was stunned in places. Is Applecross too far? I'd say around there.
[url= http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kinlochbervie/sandwoodbay/index.html ]Sandwood Bay[/url] - a bit far though, I think.
Yeah, Fort William on the west coast or Arbroath on the east is far enough. Lindisfarne looks nice but I reckon it will get busy for the Easter long weekend :o/
Road to Mallaig has more than a few, or head over to Arachale and round Moidart - a good few IIRC that are nice n sandy
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=167500&y=767500&z=120&sv=acharacle&st=3&tl=Map+of+Acharacle,+Highland+ [City/Town/Village]&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf
LLBT - lol 🙂
in all seriousness St. Cyrus is near montrose on the east coast and is within the 3 hour limit, and its a stunning place on a good day.
We stayed here - http://www.woodstonfishingstation.co.uk/ and its a great spot.
<edit> just read the site and its closed down now 🙁 shame.
Another vote for Sandwood Bay. Simply stunning.
I remember many years ago MBR doing a article about Mountain biking to Sandwood and then camping.
I don't know Scotland's beaches at all well, but I've really loved my visits to Southerness, which has a vast empty beach on the Solway Firth - and is handily placed for the western Stanes too.
It has a lighthouse and mussels (in season)...
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Unfortunately it's about an 8 hour drive away but the inlaws own a property overlooking Farr Bay in Bettyhill on very north coast. Absolutely beautiful place.
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The beaches on Harris are the best I've seen anywhere - stunningly beautiful AND deserted. The major problem is that the sea is absolutely f*ing freezing. Take a wetsuit!
Have you considered the east coast?
East lothian has some very nice beaches, some are lesser known/frequented, there even may even be a few nudist friendly spots (aparently) if that's your bag - ****in cold tho.
There's some nice secluded beaches on Arran - try west side near King's Cave maybe? Hardly any distance at all from Glasgow but as secluded as you want it to be.
Probably too far but the Assynt coast is fantastic.
In fact when the weather is nice Scotlands beaches are the best in the world. When.
prob too far, me and gf did Applecross/Torridon - (on a blazing day), best road/scenery drive ever.
On the south - Glentrool is awesome and Kirkcudbright arty/trendy, Garlieston was run down mellow, sleepy village, nice sea front pub. That area is pretty quiet.
What are the midges like on Harris in August? I know the west coast mainland can be affected at this time.
Arisaig / Back of Keppoch might be just outside your 3-hour window, but not by much as they've now upgraded the FW-Mallaig Road.
Sanna sands in Ardnamurchan would be outside your time window too.
Oh - and can I once again show everyone the slide show of my W Isles tour last year??
[url= http://www.scotroutes.com/Slide%20Shows/Barra%20to%20the%20Butt/default.htm ]Some nice beaches and stuff[/url]
Oh - forgot to mention Solway Coast....
Harris. Worth the trip.
Arisaig? [url] http://www.scotland-flavour.co.uk/arisaig.html [/url] 3hrs 25mins from Glasgow to Arisaig
My pics are at home so I've linked to someone elses. Nice view of Eigg, Rum etc...
Macrihannish, couple on Gigha, Sanna, Arisaig, Morar, Redpoint, Mellon Udrigle,Harris obviously (everyoen says Luskintyre but the little one opposite Scarp is Carribean)
Or, if you really want to impress then hop on the plane to Tiree and you've got 16 of the most stunning / deserted beaches and all within a 45min pedal of each other
Wow thanks for all the replies.
davidrussell - yes east is nice when there's no harr!
chakaping - I have a sneaking suspicion you've got to get the tides just right or you may get stranded out there ;o)
BoardinBob - I was up that way two years ago and fell in love with that section to Durness (especially Sango - shame it's so far...)
GW - yep, and no were not nudies ;o)
nuttysquirrel - was there last year and fancy something different!
druidh - of course and thanks
Heather Bash - hehe a bit much for 2 nights away
Never mind if it's just outside your time window sana at the end of ardnamurchan is utterly stunning. kentra bay one click north east of matt_outandabout's link is classic and almost always deserted just park at the bridge walk on the path past the muddy tidal beach then through the trees to the bays that face the atlantic the singging sands are spotless and often deserted.
Arran has some lovely beaches and is closer to Glasgow than most of the ones above.
EDIT - D'oh. Just noticed that was suggested and rejected!
Hmm. Might have to head over the Don to Balmedie if it's nice tomorrow 😀
This thread is making me want to go for a walk on the beach.
A month from today I'll be arriving on the Solway Coast for a week of biking.
🙂
glenh - hehe I would but it's a bit of a surprise, and the GF took me to Arran for the first time last year! Amazingly close and amazingly pretty.
chakaping - oh yes.
Arran is ace, but not that many sandy beaches...nice biking n climbing though 😉
I refer you to my previous suggestion:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=1&ct=6&w=all&q=ardnamurchan+beach&m=text
Its in distance, quiet, amazing scenery etc etc.
And my new employer has another outdoor center there, where I will be running lots of staff training...life is gonna be so tough 🙂
As Druidh said, lovely beaches between Arisaig and Mallaig, and some lovely campsites (check out the Cool Camping Scotland book). And another vote for Sandwood Bay. And Calgary. And Harris, obviously. Nice beaches on the west coast of Islay.
Camas Mor, north of the Rua Reidh lighthouse near Gairloch. Proposed to my missus up there. Awwwww.
Can recommend staying the lighthouse too - top drawer [url= http://www.ruareidh.co.uk/ ]Clicky[/url]
Sanna bay, Ardnamurchan. A carefree day we spent around Ardnamurchan was perhaps my favourite day, ever.
Another vote for sanna bay here also.
Can be done in 3 hours with the right attitude.
HTH