Bay McNeil

Bay McNeil is one of the most westerly beaches on the British mainland. It has no vehicular access - the best way to reach it, other than from the sea, is to follow the marked track westwards from the small crofting community of Portuairk, across the hill with its Coastguard Lookout point, and down a narrow valley to the bay.

It's a place where all sorts of interesting and unlikely things are washed up to lie, half-buried, in sand with the texture of coarse sugar. Because it's remote and so rarely visited, it's also a wonderful place to watch otters and seals, and, being close to the point, spot the occasional passing minke whale.

The rocks which cradle the bay were formed deep underground beneath the huge volcanoes that once erupted across an ancient Scottish landscape. Over the years, the volcanic lavas and vast amounts of other overlying rock have been worn away, exposing them. Look closely at these rocks: some of the dark, iron-rich minerals of which they are formed are huge.

Many thanks to Julie Allcock for pictures 2 and 3

A map of the area is here.