Durness bay

The moment you round the headland near Durness and spot Durness Bay properly, you understand why people make the journey to the far north-west of Scotland. It's a proper crescent of pale sand backed by low dunes, facing out to the Atlantic with nothing between you and the Outer Hebrides. On a clear day the light does something extraordinary here - all pale gold and silver depending on the time of day.

You can walk the full length of the beach easily enough, and the sand's firm underfoot even when wet. Bring a wetsuit if you fancy a swim; the water's cold year-round but swimmers do it. Most folk just walk, photographe the endless sky, and sit on the dunes watching the waves. It's free, obviously, and you can spend anywhere from forty minutes to half a day here depending on your mood. The beach picks up colour best in the late afternoon sun.

Families with young children should know the walk to the best bit of sand is gentle but the bay itself is exposed - wind's almost always a factor, so dress accordingly. History types won't find much on site, but the location itself tells the story: this is genuinely remote, genuinely northern, genuinely worth the drive. If you're staying at Sango Sands Oasis just down the road, it's practically on your doorstep and makes an easy morning or evening venture. Don't overthink it - this is a beach that works because of what it isn't, not what it has.