Latest news with #CapeWrath
Daily Mail
01-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Exactly where to go on the British coast - and where to avoid: ROGER MORGAN-GRENVILLE has walked the entirety of it and these are the best beaches, islands and most gorgeous walks
Arriving in Cape Wrath in 2022, the culmination of my 1,000-mile walk from the bottom to the top of Britain, I expected to feel elated. Instead, I sat eating a damp cheese and pickle sandwich, wrestling with a strange sense of grief.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Up to 110 offshore wind turbines planned for site off Cape Wrath
An offshore wind farm with up to 110 turbines is planned for a site 17 miles (27km) north west of Cape Wrath in the Wind Farm has been proposed by Canadian energy company Northland Power and Irish state-owned energy firm Scottish government's Marine Directorate is expected to start consulting on the development after receiving an offshore scoping report from the proposed site was previously identified for offshore wind developments by Crown Estate Scotland. Havbredey is a Norse name that translates as "Isles on the edge of the sea", according to Northland floating wind farm would involve turbines on platforms which would be anchored to the 1.5GW farm would be in water depths of 75 to 116m (246-380ft), with the turbines having a maximum blade tip height of 385m (1,263ft).
Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
I travelled every mile of the UK coastline. These were my five favourite places
It started at Cape Wrath lighthouse. I had just spent 55 days walking 1,000 miles up the spine of Britain, but was already thinking about my next adventure. The coastline was calling. After a year of preparation, I was back at the lighthouse, with a plan to travel anti-clockwise around my island home, by foot, by bus, by train and even by hitch-hiking, to understand its current challenges and opportunities, but also to reconnect with my inner islander. I walked around 2,000 miles of it, as I have found that it is only by moving at walking pace, and not driving at 20 times that rate, that I start to really notice and understand things. It is strange that we call it a coast line at all, as that confers on it a linear and permanent quality, when it's not. It runs for 11,000 tortuous miles of dynamic geological activity, where the south-eastern bit is sinking into its own clay and the north-western bit still rising, freed of the weight of the last ice age; some parts, such as Holderness in Yorkshire, are eroding at up to two metres a year, whilst others, like Hoylake Beach, are watching the sea recede beyond miles of new sand. For an island nation, we ought to cherish our coastline. Sadly, that's not always the case. Much of what is happening is beyond our control, such as sea level rise, erosion, warming waters and the twice-daily tide that wraps itself around the island and races across the mudflats. But much of what is happening is also down to us: the lifeless sea beds below salmon farms, sewage discharge, polluted rivers pouring out into the sea and the endless pearl necklace of discarded plastic – an average of 170 pieces per 100 metres of coastline – that comment sadly about the way we choose to live. Yet for all these problems, I found a determined army of scientists, activists, fieldworkers and volunteers working to remedy them; I found beach-cleaning schemes wherever I went, groups planting new sea grass and seeding native oysters and people simply determined not to accept that the decline of nature is a one-way street. Whilst I was shocked at the decline of so many of our coastal communities – a phenomenon brought about by a combination of technology, Beeching's axing of the railway branch lines and the dawning of cheap air travel – I was also struck by the opportunities that the internet, and working from home, might give to people who want to stay there and earn sufficient money. Studies show that health outcomes should be, on a-like-for-like basis, better in coastal communities than their equivalent inland, but they are not. Right now, some of the worst deprivation in Britain lies in our coastal towns, and the low pay and seasonal nature of the available jobs remains a real problem. Above all, these communities need to be far more involved in making their own decisions. A low point came in my own south-eastern corner of the country, where the beautiful Langstone Harbour just to the east of Portsmouth, where sewage releases have had devastating consequences to the wildlife. Southern Water has been fined £90 million for these 6,971 discharges, but the money won't bring back what is lost, and it will take years to reverse the damage done. It was a journey of highs and lows, of idiots and heroes, of peace and drama. By the time I had taken my boots off for the last time at Dunnet Head 18 months later, I was fully back in love with the coast again, and with my status as