253. Crossapol Bay

Heading inland from the south-west coast of Coll, it’s a pleasant stroll across farmland (so many lambs!) to the huge sweeping bay at Crossapol. From a small cemetery, it’s a drop onto the inlet of Tràigh Gharbh (not to be confused with the beach of the same name I visited 20 minutes earlier) and then to the huge open beach at Tràigh Crossapol. This is by far the largest beach on Coll and it is truly epic, with high dunes reminding me of classics such as West Beach, Berneray and Cata Sand on Sanday. I climbed some of the dunes (not easy) and walked the full length of the 2km beach where I at last encountered some human company. After heading off the beach towards another hidden bay, I back-tracked onto the beach for a second look to follow a large group of cows and calves who had rightly decided to wander onto the beach to provide some entertainment for the handful of visitors.