Big Strand Beach (Laggan Bay)

They named this beach Big Strand for a reason. By far the longest beach in Islay, it is possibly one of the longest beaches in Scotland at somewhere between five and seven miles in length (depending on who you ask and what you include). Stretching from Laggan Point in the north to Kintra in the south this beach is vast.

If you were inclined to walk the length of the Big Strand it is more or less possible although there are a few minor obstacles. These include having to roll up your trousers to cross the rivers Machrie and Kintra along with a small detour through the dunes to bypass the rocky headland near the airport. In fact the only insurmountable interruption is likely to be the river Laggan at the far northern end of the beach, and this is only an issue after heavy rain.

This is a fairly exposed section of the Islay coast so walks here can often be on the bracing side. It also means the ocean can put on a show when the winter swells roll in.

Given its size and location you are probably going to have swathes of sand to yourself. If you do see anyone else on the beach it is only likely to be in passing or near one of the access points, of which there are only a few. The easiest way to get down to Big Strand is via the track which runs down from the airport. There are other access points at either end - i.e. at Kintra Farm and through the Laggan Estate at the northern end.