79. Achininiver Beach

From the village of Tongue, it’s a mile-long drive over the causeway spanning the Kyle of Tongue, and an immediate right turn up to the popular village of Talmine. This was to be our base for a few hours walking on this beautiful Sunday morning, but first we drove a few miles along the single-track coast-road to the spectacular sheltered bay of Achininiver beach. There’s a small parking area above the beach, which drops down to a picnic bench and even further down to the sand itself. From the road, this beach looks idyllic enough, but at surface level it’s even more appealing. On its western side, the beach feeds into the Strath Melness Burn, and the nature of the inflow produces some mesmeric swirling water movements as the tide is pulled towards the burn. Across the water, some cows were enjoying a late breakfast on the edge of the beach in front of some crofting cottages. The rocks on either side of the bay are often noted for seals and otters, but alas there was little movement today.