We have kicked off the summer season with a long weekend camping at Gairloch! Our schools always get a Monday holiday at the start of June and we often try and fit in a short break, a trial run camping in preparation for the summer holidays. This year we really had our hearts set on going back to Gairloch. We spent a few nights there three years ago at the Myrtle Bank Hotel for our anniversary but really wanted to go back and camp at Big Sand. It was all touch and go right up to the last minute as our car had to go into the garage but we got it back just in time, threw everything in the boot and off we went.
Evening at Big Sand beach, Gairloch.
The weather here in Fife had been stunning all week but we hit rain half way up the A9 and it was a bit cloudy when we got to Gairloch. We could see the sun shining brightly on the Isle of Skye showing up the contours of The Quiraing and the Cuillin.
Zooming in on The Quiraing
The campsite was great! We got a lovely spot over looking the bay with the Skye in the distance and the beach just over the dunes. My favourite kind of camping.
The weather turned out to be absolutely stunning, such a rare thing when camping! It wasn't even windy! We spent the days beach combing and found lots of starfish.
Just half an hour up the road from Gairloch is this spectacular beach at Mellon Udrigle. So perfect with white sand, turquoise water and the mountains of Assynt to the north.
Perfect picnic spot.
Another stunning beach just south of Gairloch is Red Point. I thought I had been to Red Point before but it was windy and raining and we didn't explore very far. There is a beach just down from the car park but if you walk across the sheep fields through the farm you come to this beach below.
This is where the film 'What We Did on Our Holiday' was filmed. Such an interesting beach with dunes behind, those wonderful views of the Torridon mountains and Skye beyond and that wonderfully clear blue water. We spent hours looking for treasures among the stones and shells and rock pools out round the islets.
More starfish and this crazy monstrous thing!
We are so thankful that got such lovely weather to enjoy such a special place.
We spent our evenings back at the beach by the campsite enjoying beautiful sunsets with views out to Harris and Lewis and the Isle of Skye.
A wee fire helped keep the midgies away.
I do love a fire on the beach!
So a busy month ahead preparing for my stall at Limekilns River Festival on Saturday 2nd July and Aberfeldy Highland games on Saturday 13th August. Got a few things to make for both of those and I want to work on some new seascapes having soaked up lots of inspiration!
My Etsy shop is open as always but may be closed for a few weeks in July.
