Herb Riddle's photos with the keyword: Achmelvich

The most beautiful sands of Achmelvich Bay and yes, the sand was as soft under our bare feet as it looks! We are steadily heading north on the B869 scenic route before we rejoin the NC500 A894 road again. The NC 500: The Scottish 'North Coast 500' is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. A route of just over 500 miles (516) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and hidden gems.

Enjoy with me this breathtaking, beautiful beach along the highlands coast in the Sutherland region of Scotland. My idea of paradise with pure golden sand, clean cool water and scenery inhabited only by birds and rabbits. Not a footprint or unnatural sound to spoil the magic. Enjoy full size.

Achmelvich, one of the most beautiful sandy bays in Great Britain also has another side to it. This is the view southeast towards Lochinver and the mountains near Ullapool some distance away. Notice the snow still on their northern flanks. An area of majestic peaks, seabirds and otters here - enough to take your breath away. Enjoy full size.

Here by the lovely bay of Achmelvich in Scotland, one can relax and ponder the views. This is a sparsely populated part of the world with just a small settlement or cottage here and there. In fact during summer, far more holidaymakers are here seeking peace than locals. See PiP for beach shot Enjoy full screen and have a good week.

We are now at Alltan'abrahan, just north of Achmelvich

You are now at Alltan'abrahan, just north of Achmelvich, by the old ruined grain mill. There are several old mill stones around the building, which were turned by means of a horizontal paddle. It is hard to imagine in this most inhospitable place that there must have been lots of people walking here with sacks of wheat over their shoulders to have their grain milled. In the early 18 hundreds, John McCloud , the mill owner, only wanted the hardest grinding stones he could get for his mill, so he found the granite stone he wanted on the slopes of Suilven (see Pip). From there he transported the cut blocks to the little harbour of Loch Inver where he shaped them into these wheels, then he transported the finished products by row-boat to this small valley some five miles (8km) north. See PiPs Enjoy full size.

As we take a walk above and away from the beautiful Achmelvich Bay we get views like this. The sandy bay can just about be seen. (see Pip) These are typical Highland homes but many nowadays are occupied by folk like us, ie holiday makers. We are looking south here. Best full screen.