Coral Beach, Claigan

About this place

Unusual white beach near Dunvegan made from bleached coralline algae rather than sand.

Despite its name and startlingly white appearance, this beach near Claigan isn't made from coral at all, but from the bleached, broken-down remains of a coralline seaweed called maerl, which has built up over thousands of years into something that looks remarkably like a tropical sand beach against Skye's characteristically dramatic scenery. Reaching it involves a walk of a mile or so from the car park across open, sometimes boggy ground, so it suits families with a bit of stamina and suitable footwear rather than a quick stop. The reward is a genuinely unusual, photogenic spot with views out towards the Outer Hebrides on a clear day. It's free to visit, with parking at the trailhead, and the walk is not suitable for buggies.

Make a day of it — within 5km