Clachtoll Beach

Clachtoll is a yet another stunning Highland beach of white sand and clear turquoise sea. Set among the rugged coastal terrain there is an impressive backdrop of the mountains beyond.

Clachtoll has a free car park and there is a ranger’s hut where you can learn about the wildlife, geology and history of the beach. Also arranged by the Highland Council Ranger service every year in August, is a sandcastle competition on the beach.

Behind the beach is a fairly large campsite which means that despite its remote location there are often people on the beach here in the summer months, although it could never be described as crowded.

On the headland to the south of the bay is the Split Rock, an interesting geological feature where a large gap exists between the towering sandstone rocks. It is often suggested that the name of the beach comes from this rock formation; Clach is the Gaelic word for stone and toll can mean hollow. 

However, it seems likely that the collapse of the rocks to form the gap in the Split Rock is quite recent, possibly 19th century, which would make it too recent for this. Another explanation is the word tuil can translate as exhale or vapour and there is a blowhole where sea spray is shot into the air on stormy days which might be the source of the name.