On the list of Scottish Natural Heritage's most beautiful beaches in Scotland. Camusdarach is part of the Silvery Sands of Morar and was made famous as a film set for the film Local Hero (Ben's beach).

The beach and dune system extends for several miles between Arisaig and Mallaig. The interconnected dune system consists of Camus an Daraich (two small bay dunes and an offshore tidal island to the north of Traigh) and a larger assemblage, Camusdarach and Achaidh Mhior, which consist of a series of bay dunes with climbing dunes (up to 12 metres in height) separated by rocky headlands. There is also small burn crossing the bay heading to the sea.

Camusdarach and the associated bays are truly stunning with white sands, turquoise seas and with rolling dunes, with stunning of the Small Isles and the Skye.

Beyond the dunes, stabilised by marram and lyme grass, there are some lovely stretches of machair grassland, one of the rarest habitats in Europe. This low turf grassland supports a rich and diverse plant community and is bejewelled in Spring and Summer with trefoils, vetches, clover, campions, common centaury, harebells and orchids. Wetter areas of the dune system support ragged robin and greater birds foot trefoil.

At Spring tides, look out for sand mason worms, a species of burrowing marine polychaete exposed by the low tides. These marine bristle worms construct an elaborate tube of cemented sand grains and shells from which burst a bunch of long thin tentacles.

Camusdarach is a great place for a bucket and spade, paddling, swimming, beachcombing and a taking a picnic. It is also a great place for a seashore safari with a diversity and abundance of shells, some small rock pools and coastal birds, including great northern divers, terns and gulls. Alternatively, you may just wish to relax amongst stunning scenery and simply count grains of sand.

The beach is best visited at low tide when the different bays can be readily accessed.

Access

There is a small car park near Glenacross on the B8008 at NM665918.  The main beach can then be accessed via a sandy footpath through the dunes.  There are a number of sandy bays to the west of the main beach which are best explored at low tide on The Camusdarach Beach and Beyond Walk.