Barefoot on the beach, white sand between your toes … even at the very top of Scotland that’s possible. Sango Sands is one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in the Highlands.
The turquoise water of the Atlantic rolls gently over the fine sand and washes around black rocks. Green headlands reach far out into the sea on either side, dunes ripple away in the background. Sango Sands almost conjures a Caribbean feel on a walk – if it weren’t for the icy Atlantic water temperatures and the often quite brisk wind. Still, it’s well worth coming here for a stroll.
Sango Sands is split into two by a long dune in the middle. The tip of this dune is crowned by a wooden viewing platform. On good days it offers a view across to Orkney, roughly 80 kilometres away to the east. And it’s said you can occasionally spot whales and other wildlife – with a good pair of binoculars. In any case, from the viewpoint you can see both halves of the beach and a stretch of the hinterland.
On a coastal tour of the Highlands along the North Coast 500, Sango Sands near Durness is pretty much a must-stop.
Tip: More beaches in the north
Anyone who likes this kind of sandy beach shouldn’t miss the nearby beaches Balnakeil and Ceannabeinne. Their advantage: they’re less visited, but just as easy to reach.
Good to know: Campsite with a view
On the ground above the beach there’s a large campsite. It naturally offers a lovely view and quick access to the beach. A good option for motorhomes and tents. More information on the campsite is available here.
Personal note: Gone with the wind
When I first visited Sango Sands beach back in the 1990s, we pitched our tent on the campsite above. The view was wonderful! But at night a really fierce wind picked up, blowing straight out to sea, so I didn’t sleep a wink, afraid of being blown over the cliffs. Ever since, I’ve approached the beach with a bit of caution.
Getting there:
Whether you’re coming from the west coast, say from Ullapool, or from the east coast from Thurso – the road leading to Durness is the A838. Simply follow it until the Durness Visitor Centre with its large car park appears. You can leave the car here and walk to Sango Sands beach.
