Views from the Lookout

The Second World War Coastguard lookout stands on a hill to the west of Portuairk, where many of those who manned it lived. As would be expected, it has tremendous views in almost every direction. Here we're looking roughly north to, from left to right, Muck, Rum and Eigg, while the mountains of Skye are just visible in the distance.

The stone wall surrounded a wooden hut which offered some protection to the Coastguards during their long vigils. The concrete footing on which the hut stood can be seen in this shot.

This is the view from the lookout to the southwest, across Bay MacNeil to the lighthouse at Ardnamurchan Point. Just visible along the horizon is the Isle of Coll.

To the northeast lies Sanna Bay, with the houses of Portuairk township at right. The houses of Sanna township are barely visible until....

....the wonders of modern photography bring them into focus. These are the houses in Lower Sanna, with the cliff commonly called the Cat's Face beyond them. Sanna's beaches are, as usual, crowded: on the original of this picture I can make out four people and what looks like a green tent.

The next section of beach, with Upper Sanna in the background, is completely deserted, this on a beautiful April day. The small green building to the right is the Sanna Mission church, and the public car park at far left has about six cars in it.

The beach on most southerly of Sanna's bays, Port na Tuine, is also deserted. Behind it is Sanna Bheag, the house built in 1925 by MEM Donaldson and Isabel Bonus, with the lower slopes of Meall Sanna rising behind it.