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Gruinard Bay's sandy beach below a rocky green headland, the sea running out to low islands on the horizon.
Ross and Cromarty

Gruinard Bay

A wide bay on the A832 in Wester Ross, with sandy beaches, rock pools and clear water, looking across to Gruinard Island and the Coigach hills.

Welcome

The A832, winding along the coast of Wester Ross, comes over a rise and suddenly the whole of Gruinard Bay lies below: a great curve of water, turquoise over the sand, pale pink beaches and rocky headlands, and the hills of Coigach standing to the north.

There is room to pull in above it.

Down on the beaches the sand is fine and the water unusually clear, with rock pools to explore at low tide. On a still summer day it could pass for somewhere far further south.

Offshore lies Gruinard Island, low, treeless and a mile long. It has a strange history: in 1942 it was taken over for wartime weapons trials and closed to everyone for nearly fifty years, until it was finally cleaned and returned. Today it is simply part of the view.

A short drive awayGruinard Bay ViewpointPull in at the viewpoint above Gruinard Bay, looking out to Gruinard Island.3 min by roadSee itTurquoise sea loch curves between rocky hills and a pebbled shoreline
Before you go

The bay and its beaches are open at all times and free, with parking by the A832.

Where
On the A832 between Ullapool and Poolewe.
Offshore
Gruinard Island.
Where it is

On the A832 in Wester Ross, between Ullapool and Poolewe, with parking by the road.

Close byWester Ross.
  1. Sandy dunes frame a beach with distant hills across calm blue waterMellon UdrigleA hamlet in Wester Ross at the end of a single-track road from Laide, with a white-sand beach.4 miles 6 min by road
  2. Mellon Udrigle's white sand and turquoise water beyond a rocky shore, low hills and distant peaks on the horizon.Mellon Udrigle Beach4 miles 7 min by road
  3. The terraced walled garden at Inverewe, curving beds running down towards the loch and hills.Inverewe GardenThe garden by the sea at Poolewe.9 miles 13 min by road
  4. White cottage below a Highland loch flanked by autumn hillsLoch Maree ViewpointA large car park by Loch Maree, with a way down to the water.11 miles 15 min by road
  5. Hiker in red watches the sun set over a mountain ridgeA' MhaighdeanThe most remote Munro, inland.30 miles 40 min by road
Directions
Turquoise sea loch curves between rocky hills and a pebbled shorelineAttractionsGruinard Bay Viewpoint2.1 miles
The Daily for 20 October, from Scotland with love. The broken stone walls of a lochside castle rise from a small tree-covered island, autumn foliage glowing orange against the dark water and forested hillside beyond.

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the bay, and when each is next free.

Fjell, Wester RossFjell
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Braes, Ullapool
  • 14 miles from Gruinard Bay
Free 12–15 NovThe timber-clad house's cantilevered corner overlooks a loch framed by hills, bare trees in the foreground.Fjord
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Braes, Ullapool
  • 14 miles from Gruinard Bay
Free 2–5 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in Ross and CromartyAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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Find out more

For further reading, before you go.