163. Bay MacNeil Beach

It was a baking hot day and the sky was cloudless as I followed the superb waymarked coast path from Sanna Bay, through the delightful settlement of Portuairk and on towards the Ardnamurchan lighthouse. As the lighthouse comes into view, the glorious Bay MacNeil sets the scene perfectly with its white sand, turquoise water, high dunes and volcanic rock formations.  It’s a perfect set up anyway, but with the lighthouse standing proud across the bay it is hard to think of a more tranquil vista. Technically, Bay MacNeil is the most westerly (named) beach on the British mainland.  After leaving the bay, I followed the path around a private caravan park and onto the road leading up to the lighthouse, where a welcome tea and cake awaited in the excellent cafe. Then the two hour walk back to Sanna Bay, which I wasn’t about to complain about.