Clachtoll Beach

A sweep of pale sand backed by low dunes and wild grasses - that's Clachtoll Beach near Sutherland, and it's the kind of place that makes you understand why people bother with the Scottish Highlands at all. The beach itself is manageable in size but never feels crowded, even in summer. Low tide reveals rockpools worth investigating if you've got kids, and the water's that particular shade of green-grey that's either gorgeous or forbidding depending on your mood.

Walkers will find the coastal path through here rewarding without being punishing. There's something about the emptiness of it - just you, the breeze, and the occasional golden eagle if you're lucky. The campsite sits right on the edge, which makes it ideal if you're doing a park-based week and want to properly know one spot rather than charging about.

It's free to access, naturally. Allow a couple of hours for a proper poke around, longer if you're the type to sit on a rock with a flask and actually watch the sea change colour. Bring a wind-resistant jumper. The beach works best at low tide when you get the full sand stretch, so check the tide times before you bother. It's not dramatic like some of the north coast beaches - no towering cliffs or sea stacks - but that's rather the point. Clachtoll rewards quiet appreciation more than it rewards Instagram hunting.