Saturday was a grey day in the far north, there was some mizzle in Caithness to start. The forecast had seemed okay so I set out with my boy to head west and do something. No firm plans, just a need (on my part) to get out of the house and be in the west. I’m sure he has the same need but he just hasn’t learned to recognise it yet!
The weather remained mediocre at best as we headed west along the north coast and we settled on a plan to round Loch Eriboll and climb the wee 383 metre Beinn Ceannabeinne overlooking Durness. The hill also overlooks one of the most lovely beaches on the north coast at Ceannabeinne (the Traigh Allt Chailgeag). From the car park above the beach the way to the summit is pathless and fairly rough and boggy but it was good exercise with fine views in descent.
The summit of wee Beinn Ceannabeinne above Durness 
A view through mist to Durness and the headland of An Fharaid (Faraid Head) from the summit of Beinn Ceannabeinne 
Ceannabeinne beach (Traigh Allt Chailgeag) from the slopes of Beinn Ceannabeinne with Whiten Head (An Ceann Geal) beyond 
Ominous clouds over Ben Hope and Loch Eriboll to the south
Once back to the car we headed down to the beach to catch any late afternoon light. It remained quite grey but there’s always beauty in a place like Ceannabeinne.
Late afternoon on beautiful Ceannabeinne beach (Traigh Allt Chailgeag) 
Sea to sand at Ceannabeinne beach. A small part of the previous photo that caught my attention
Durness and Smoo Cave are just a couple of kilometres down the road from Ceannabeinne and it’s always good to nip in and soak up the atmosphere at yet another lovely North Coast 500 hot spot.
A long exposure view into Smoo Cave at dusk with very little water flowing. The waterfall in the cave was dry
Map with the location of Ceannabeinne beach and Durness below. Beinn Ceannabeinne is the high point roughly 2 km south west of the beach.
Prints and other products featuring our images can be purchased in a wide range of sizes and media at our online store at Redbubble and are shipped globally.
Interested in visiting or finding out more about this area? Please click on our affiliate links below to search for accommodation, read reviews or purchase maps and guides. Using the links will cost you nothing but we benefit from a small percentage of any purchases made, allowing us to maintain and develop this site. Thank you!
Search for maps, GPS, tech and more from the UK’s mapping agency the Ordnance Survey
Search for accommodation at Booking.com
All content copyright of Scotland-Landscapes.com. All rights reserved. More information.
Leave a Reply