an islander. I was staggered by the beauty of our coast and, it has to be said, by the delight of my three constant travelling companions: the sound of the surf, the cry of the gulls and the thought of the next ice cream. The sheer variety of the UK's coastal habitat is astonishing. Circumnavigate our coast and you will encounter machair (fertile low-lying grassy plains), salt flats, estuaries, shingle and lagoons and towering, storm-battered cliffs. Places I had never been before and discovered for the first time linger in my memories. The following are five that really stand out. Knoydart, Scotland The wilderness of Knoydart on the west coast of Scotland is a community-owned coastal zone home to both an old temperate rainforest and a new band of native woodland, protected, for now, by the exclusion of deer who would otherwise stop it growing to maturity. The village of Inverie, a good 15-mile hike from the nearest road, seems to be reinventing what isolated communities might amount to these days given support and a healthy injection of youth. Cardigan Bay, Wales Here I found a coast every bit as beautiful as that of its more celebrated Cornish rival, but far less crowded, and therefore generally cheaper. Alongside the delight of the rising use of the Welsh language, I found people who instinctively understood the value and importance of nature, and who also had a strong pride in who they were and the history that had led them here. Penzance, Cornwall In Penzance, at the western tip of Cornwall, I found a town that had taken a six-year grip on the problem of plastic, and actually done something more than mere words to alleviate it. Through its Plastic Free Town initiative, which the organisers spent long months selling to schools, businesses, clubs and other stakeholders, Penzance has taken a giant stride to reduce the use and waste of plastic, and thus provide a valuable template for communities all around the country that could usefully follow their lead. North Norfolk On the North Norfolk coast, deep in the winter, I saw wildfowl flocks flying in from their sea roosts to the beet fields just inland. It was a magnificent sight. We talk a great deal about being the most nature-depleted country on earth, but we also need to celebrate what we have. To watch 70,000 pink-footed geese in flight is to understand in an instant how things once were, and how they could be again. Our most desolate islands Finally, although I didn't set out to go to the smaller offshore islands, I ended up visiting about 30 of them in all, including the three overtly religious ones of Iona, Bardsey and Lindisfarne, 'thin' places where the border between this world and another is supposed to be at its narrowest. Without being religious myself, I found these to be quietly moving places, perhaps inspired by the long line of early saints who made their subsequent forays into the mainland from these wild, desolate bases.
Times
07-05-2025
- Times
17 of the best beaches in Scotland
Wild, rugged and bracing even on a sunny day, Scottish beaches are for the hardy. But for those willing to brave the elements, there are turquoise waters and brilliantly white sands to rival any you'll find in the Caribbean — albeit 20 or 30 degrees cooler. Family-friendly options are plenty, but even more abundant are places that make you feel like you're at the edge of the world. Where there's nothing but you, the views and the wildlife. Pack a picnic, bring a dram or two, and wrap up warm. Here are some of the best beaches in Scotland. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue This is a journey as much as a destination. Even after you've driven to Keoldale, in north Scotland, allow half a day to cross the Kyle of Durness on a wee tin ferry, catch a minibus to Cape Wrath then hike for 30 minutes. The reward is a fabled beach at the end of the world, its white sand cupped within the highest cliffs in Britain. Camp overnight in Kearvaig Bothy if you can. You brought food and firewood, right? Or alternatively head to Cape Wrath Lighthouse where you'll find dorm-room accommodation and vegetarian and vegan fare at Ozone Cafe next door. • Best places to camp wild (or wild-ish) across the UK • Read our full guide to Scotland Advertisement 2. Sanna, Ardnamurchan Sanna beach, Ardnamurchan ALAMY It's a long drive on single-track roads to reach the most westerly point of the British mainland. Geologists love Sanna because you walk in over the crater of an ancient volcano. Terrific, but just wait until you see the beach beyond, a ridiculously beautiful expanse of silver sand and rock that peters gradually into turquoise sea. It's a place to elevate the spirit, especially at sunset. Better still, there's usually a breeze — no midges. Stay at Ocean View, a three-bedroom cottage just off the dunes of Sanna beach. • Best things to do in the Highlands 3. Luskentyre Sands, Isle of Harris Luskentyre beach on the Isle of Harris ALAMY Bone-white sands