Over the sea from Skye

I’m whisked off to the west coast of Scotland by my sister Moira. She and her family meet up with a bunch of friends every May at Gairloch on the northern edge of Torridon. The Sands is top-of-the-campsite-pops in my view. Fringed by sand dunes, with views over the sea to Skye, lovely hot showers, and now a little restaurant in a converted barn serving mouthwatering cakes. 

Moira and Saz paddle with the Torridon peaks in the distance

The get together is always on my niece Sula’s birthday weekend and I last came when she turned five, on a blisteringly hot weekend when we just lived on the beach but were plagued by midges. 

Sula sunshine girl

Now Sula’s 10, and while it’s a lovely sunshiny weekend, the temperature is low enough to keep the little blighters at bay. I don’t get a single bite. 

Andy prepares for the evening temperature drop

I’d rather not make a habit of camping but I do love it from time to time. As long as you’re not bursting for the loo, there’s something cozy and comforting about lying in a tent and feeling the heat of the sun, or even the patter of the rain, but having a place of shelter and safety. A sort of indoors/outdoors thing. And living outdoors like that has got to be good for you, body and soul.

View of Skye from my tent

We spend a lot of time pootling about on the beach. Moira and Andy jump off the rocks into the crystal clear water… without wetsuits. Their friends rent a kayak and the kids practise jumping off it into the water… wearing wetsuits.

Their bravery knows no bounds

Kayak capers, Skye backdrop

I sit in a camping chair reading the paper. Sula gets presents, a cake, makes loom bands with her friends. Dozing in my tent I hear the kids chatting about BFFs and who is whose. They think they might take some bracelets to the pub we’re going to for dinner, and sell them. Seth, nine, says, I’ll do all the talking, if you like.

Looms, the latest craze

The Badachro Inn is right on the waterfront of this little fishing port. The bay makes a natural harbour. It’s known for its fish and seafood. Sadly I’m not. It seems like a kind of sacrelige to opt for the goat’s cheese but hey ho…

Catch of the day at the Badachro Inn

We get the rain on Sunday morning but it stops long enough for us to get the tents down and pack up. We take our leave with a last beach walk.

Gairloch beach drama