134. Luskentyre

OK, so everyone knows that Luskentyre is one of the finest beaches in the world, a nailed-on highlight of any Outer Hebrides visit and a tourist honeypot magnet of A-list proportions. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? Well I made two visits at different times of the day to form a solid opinion, one in the late evening and one at midday … and the answer is a resounding yes. A single track road off  the A859 leads to the main Losgaintir car park at Traigh Rosamol. From there, it’s a short walk through the dunes to the north end of the bay known as Lusketyre sands. The island of Taransay sits opposite the bay and it sets up a stunning vista from the top of the dunes and across the turquoise water. On my second visit, assuming the car park would be full on this sunny day, I parked at the cemetery halfway along the Losgaintir road and entered the southern end of the bay through the dunes (a much better and quieter access point in my view). The idyll was intensified by the sight of a magical white horse (Toby, I believe) strolling through the grass on the white sand. You couldn’t make it up. With the tide out, I walked for almost two hours across the wide bay, almost as far as Seilebost, the beautiful beach on the opposite side of the bay. Some people feel that Luskentyre is too touristy and exaggerated, preferring the quieter beaches further around the coast. Maybe so, but I loved my two visits here and I didn’t feel my experience was over-sold in any way. If you get the chance, take it…. but visit the other beaches too!