Gruinard Bay

Gruinard Bay is a large coastal inlet on Scotland’s north-west coast, twelve miles north of Poolewe in Ross and Cromarty. The bay forms an L shape, with a western shore of 5.5 miles and an eastern shore of 4.5 miles. It sits between Loch Broom to the north-east and Loch Ewe to the south-west, with the Rubha Mòr peninsula marking its western edge. Three rivers flow into the bay: the Little Gruinard, the Gruinard, and the smaller Inverianvie. The Summer Isles lie visible on the north-eastern horizon, while Gruinard Island sits one kilometre offshore at the bay’s eastern side. The bay’s settlements are scattered along its shores. On the eastern side, the hamlet of Little Gruinard sits where the river of the same name reaches the sea. Along the A832 road, the townships of Sand, First Coast and Second Coast line the southern coast. On the western shore, the former fishing village of Laide overlooks Gruinard Island, with Achgarve, Mellon Udrigle and Opinan further north offering sweeping views across the water. These communities once relied on fishing and crofting, and their scattered homes still command wide vistas of the bay. Visitors find a remote and rugged coastline where the land meets the sea in quiet coves and broad beaches. Camas Gaineamhach beach lies where the Little Gruinard and Gruinard rivers enter the bay, their fast-flowing waters shaping the shoreline. The rivers cut short distances from inland lochs, adding to the bay’s wild character. Static Point marks the southern limit of the eastern shore, while the Rubha Mòr peninsula shelters the western side. The view from Mellon Udrigle or Opinan takes in Gruinard Island and the distant Summer Isles, a scene unchanged by modern development.