Hidden Scotland
Sign in
The white sand and turquoise shallows of Sanna Bay on Ardnamurchan, from the air.
Ardnamurchan

Sanna Bay

A string of white sand bays and big dunes at the far west of the Ardnamurchan peninsula, reached through the crater of an ancient volcano.

Welcome

At the far western end of the Ardnamurchan peninsula, six miles beyond Kilchoan, Sanna Bay is a string of sandy bays, some small and sheltered, some huge, backed by tall, grassy dunes.

Depending on the seabed, the water glows deep blue or a startling turquoise.

The journey is part of the magic. The last thirty miles or more of the way are single-track road, and near Achnaha the road crosses a flat, heathery plain two miles wide, ringed by rocky hills: the crater of an ancient volcano.

From Sanna Point the view takes in Eigg, Rum and Skye to the north and Coll to the south-west, and on a clear day perhaps the Western Isles. There are no facilities beyond a gravelled car park, so bring what you need and plan for a long, lovely day.

The Daily

Arrives at 5am every day.

A free morning email to see what’s on this week, catch up on what’s happening in Scotland and find somewhere new to go.

The Daily for 14 November, from Scotland with love. A red kayak beached on a loch shore beneath sunlit rocky hills, Sutherland

Before you go

Open at all times.

There are no facilities beyond the car park.

Where
Six miles north-west of Kilchoan.
Road
Single track all the way.
View
Eigg, Rum and Skye.

Been here? Tell others what you know, and the best go on this page with your name.

Add your review

Did you know

Sanna Bay from the air, dark skerries in clear green water off the white sand.
Did you know

The road crosses an old volcano.

Near Achnaha it runs over a flat heather plain about two miles across, ringed by rocky hills. That ring is the crater of an ancient volcano.

A burn crossing the white sand of Sanna Bay to turquoise water, from the air.
Did you know

It is thirty miles of single-track road.

At the end of it there is a gravelled car park and a phone box, and then the sand.

Dark skerries in turquoise water off Sanna Bay, from above.
Did you know

Nothing lies west but ocean.

From Sanna Point, Eigg, Rum and Skye stand to the north, with Ardnamurchan Point and Coll to the south-west.

Hidden Scotland

From our guide to Lochaber

Six miles beyond Kilchoan, at the far western end of Ardnamurchan, Sanna Bay is a string of white sand bays backed by tall grassy dunes, with water that turns a startling turquoise. The drive out is part of the pleasure. Near Achnaha the road crosses a wide, heathery plain ringed by rocky hills, the crater of an ancient volcano. From Sanna Point you can see Eigg, Rum and Skye to the north. There's nothing here but a gravel car park, so pack a picnic and plan for a long, lovely day.

Read more
01 / 05

Where it is

Six miles north-west of Kilchoan by single-track road, to a gravelled car park by the dunes.

Close byArdnamurchan.
  1. Isle of MuckIsle of MuckThe smallest of the four inhabited Small Isles, a farming island of white-sand bays, seals and views to Rum and Eigg.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Passengers seated by ferry windows overlooking calm water and distant hillsKilchoan to Tobermory FerryThe short CalMac crossing from Kilchoan on Ardnamurchan to Tobermory on Mull, a turn-up-and-go ferry with fine views across the Sound.5 miles 12 min by road
  3. West Ardnamurchan Garden Community ShopWest Ardnamurchan Garden Community ShopA community garden's self-service shop on the lighthouse road out of Kilchoan, selling its own vegetables by honesty box.6 miles 14 min by road
  4. Ardnamurchan PointArdnamurchan PointThe lighthouse at the end of the road.9 miles 25 min by road
  5. Resipole Studios, LochaberResipole StudiosA gallery on Loch Sunart.27 miles 48 min by road
  6. Castle TioramCastle TioramA castle on a tidal island.30 miles 54 min by road
Directions
White cottages scattered along a sea loch shore beneath rugged hillsAttractionsPortuairk7.9 miles
The Glass Barn at Sgriob-ruadh Farm above Tobermory, its tall glass front among treesShoppingIsle of Mull Cheese, Sgriob-ruadh9.3 miles
A main course at An Cala Ciùin in Tobermory, with asparagus, a potato, a small tart topped with wild garlic flowers and a dark sauce on a grey stone plate.RestaurantsAn Cala Ciùin9.4 miles
Tables of knitwear and soft toys in the sunlit craft shop, shelves of cards and books behind.ShoppingEigg Craft Shop12 miles
Tables by a wide window looking out over the rocks and the bay.CafeGalmisdale Bay Café & Bar12 miles
A hire bike leaning on a grassy bank on the moor, the ridge of An Sgùrr beyond a conifer wood.AttractionsEigg Adventures12 miles
AttractionsGalmisdale12 miles
Sheep graze a rocky moorland below layered cliffs on Eigg.AttractionsGrulin12 miles
A white cottage with a rust-red corrugated roof sits beneath rocky hills on Eigg.AttractionsGrulin Bothy12 miles

Recommend to a friend

Stay nearby

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

The house's gabled wing with a decked terrace and two chairs, solar panels along the roof, seen across a grassy slope.Borradill House
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Glenborrodale
  • 12 miles from Sanna Bay
Free 22–25 NovBorradill Cottage, ArdnamurchanBorradill Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Glenborrodale
  • 12 miles from Sanna Bay
Free 15–18 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in ArdnamurchanAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

We want to show you the best that Scotland has to offer. The makers and the creatives, the enduring experiences, the evocative tales, the concealed corners. The roads less travelled that take you to places that matter. The adventures that gather you up and sweep you away. The blend of the wild and the artistic that makes Scotland what it is. We’d love for you to join us.

Get Issue 13Read it here

Read on

The collections it is in and more in Ardnamurchan.

CollectionScotland's Best Beaches
More in Ardnamurchan

Find out more

For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .