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Durness Beach – Balnakeil Beach loop from Smoo Cave

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Durness Beach – Balnakeil Beach loop from Smoo Cave

Moderate

4.8

(42)

162

hikers

Durness Beach – Balnakeil Beach loop from Smoo Cave

02:22

8.82km

110m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 7, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

111 m

Durness Beach

Highlight • Beach

This beach is located on the campsite and is not far from Smoo Cave. Baden is probably something for toughened. Water temperature was 15 ° C in August.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2.71 km

View of Burragaig Bay from Seanachaisteal Dun

Highlight • Historical Site

The site of an Iron Age promontory fort, offering great views North over Burragaig Bay and to the rocky islets to the West.

Tip by

3.38 km

Sand Dunes at Balnakeil Bay

Highlight • Viewpoint

Impressive giant sand dunes back the two beaches and link the Headland to the mainland.

Tip by

4.47 km

Balnakeil Beach

Highlight • Beach

Please note this is not Sango Bay, that is a couple of miles east from here at Durness. This is Balnakeil beach.

Tip by

5.63 km

Balnakeil Beach

Highlight • Beach

Beautiful sandy beach with large sand dunes.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.88 km

Balnakeil House, Church Ruins and Beach

Highlight • Historical Site

This was a seat of the clan chief Mackay, later Lord Reay.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6.57 km

Balnakeil Craft Village

Highlight • Settlement

6.93 km

Cocoa Mountain Coffee Shop

Highlight • Cafe

Awesome truffles here, the company having been awarded a Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Award. The owners appeared in an episode of Dragons' Den in 2015.

Tip by

8.82 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

3.71 km

3.28 km

1.05 km

695 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

3.52 km

2.87 km

1.88 km

322 m

235 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Tuesday 26 May

18°C

5°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Durness Beach – Balnakeil Beach loop from Smoo Cave

Durness Beach

View of Burragaig Bay from Seanachaisteal Dun

Sand Dunes at Balnakeil Bay

Balnakeil Beach

Balnakeil Beach

Balnakeil House, Church Ruins and Beach

Balnakeil Craft Village

Cocoa Mountain Coffee Shop

Nearby routes

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