Nairn – Two Piers, a Bronze Fishwife and Sand to Culbin
Nairn's harbour sits where the river meets the Moray Firth, between two long piers, and east of it a sand beach runs all the way to the pines of Culbin Forest.
An hour takes in the piers and the near end of the sand. The longer walk goes out along the beach to the forest and back by Kingsteps, 6.25 miles in two to three hours.
- Time
- About an hour for the piers and the near end of the beach. Two to three hours for the 6.25 miles along the sand to Culbin Forest and back by Kingsteps.
- The path
- The pier tops and the promenade are level and hard. The beach is sand and shingle, and the long walk has a faint, boggy path at the forest edge.
- Where to start
- The harbour car park in Nairn, beside the harbour basin. The East Beach is over the harbour bridge.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. Keep off the piers in a high wind or a rough sea. From November to January set out on the long walk by noon.
- Children
- The pier and quay edges are unfenced: keep small children close.
- Before you set out
- The long walk is boggy and wet in places, depending on the tide. In December the sun sets at about half past three.
The walk
Park at Nairn's harbour car park, beside the basin where the River Nairn meets the sea. Two long piers reach out from the river mouth, one ending at a small white beacon, and a bronze fishwife stands by the promenade with her creel. Cross the harbour bridge towards the holiday park and the East Beach begins: sand and shingle, dune grass behind, and the Black Isle across the firth.
An hour is enough for the piers and the near end of the sand. The longer walk carries on east along the beach to the pines of Culbin Forest and comes back by the Kingsteps road, 6.25 miles in all. Oystercatchers and cormorants work the shore, and dolphins and seals are sometimes seen out on the firth.
Parts of it are boggy and wet, depending on the tide. From mid October to March, keep off the piers in a high wind or a rough sea, and from November to January set out on the long walk by noon.
If it rains
The beach and the piers have no shelter, and in wind and rain the piers are no place to be. Keep to the promenade and the harbour, and leave the long walk for a dry day.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Boath Cabin, 2 miles away. Sleeps 4; next free Fri 16 Oct to Sun 18 Oct.
Then Culbin Edge, 6 miles away. Sleeps 4; next free Mon 9 Nov to Wed 11 Nov.
For further reading, before you go.