285. Laig Bay

Near the end of the Singing Sands Trail which runs from the ferry terminal to Cleadale in the northwest of the island, I had looked admiringly over to Laig Bay (Traigh Chlithe) to my left as I continued to Singing Sands itself just a bit further north. Now, on my return journey, my pace quickens, as does my heart rate, as I turn off the main road, past a small church and onto this truly magnificent beach. The peaks of the Isle of Rum stand strong and tall across the bay, forming a dramatic backdrop to the wide sandy beach. The tide is out, creating a perfectly flat and wide expanse of sand that shimmers like glass under the clear blue sky. It’s almost mesmeric, like a marble floor reflecting the sun. I can’t recall a beach like this anywhere on my travels. I spend some time here, walking almost the full length, before having a sit down in the dunes and eventually heading back up the path to the main road. I stop at a house selling teas and cakes and I sit in the garden chatting to the owner for ten minutes enjoying her home made chocolate ice cream. She’s got one of the best views on the island and knows it. It’s why she’s stayed for 14 years. On my return to the ferry terminal, I take a detour to Kildonan in the south east of the island to round off a truly memorable visit to a very special island.