Port nam Murrach – A White Beach at the End of the Rhu Road
About 2.5 miles on foot.
The Rhu peninsula runs out west from Arisaig between Loch nan Ceall and the Sound of Arisaig, with a single-track road along its north shore.
Where the road ends, a track and a path carry on to Port nam Murrach, a small bay of white sand among low rocks, looking out to Eigg and Rum. It's about 4 km there and back and takes an hour and a half, before any time on the beach.
- Time
- About an hour and a half, plus time on the beach: 4 km there and back, never higher than 40 metres. A short, easy walk.
- The path
- A metalled track, then a path across rough grazing that is wet in places, with gates.
- Where to start
- A small car park at the old pier store, where the single-track Rhu road from Arisaig ends.
- Set off
- From November to January, set off by 1.30pm to be back in daylight.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. From November to January set off by 1.30pm.
- Dogs
- On a lead: sheep graze the fields.
- Children
- A short walk to a sheltered beach; bring boots for the wet stretches.
- Toilets
- The nearest public toilets are in Arisaig.
The walk
Park at the old pier store, where the Rhu road ends. The road is single-track with passing places and follows the shore of Loch nan Ceall out of Arisaig. The car park is small, and the nearest bus and train are back in the village. The Highland Council's leaflet of local walks gives this one as about 4 km there and back, never higher than 40 metres, and allows an hour and a half plus time on the beach. A metalled track leads on past Rhu House, and beyond the house a well-trodden path crosses rough grazing to the bay.
Leave each gate as you find it. The path is wet in places, so wear boots. Port nam Murrach is a small beach of white sand between arms of low grey rock, and in sunshine the water over the sand is pale green. Eigg and Rum lie out to sea. The council's leaflet translates the name as the bay of the sand dunes.
There's no shelter, café or toilet at this end of the road, so bring a flask. The public toilets are in Arisaig. Sheep graze the fields, so keep dogs on a lead. From November to January, set off by 1.30pm.
If it rains
There's no shelter on the peninsula and the path is boggy after rain. It's a short walk, so it goes between showers in boots and waterproofs, but the beach is at its best on a bright 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 Glenhurich Lodge, 14 miles away. Sleeps 11.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by Rob Henderson via Google