Sanaigmore Bay, Rhinns of Islay

Summary

Explore the beautiful beach at Sanaigmore Bay before heading along the coast to discover the perfect hidden beach at Port Ghille Greamhair.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Coastal paths and beach - steep descent to 2nd beach. Livestock and ground nesting birds - dogs must be tightly controlled - sheep have been driven off cliffs and birds have failed to raise young in this area due to badly controlled dogs.

Public Transport

None to start. .

Start

Sanaigmore. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 4.25km / 2.75 miles
Time: 1.5 hours
Ascent: 25m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NR237706

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

Follow the B8018 north to the road end at Sanaigmore. There is parking next to the memorial before the farm buildings are reached. The memorial is to 241 Irish emigrants, many women and children, who lost their lives when their boat was wrecked off the coast in 1847, 108 bodies were recovered and buried here. The walk starts by heading past the farm buildings where there is also an art gallery. Continue ahead where the track forks to pass the barns. Go through the narrow gap in the stone wall and then follow the wall briefly to the right to join a track; turn left along this.

Stage 2

Follow the faint grassy track as it heads through another gateway and out onto the turf behind Sanaigmore Bay. Just before the track fords a stream bear left to head towards the sea to reach a semi-circular pebble beach. Turn left to cross this small bay and the grassy headland beyond aiming back towards the farmhouse.

Stage 3

After the grassy headland the sandy beach at Sanaigmore comes into view. Keep to the left of the fence until a gate allows access to the beach. Go through this and cross the pebble and fine sand beach (the farmhouse is away up to the left).

Stage 4

At the far end of the bay head up the turf and continue along the coast - a very faint path winds between rocky outcrops keeping near the coast. This is rough going in places and can be boggy. Eventually you are rewarded with a view down onto the sheltered beach of Port Ghille Greamhair sited in a deep inlet.

Stage 5

To get down to the beach follow the cliffs inland until nearly level with the back of the sands, a clear but steep and narrow path winds down the cliff (alternatively you can walk further inland until you reach flat ground). Return to the memorial at the start by retracing your steps a short way and then picking up a faint track (boggy in places) which heads parallel to the coast but a little further back than the outward route to reach a gate near the memorial.

Route Profile

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