Traigh Lingeigh (North Uist)

Sandy beach back by dunes

Submitted by:
justal
Updated:
17th Jul 2004

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A large sandy bay shallow bay backed by dunes and dominated by Lingeigh island. As with all Hebridean beaches it has to be seen to be believed. Pure white sand, turquiose waters and just so peaceful.

Although there are no facilities here you can park on the grass overlooking the beach by following a track from the road to Berneray. Therer are a couple of picnic benches overlooking the sea, which actually makes it a beach with some amenities here! We camped overlooking the bay by these picnic tables.

The bay itself consists of a shallowly shelving beach which curves around from the rocks of Hornais point in the south to a shallow sand bar out to Lingeigh island in the North. The beach then continues around the corner in a more easterly direction as well. At low tide Lingiegh Island is only a couple of hundred yards offshore and the map actually shows the sand bar becoming exposed on large spring tides. Although when we were there it remained submerged throughout the tidal range.

At low tide there is a large area of shallow blue water pefect for windsurfing and kitesurfing in, and a large sandy (but quite wet) beach for land-based activities. At high tide, there isn't enough beach left for land-based sports, but there is still some dry sand for launching and landing on. There is then a huge area of very shallow (ankle to knee deep) water which is just perfect for kitesurfing in.

Traigh Lingeigh does get some surf rolling in between the islands from NW swells. I haven't seen it working but the rocks of Hornais point and the sandbanks there look as though they would hold a pretty nice lefthander.

If you find yourself here with no wind and waves, then the rocks of Nornais Point are perfect for snorkelling around, the islands perfect for kayaking to/around and the beaches are perfect for walking along... Either that or you can just sit there and soak up the peace and solitude.