Point Sands beach

The beach at Point Sands stretches out in a long, sandy crescent just south of Tarbert, backed by dunes and the kind of wild Argyll coastline that makes you remember why you came to Scotland in the first place. It's a proper nature reserve, so you're walking through habitat rather than just treading sand - the dunes support rare plants and ground-nesting birds, which means keeping to the paths matters.

What you get is space. Real space. On a decent day the views across the water are stunning, and the beach itself is clean and relatively quiet even in summer. The sand is firm enough for walking but soft enough to feel proper underfoot. It's a solid two-hour walk if you want to explore the full length, though most visitors potter about for 45 minutes and call it done.

This works best for people who actually want to walk rather than sunbathe. Families with young kids might find it a bit exposed and windswept, but teenagers and dog walkers will love it. There's a car park at the access point, though it fills up on rare sunny weekends.

Muasdale Holiday Park sits just 5 miles away, making Point Sands an easy morning or afternoon sortie from a base there. The reserve itself is free to access - no gates, no fees, just turn up. Go when the weather's decent because the exposure means it can feel properly bleak on grey days. Worth the drive from Tarbert if you're in the area.