Oldshoremore, Polin and Sheigra – Three Beaches in a Row
About 5.2 miles on foot.
Beyond Kinlochbervie the road runs out along a bare, beautiful coast with three sandy bays in a row: Oldshoremore, Polin and Sheigra.
This walk strings them together, over rough headlands on the way out and back along the quiet township road. It's just over five miles and partly pathless, so it suits walkers who are happy finding their own way with a map.
- Time
- Two and a half to three and a half hours: 8.3 km (5.2 miles) with 260 metres of climbing. Rough and pathless between Oldshoremore and Polin, a waymarked coast path from Polin to Sheigra, and a quiet road back.
- The path
- Sand, rough pathless headland, a coast path and a single-track road.
- Where to start
- Oldshoremore car park, off the road beyond Kinlochbervie. Free.
- Set off
- From November to January, set off by 10.30am to be back in daylight.
- When to go
- All year in daylight and clear weather. Check the tide for Oldshoremore Bay. From November to January set off by 10.30am.
- Dogs
- On a lead: sheep and cattle graze the crofts and wander the road.
- Children
- The beaches are lovely for children; the headlands between them are rough, with steep drops.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets at the Oldshoremore car park.
- Before you set out
- At a very high tide Oldshoremore Bay may not be crossable: check the tide times. The headlands are rough, with steep drops.
The walk
Park in the Oldshoremore car park, off the road beyond Kinlochbervie. It's free, and there are public toilets beside it, the only ones on the walk. Walkhighlands gives the round by Polin and Sheigra as 8.3 km, with 260 metres of climbing, and allows two and a half to three and a half hours. Oldshoremore comes first, a long sweep of pale sand below dunes, reached by wooden steps from the car park. Polin is the small one, a pocket of sand and clear green water between two grassy headlands.
Sheigra is the wildest, facing west at the end of the public road. The ground between Oldshoremore and Polin is rough and has no path, and it needs care and a map, above all in mist. From Polin to Sheigra there's a waymarked coast path, and the township road makes an easy way back. At a very high tide it may not be possible to cross Oldshoremore Bay, so check the tide times before you set out. If the rough part doesn't appeal, start from Polin instead and miss it out.
The headlands have steep drops, so keep children close on them. These are working crofts with sheep and cattle on the road and the grazings, so keep dogs on a lead. There's no café out here, so bring lunch and a flask and eat it on the sand. Sandwood Bay starts from the same road and is a full day of its own. From November to January, set off by 10.30am.
If it rains
In rain or mist the pathless stretch is hard to follow and the headlands are exposed. On a poor day, settle for Oldshoremore beach itself, a few minutes from the car.
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 Hill Cottage, 14 miles away. Sleeps 2.
Then Shore Cottage, 14 miles away. Sleeps 2.
For further reading, before you go.