Tràigh Allt Chàilgeag

The drive to Tràigh Allt Chàilgeag from Durness takes you down a single-track road that feels like the end of the world - which, frankly, it almost is. This is a proper wild beach, the kind where you'll likely have the sand entirely to yourself even in summer. The strand curves beneath low cliffs, backed by rough moorland, and the water is that brilliant Arctic blue you only get this far north.

What makes it special isn't the facilities (there aren't any) or the ease of access (it's not easy). It's the sheer remoteness and the fact the beach actually delivers on its promise - dramatic, unspoiled, and deeply atmospheric. You get good shell-hunting here, and the rock pools are worth a poke around if the tide's out. The walk down takes twenty minutes or so from the car park, and it's worth every step for anyone after proper Highland solitude.

This works brilliantly as a half-day excursion from Sango Sands Oasis up the coast, where you can base yourself properly and explore the Durness area's other beaches without the driving fatigue. Families with younger kids might find it a bit of a trek for what could be an hour's visit, but walkers and photography types will find themselves lingering. There's no food or shelter, so bring what you need. Free to visit, obviously - there's not even a car park attendant. Go when the weather's decent; grey skies here aren't moody, they're just wet.