Gruinard Bay is located in the North-west Highlands, about an hours drive south of Ullapool. It is well known for its sweeping sea and mountain views and on very clear days, which are quite common, the far Sutherland mountains are clearly seen, as far as Arkle, Ben Stack, and Foinaven which are up to 45 miles away. In my opinion the panoramic views here are unsurpassed by anywhere else in the West Highlands.
M03011 View from Laide over Gruinard Bay to Coigach and Suilven
© Gordon C Harrison Scottish Landscape Photographs For Every Mood
Unfortunately Gruinard Bay has another claim to fame, perhaps it would be more correct to say infamy. In WWII, Winston Churchill, fearing that the Germans were developing chemical and biological weapons, compulsorily purchased Gruinard Island from the local estate and had a series of experiments conducted on the island involving Anthrax Bombs.
The experiments were successful and the island remained contaminated until the late 1980's, when the local estate pressed the government to clean it up. This was done, and not long after I arrived here I was able to watch from my home the sheep that had been placed on the island to graze. They all survived!
Gruinard Bay is blessed with several beautiful beaches around it's shore, and arguably the most beautiful, because of its stunning vistas of the Wester Ross and Sutherland mountains, is at Mellon Udrigle. When complete this gallery will take you on a tour round Gruinard Bay, starting at Opinan on the north-west shore, and finishing at Mungasdale on the north-east shore. This will take us through the following villages which are scattered around Gruinard Bay; Opinan, Mellon Udrigle, Udrigle, Achgarve, Laide, First Coast, Second Coast, Little Gruinard, and Mungasdale.
Holiday accommodation, B&B or self-catering, is available in all these villages. In addition there is a caravan site at Laide, and holiday chalets are available by the shores of Gruinard Bay at Mellon Udrigle. The local Highland estate, Gruinard Estate also has accommodation within the estate with both stalking and fishing rights available.
Last Updated: July 10, 2008