England-Scotland Day 8 (Part 2) – Little Gruniard Bay, Loch Ewe and Loch Maree

10 April 2010

Continuing on the A832, we discovered the beauty of the Wester Ross Peninsula. Loch, mountains and even beaches!

The above photo shows the views along the A832 from Ullapool towards Gailoch.

We made a stop by a beach (called the Little Gruinard Beach) at the Gruniard Bay.

If this is the Little beach, where is the Big Gruinard Beach?

Steps leading to the Little Gruinard Beach.

Exploring Little Gruinard Beach, Scotland.

We had the whole beach to ourselves, except for another family, and the birds.

Little Gruinard Beach at low tide.

It was nice watching the birds take off and land on the water.

Leaving the beach, the A835 brought us uphill and offered breath-taking views of Gruinard Bay.

Views of Gruinard Bay from the A832. 2 beaches could be seen in the distance. One must be the Little Gruinard Beach.

We spotted an USO (Unidentified Swimming Object) in the bay. Probably an otter or seal.

Next up, Loch Ewe.

Loch Ewe.

Not as spectacular now, but a sign said this was a place where the Allied ships forming the Atlantic convoys were harboured during WWII.

“Imagine this loch, “black with ships” that we can walk from one end of the loch to the other end, without getting your feet wet.”

It also tells about the isolation and stress faced by the sailors in this quiet remote Loch Ewe, especially for city folks. We were amused when we read this:

“ When you are here for six months, you start talking to yourself; after twelve months you start talking to the sheep and after eighteen months, the sheep starts talking to you”.

The A832 next took us inland, heading eastwards towards Loch Maree. The road went along the southern bank of the loch with a few picnic areas inviting us to make a stop. This was a nice place to rest and relax after a long drive.

Loch Maree.

Interpretation signs were often found, explaining geography or history of the place. This made the place more interesting for visitors like us.

Sign explaining how Loch Maree got its name.

The kids standing on rocks, mimicking the gulls. Monkey see, Monkey do.

Unbeatable scenery!

We rested for about 30 minutes at Loch Maree before continuing our drive. We left the A832 to take the A896 at Kinochewe, towards Sheildaig and the Applecross Pass!