wrapped around dunes, from an estuary (that shifts through an endless spectrum of colours) to northernmost Traigh Rosamol beach, this is a real beauty. Here the turquoise sea is as crisp as chilled champagne, the air heady with ozone, the only sign of human life the few white crofts along the shore. Come at mid-tide (it's a narrow ribbon when it's high) and it'll stir the soul however leaden the sky. It's so beautiful it should be mobbed, but fortunately it's in the Outer Hebrides. The accommodation options include Taigh Mo Sheanair, a rental cottage which has doubles with en suite bathrooms. • Most beautiful places in Scotland Advertisement 4. Sands of Forvie, Aberdeenshire Forvie, Aberdeenshire GETTY IMAGES Forvie National Nature Reserve is nearly four miles of shifting sand dunes and wildflower dune heath around the Ythan estuary, 18 miles north of Aberdeen. It's a place of stark beauty and abundant life: thousands of terns, eider ducks nesting among the heather in spring, seals hauled out by river-mouth mudflats. A wetland hide is a grandstand to watch waders. Or take the 3.5-mile Dune Walk circuit to walk along the beach — sidetracking at its far end to a viewpoint at Hackley Bay. Newburgh is the nearest town and where you'll find Newburgh Inn, a comfy pub with rooms. • Best luxury hotels in Scotland 5. St Ninian's Bay, Shetland St Ninian's Bay GETTY IMAGES Meaning 'sandy isthmus', the word tombolo isn't just a delight to say, it produces beaches like this shapely corridor of sand, extending offshore for a third of a mile to St Ninian's Isle. Hidden as you approach from Bigton, it appears suddenly; a moment of theatre as delightful as a magic trick. Walk across to St Ninian's for a blustery stroll to see chapel ruins and puffins on cliffs. A schoolboy did it in 1958 and found a trove of Pictish silver. Keep your eyes peeled. The Coach House at Stewart Hall is a smart two-bedroom cottage set in gorgeous gardens. 6. Traigh Mhor, Barra A Twin Otter plane at Traigh Mhor, Barra ALAMY Clear the beach if an orange windsock flies at low tide — a Twin Otter plane from Glasgow will shortly be arriving for the world's only scheduled beach landing, while a bank of photographers wait upwind like aeronautical paparazzi. At other times it's simply a gorgeous spot to shoot; a broad expanse of white among machair and wild primroses that glows gold in raking light. A wee red-roof house provides foreground interest. Your accommodation options are rather more limited here but Barra Sands Campsite offers tent and caravan space. Advertisement • Best things to do in Scotland 7. Seacliff, East Lothian Seacliff beach in East Lothian ALAMY Bring the kids for a fairytale adventure near Edinburgh. The ochre sands at the end of a private road (fee for entry) take the starring role, but what a supporting cast. There's St Baldred's Cave to explore, gannets wheeling on Bass Rock, ruined Auldhame Castle in woods plus spooky Tantallon Castle, smashed by Cromwell's artillery, on a bluff. Like all good adventures there's a surprise too — pipsqueak harbour the Gegan, hewn from ruddy sandstone. Accommodation-wise your best bet is to head to nearby North Berwick where many of the rooms at the Nether Abbey Hotel offer sea views. • Best places to stay in Scotland 8. Achmelvich Bay, Sutherland Achmelvich Bay, Sutherland ALAMY Welcome to one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland, a half-moon of silver sand and turquoise waters in a granite foreshore, with a splendidly bonkers 'Hermit's Castle' folly to discover behind the western end. The catch is fame: this is on the North Coast 500 route, with a car park behind, plus there's a campsite, caravan park and glamping pods. If it is crowded — that means anything over two dozen people in these parts — walk north at low tide to an unnamed sandy cove. Advertisement • Best of the North Coast 500 9. Rackwick, Orkney Rackwick, Isle of Hoy GETTY IMAGES You'll drive to Rackwick car park to see the distinctive sea stack the Old Man of Hoy, but you'll linger for a location befitting a Norse epic tale. Its golden sand is bookended by muscular cliffs, seals bob beyond the breakers, and oystercatchers and curlews pipe in the marram grass. It's particularly magnificent when storms detonate; Burnmouth Cottage, a heather-thatch bothy from a now-vanished crofting village, is behind if you're keen. The poet George Mackay Brown called Rackwick 'Orkney's last enchantment'. If anything, that undersells the place. Accommodation-wise your only option in the vicinity is the Rackwick Hostel, which has two rooms with two bunk beds in each. • Best things to do in Orkney 10. Camusdarach, Arisaig Camusdarach beach GETTY IMAGES Camusdarach near Mallaig was the location for the 1983 film Local Hero, but its appeal isn't limited to movie buffs. As well as powder-white sand and rock pools, the Isle of Skye dominates the skyline. Smaller and quieter bays lie at its south end — keep your eyes