Glenelg Beach

The drive to Glenelg Beach from Kyle of Lochalsh takes you over one of Scotland's most dramatic single-track roads - all hairpin bends and vertigo-inducing drops - which rather sets the tone for what you're about to see. Once you get there, it's a proper cracking spot: a sweeping arc of golden sand with the mountains of Skye looming across the water, and on a clear day the light does something almost unfair to the landscape. The beach itself is quiet, genuinely wild in that way Scottish strands often are, and the water's cold enough to make you question your life choices if you're actually thinking about a swim.

This is walkers' territory more than sunbathers'. The sand stretches far enough for a decent ramble, and the rock pools near the shore keep children occupied for longer than you'd expect. There's a decent carpark at the top, and the beach is free - as it should be. Budget a couple of hours minimum, longer if you're the type to sit and stare at mountains for a bit.

Staying nearby at Reraig Caravan & Camping on Skye makes proper sense; you're only a short drive away, and if Glenelg Beach feels too exposed or the weather turns, you've got easy access back to your pitch. The real draw here isn't facilities or crowds - it's the drive itself and that moment when you round the bend and see the beach properly for the first time. Worth the petrol.