Melvich – Golden Sand Where the Halladale Meets the Sea
About 1.1 miles on foot.
The Halladale River reaches the north coast at Melvich, running out dark with peat across one end of a wide golden beach.
A short loop through the dunes takes in the sand and the river bank in under an hour. There's nothing to pay and little to plan, only the weather to watch.
- Time
- About 45 minutes: a loop of 1.75 km, just over a mile, on the level.
- The path
- Sandy paths through dunes, then the beach.
- Where to start
- The small car park at the end of the signed gravel track off the A836 in Melvich. Free. If the track's gate is locked, park in the village and walk down.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. In spring and summer keep to the paths through the dunes, where Arctic terns nest.
- Dogs
- Kept close in spring and summer, when terns nest in the dunes. The track crosses croft land with livestock.
- Children
- A broad sandy beach. Keep children well away from the river mouth, where there are rip currents.
- Toilets
- None at the beach: the public toilets are in Melvich village.
- Before you set out
- Rip currents where the river meets the sea. Arctic terns nest in and around the dunes in spring and summer. The gate on the track has at times been kept locked to cars.
The walk
Melvich Beach has a small car park of its own, at the end of a signed gravel track that leaves the A836 in the village. Parking is free. The track crosses croft land and its gate has at times been kept locked to cars. If it is, leave the car in the village and walk down the track. From the car park the sand is five minutes north through the marram dunes.
A second, slightly longer path goes east to the bank of the Halladale River and comes down to the beach beside the water, and the two together make an easy loop. Walkhighlands gives it as 1.75 km, just over a mile, and 45 minutes, with almost no climbing. The beach is a wide curve of golden sand under low grassy cliffs. The river runs out dark with peat at its east end, past the old lodge at Bighouse, and the pier at Portskerra closes the bay to the west. Salmon sometimes jump at the river mouth, and seals put their heads up beyond the surf.
It's a surfers' beach, with rip currents where the river meets the sea, so paddle well away from the river mouth. Arctic terns nest in and around the dunes in spring and summer: keep to the paths then, and keep dogs close. The public toilets, the shop and the Halladale Inn are up in the village.
If it rains
There's no shelter on the beach or in the dunes, and a north wind comes straight in off the sea. It's a short walk, so wait for a gap between showers.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
For further reading, before you go.