peeled for otters scampering along the shoreline. There's superb kayaking in the skerries — local operators run trips — while behind is a good campsite. Put it together and you have all the ingredients for a perfect family holiday. There's a smattering of campsites and holiday homes nearby, including the Ceithir Raithean, which has a hot tub with views of the sea. Advertisement • Best wildlife holiday ideas 11. Sandwood Bay, Sutherland Sandwood Bay, Sutherland ALAMY Although the waves are good enough for surfing, most arrivals here are roadtrippers on a half-day break from the North Coast 500. Use the car park at Blairmore to hike in on a good path across moorland. After four miles you'll descend over sand dunes to a magnificent beach among wild cliffs, a sea stack at one end. They say it's haunted by a sailor seeking lost riches — actually, the treasure is all around you. There's a bothy nearby at Sandwood Loch, but you're better off camping at the still rather wild Sheigra Beach Honour Campsite. 12. West Sands, St Andrews, Fife West Sands, St Andrews, Fife ALAMY Fronting the famous golf course of posh St Andrews, Scotland's best town beach sweeps north over two glorious miles. Like many urban stretches of sand, it is all things to all people — students lark over summer barbecues near the town, kids hoof footballs, runners recreate the opening scene of the 1981 film Chariots of Fire. Numbers gradually thin until it's just you and the hardy dog walkers, strolling into a salt-hazed infinity. Alternatively, there's a car park at the far end of West Sands Road. For a snack try Dook, a handy beach café serving deli sandwiches, cakes and coffee. You could hardly go wrong with a stay at the Old Course Hotel, a stately pile overlooking West Sands Beach and the Links Golf Course. 13. West Beach, Berneray Island, North Uist West Beach, Berneray Island, North Uist If you saw a photograph of West Beach, with its three miles of silver sands and pale turquoise sea, you'd guess it was in Thailand. This Outer Hebridean beauty looks tropical and, while the temperature isn't, rare orchids and wildflowers blaze among the machair sand dunes in summer. Little visited, it also provides a good opportunity to spot corncrakes and otters. There are a handful of hostels on the island — try John's Bunkhouse, just off the causeway access to Berneray. 14. Big Sand, Gairloch Big Sand, Gairloch Spoiler alert: the golden sand here is indeed expansive. At almost four miles long, it's fine enough for castles; broad enough for vigorous games of Frisbee or to give the dog a run; large enough to swallow beachgoers from a caravan site behind. A sea of sand dunes provides welcome shelter from the wind. What the name doesn't reveal is the jagged horizon of peaks, south to the Isle of Skye and Torridon. Base yourself at Sands Caravan & Camping, which has glamping pods and caravans for those who don't have their own, and the Barn Cafe, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. 15. Traigh Ghael, Mull Traigh Ghael, Mull ALAMY Calgary is the most famous beach on the Isle of Mull, but the most heavenly is Traigh Ghael: 'white beach' in Gaelic. Like paradise, it requires effort to reach. You'll need stamina and tide tables before attempting two tough, boggy hours through the Tireragan Nature Reserve. Buy maps from an honour box at Knockvologan Farm at the trailhead. The reward is red deer, perhaps otters, a sidetrack to a ruined Clearances village, then white sand wild beaches which expand at low tide — all the highlights of the Highlands in one day. Relatively close by is Bunessan Inn, a small property with sea views. 16. Oldshoremore beach, Sutherland Oldshoremore beach, Sutherland ALAMY Known locally as Am Meallan, Oldshoremore beach pairs a mile of golden sand at low tide with turquoise waters that lap at its shallows on a sunny day. You could well just stop here — and there's a campsite close by — but the beach marks the start of a five-mile circular trail that takes you to even more wild and rugged corners, including Polin beach. The only downside is that it's remote — it's a short walk from the nearby car park but getting there in the first place isn't easy. Oldshoremore Croft Cabin is just a short walk down to the beach. 17. Grobust beach, Orkney Grobust beach, Orkney GETTY IMAGES Prepare to have a few cobwebs blown away at Grobust beach, a gorgeous stretch of coastline facing north on Westray, one of the northernmost Orkney Islands. There's little shelter here, which means you're exposed to the elements wherever you stand. Aim for a sunny day, therefore, when the light will bring out the sparkling blue of the sea, and turn the sandy beach a brilliant white. Nearby you'll also find the remains of a Stone Age settlement where the Orkney Venus was dug up. Set at the edge of the village of Pierowall, No 1 Broughton is a small family-run B&B facing the sea. • Best nudist beaches in the UK Additional reporting by Qin Xie
