Durness

IV27 4QA
Sandy beach with rocks and dunes
Public toilets beside Spar shop
Camp site above beach
Cafe and bars locally
Excellent for surfing
Blue flag beach
Dog friendly
Walkway to view point
Smoo Caves
Ample parking next to Visitor Centre
Sango Sands Camp Site

Local Transport - The Durness Bus
Durness Highland Games 

As you can see from the picture,  this is a very busy place compared with some of the areas you will have visited by now. Lots of people spend at least a day or so here and there is plenty to keep you occupied. I'll try and add all the information you might need on this page. 

There is a very highly rated camp site here called Sango Sands and I haven' heard any negatives at all so we are booked in ourselves on an electric pitch. 

Smoo Cave

Smoo Cave is fully accessible 365 days a year public access with a walkway into the waterfall chamber, free of charge.  The cave is unique within the UK in that the first chamber has been formed by the action of the sea, whereas the inner chambers are freshwater passages, formed from rainwater dissolving the carbonate dolostones. Partway through the cave the waters of Allt Smoo also drop in as a 20 metre high waterfall.

Essentially the cave can be thought of as two caves formed by different mechanisms which have joined together over time. The cave is composed of three main sections; a large sea cave entrance chamber, a waterfall chamber and a short freshwater passage which leads to a terminal sump chamber with some interesting flowstone formations at the rear.  The cave entrance and main chamber have been considerably enlarged by sea action to approximately 40 metres wide and 15 metres high, the largest sea cave entrance in Britain. 

The entrance is located at the end of a 600 metre long tidal gorge (Geodha Smoo) which was once part of the cave. Several remnant pillars can be seen along the eastern side along with a large section of the previous roof which has been partly buried by the grassy slope Interestingly, the sea rarely enters the sea cave nowadays (only during spring tides) as the area has undergone isostatic uplift.

The present-day cave is 83 metres  long up to the terminal sump at the rear of the third chamber or passage. The cave travels further however as an active stream of notable size resurges here at all times. Previous dye-testing has linked an underwater passage to an initial sink point in the Allt Smoo stream about 100 metres upstream from the main waterfall, implying that the cave system is at least twice as long as once thought. 

It is worth noting that the main waterfall is often dry and will only become active once this upstream sink overflows. Archaeological investigations have turned up Neolithic, Norse and Iron Age artifacts, and it is thought that usage may extend back to the Mesolithic age. The cave complex is therefore protected as a scheduled monument. The cave name is thought to originate from the Norse 'smjugg' or 'smuga' meaning a hole or hiding-place.


Sango Sands Camp Site

Sango Bay is a small sandy cove with scattered rocky outcrops, offering panoramic views of the North Minch. This is quiet beach situated within easy walking distance of Sango village.  the beach has really good waves for surfing. It is very sheltered as it is protected from all but the north and north easterly winds. The camp site is directly above the beach and has amazing views!  They only take bookings for pitches with electric hook up. I emailed the site and got a reply within 24 hours letting me know my pitch would be held until 5pm and that the pitch number and my name would be listed on the door for my arrival. The campsite is open from April through to the end of October. There are fifty eight electric hook ups points, some hard standing and some on grass. For tents and those who don’t require electric hook up there is ample space, and you only need to book if you require electric hook up.  

2018 prices

All Prices are per person per overnight stay
Adult (+16) £9 
Children under 5 are Free
1st Child £6
2nd Child £3
Additional Children Free

Electric Hook Up £4

Pets are Free

Email stay@sangosands.com

Camp Site Facilities

Restaurant and Bar

Electric Hook up

Toilet Blocks
Shower blocks

Chemical Disposal Point 

Laundry facilities.

Camper's Kitchen with free gas for tents

Pets kept under control are Welcome




Personal Review

We stayed here for two nights in late May 2018 and we booked an electric pitch. If you book ahead and have hook up you are likely to get a better pitch. 

They have a great Motorhome service point too. The site was well maintained and well run and our kids loved it. The beach is fantastic and it is a great location to explore Balnakeil, Smoo Caves, do the Zip wire etc. I can highly recommend this site for anyone on the NC500. 

This page was last updated on March 7th 2021