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6 August 2026

Dumfries & Galloway is the nearest region of Scotland from my home in the north west of England, and reachable in a relatively short three hours up the M6. However, after seven years of the Project, this is my first visit to any of the area’s many beaches. I only have a day for this trip so I opt to explore the coast around the central area around Kirkcudbright and The Machars. I leave at 5am and reach my first beach, known as The Dhoon or Nun Mill Bay just after 8am. This pleasant and popular beach looks out over Kirkcudbright Bay and is empty on my arrival. It’s a little overcast and I’m thinking I might see some rain today as I potter around the bay. The tide is miles out and I can see the wreck of a small boat, the Monreith, only a hundred metres away, but a prominent sign in the car park warns of quicksand and advises against walking out to the wreck. I take the advice.