Walk: Smirisary’s spellbinding sands

📌 Moidart, Highland
★★★★

As you negotiate the winding road west from Glen Uig on route to the start of this walk, look smug as you gaze out over the often busier Samalaman Beach. You’re bound for a much better spot. A rough half mile beyond the road end car park lies the township of Smirisary, a roadless settlement made up of half a dozen scattered houses plus several ruins. As idyllic spot as any in Moidart, sheep wandering between the shelter of the various buildings and keeping the lush grass in check. But the real destination on a hot day is the fantastic, hidden beach a further mile to the south. These miniature, secluded bays are well worth bearing the boggy approach for, carved into intimate sections by rock bands and with brilliant views in all directions. Although best at low tide, part of the beach stays dry even at high water level, so you don’t need to worry too much about timing your visit to coincide with tide times.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish near minor road end for Smirisary

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NM 654774

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.828288,-5.846753

❌ No public transport within 1 mi

🚗 Car park (gets full)

📝 Key info

▶ 4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 240 m | ⌛ 1.5-2 hr

Features: 🏠 Smirisary; 🏖️ Smirisary Beach ★★★★

⬤ Moderate | Clear paths but rough and boggy in places, especially between Smirisary village & the beach.

➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – Smirisary – Smirisary beaches (at Port Achadh an Aonaich) – return by outward route or similar

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Cuckoo on a fence near the start; lots of lambs around the village. Loads of rock pool life at the beach including crabs, jellyfish, plaice and other small fish.

Weather: 20°C+ and sunny with a gentle breeze.

June 2016

Smirisary Beach ★★★★