The Project
The Scottish Beach Project is one man’s possibly overly ambitious, almost certainly misguided and probably ultimately unachievable attempt to explore the coast of Scotland by visiting every beach on the mainland and the islands. It started as a humble walking project to visit a few scenic beaches in the Highlands, but things have escalated!
So who am I? And why Scottish beaches? Well, first of all, let’s be clear. I’m not a professional adventurer or writer. I don’t wild camp, or wild swim, and I’m not an off-grid hipster in a camper van. I’m just a walker who appreciates the health and wellbeing benefits of the great outdoors, and walking in particular. I also believe that the best things in life are not things, but experiences, memories, moments of awe.
In 2019, having completed a project to ‘bag’ the 214 Wainwright fells in the beautiful Lake District, I felt I needed another challenge, and so my attention turned to Scotland. I figured that, by targeting beaches, I could visit every island and almost the entire coast of this beautiful country. And on the way, I could explore the towns, lochs, mountains and glens as an added bonus!
My project is not about driving to beaches, snapping a photo and ticking a list. This is ultimately about walking, being outdoors, getting healthy, enjoying nature and experiencing the thrill that only a long walk, a pair of boots and a full rucksack can bring. I made the right choice, because so far the beaches of Scotland are proving to be an intoxicating mix of breathtaking natural wonder and life-affirming experiences.
So the Scottish Beach Project is simple – visit Scotland’s spectacular beaches. I’m not attempting any records (most, fastest etc) and I intend to savour the time spent walking to, and on, each beach. The project will take many years – maybe I’ll visit 100, or 200, maybe I will get to visit every single beach in Scotland. We’ll see how it goes.
I hope you enjoy following the project and reading about these incredible beaches.
Dave