Torrisdale Bay

A mile wide expanse of clean golden sands just to the west of the historic village of Bettyhill. To the rear of the beach are sand dunes which give way to machair meadows before rising up into moorland.

With the River Naver emptying into one side of the bay and the River Borgie the other access isn’t quite as easy as it might be and involves a fair bit of walking. On the flip side, the River Naver is considered one of the best Salmon fishing rivers in Scotland. The added seclusion also helps keep the beach quiet and pristine.

At the western end of the beach is the wreck of the SS John Randolph. Visible at low tide these are the remains of an American ship that was blown in half during WWII after striking an Allied mine within weeks of being launched. It was actually while being towed for salvage 10 years later that the ship broke free and washed up on the beach at Torrisdale Bay.

As with much of the NC500 coast this is a great spot for wildlife. Along with otters and eagles, bottlenose dolphins and harbor porpoises are often sighted.

Surrounding Torrisdale Bay are a variety of ancient sites, including cairns, hut circles, enclosures and cists. The area is further enhanced by the presence of Torrisdale Castle, a fine mansion constructed in 1815. The castle is part of an estate that also offers holiday cottages and lodges for visitors to enjoy.