Beach is Sandy and Rocky
Restrictions apply to dogs in the Summer season
Ample Free Parking available locally
Chemical Disposal Point and showers at the Seaboard Centre
Parking off Shore Street in middle of beach
Parking off Sand Dune Walk near the harbour
Parking off Shore Street in middle of beach
Parking off Sand Dune Walk near the harbour
Public toilets & Water available at Balintore Harbour
Wild Camping possible at the Harbour
Parking and Toilets, showers and laundry facilities at the Seaboard Centre
Sea Water quality adequate
Nearest Pharmacy just before Harbour on Hugh Street IV20 1UJ Tel: 01862 832291
Nisa Local Store in village Tel: 01862 832235 7am to 9pm (Shown as Spar on Google Maps)
ATM available in shop during opening hours
Wild Camping possible at the Harbour
Parking and Toilets, showers and laundry facilities at the Seaboard Centre
Sea Water quality adequate
Nearest Pharmacy just before Harbour on Hugh Street IV20 1UJ Tel: 01862 832291
Nisa Local Store in village Tel: 01862 832235 7am to 9pm (Shown as Spar on Google Maps)
ATM available in shop during opening hours
Shandwick Bay is an unspoiled sandy beach with sand dunes and rocks at both ends. Close to the villages of Shandwick and Balintore, with Balintore's picturesque harbour to the north. Coastal paths and plentiful parking in the local area.
From A9 turn right onto B9165, half a mile after Nigg roundabout. Follow this road until you reach Balintore. Turn right through the village and then left after the harbour, down Sand Dune Walk for more parking.
This beautiful expanse of golden sand is located within the seaboard villages of Shandwick and Balintore. The extensive sandy beach has dunes behind it and rocky areas to the North and the South. There is a charming harbour in Balintore. Extensive coastal paths pass by this beach. Parking spaces are abundant and there is easy access from the area to many local historical sites. There is evidence of settlement in the area since ancient times.
Fearn Abbey
A couple of miles inland is Fearn Abbey, founded here in 1238.Fearn Abbey is found on the fertile low-lying ground just east of the Hill of Fearn and two miles north west of the coastal village of Balintore. At first sight it is an ordinary rectangular parish church. The reality is a much more complex story dating back almost 800 years.
On the ground the church you see today is simple and largely dates from a major reconstruction in 1772. Towards the east end roofless mausoleums project from both the north and south sides, suggesting much older buildings.
Perhaps the oddest feature is the much larger enclosure projecting from the south side of the church which to the untrained eye this looks as if someone has used modern breeze-blocks to build some sort of agricultural structure against the church. This is actually all that is left of St Michael's Aisle, added to the abbey church by Abbot Finlay McFaed in time to house his tomb and effigy on his death in 1485. And once inside the aisle, the great age of the structure is obvious. The difference between the internal and external appearance is because in 1790 a stone "skin" was wrapped around the outside of the aisle.
Like all monasteries, Fearn Abbey suffered during the Reformation, and the monks were forced to leave but Fearn was not destroyed and continued in use as the local parish church. Over the centuries the medieval monastic buildings were not maintained and in 1742 disaster struck. The flagstone roof was struck by lightning during a service, and collapsed, killing 40 worshipers.
The assistant minister was the hero of the day; he held up the lintel of the east door, allowing the remaining worshippers to escape. The church was rebuilt in 1771 under the patronage of Sir John Lockhart Ross of Balnagown, perhaps mindful of avoiding a similar mishap in the future, the new church was made with a simple shed roof, and with no tower or spire. Fearn Abbey remains in use as the parish church. The abbey is signposted off the B9165 at the southern edge of Fearn. There is a large parking area, and a single information panel giving information about the history of the church.
Fearn Abbey
On the ground the church you see today is simple and largely dates from a major reconstruction in 1772. Towards the east end roofless mausoleums project from both the north and south sides, suggesting much older buildings.
Perhaps the oddest feature is the much larger enclosure projecting from the south side of the church which to the untrained eye this looks as if someone has used modern breeze-blocks to build some sort of agricultural structure against the church. This is actually all that is left of St Michael's Aisle, added to the abbey church by Abbot Finlay McFaed in time to house his tomb and effigy on his death in 1485. And once inside the aisle, the great age of the structure is obvious. The difference between the internal and external appearance is because in 1790 a stone "skin" was wrapped around the outside of the aisle.Like all monasteries, Fearn Abbey suffered during the Reformation, and the monks were forced to leave but Fearn was not destroyed and continued in use as the local parish church. Over the centuries the medieval monastic buildings were not maintained and in 1742 disaster struck. The flagstone roof was struck by lightning during a service, and collapsed, killing 40 worshipers.
The assistant minister was the hero of the day; he held up the lintel of the east door, allowing the remaining worshippers to escape. The church was rebuilt in 1771 under the patronage of Sir John Lockhart Ross of Balnagown, perhaps mindful of avoiding a similar mishap in the future, the new church was made with a simple shed roof, and with no tower or spire. Fearn Abbey remains in use as the parish church. The abbey is signposted off the B9165 at the southern edge of Fearn. There is a large parking area, and a single information panel giving information about the history of the church.Shandwick Stone
On the hillside above Shandwick, the most southerly of the Seaboard Villages, is the Clach a' Charridh or Shandwick Stone. This 2.7m high cross slab dates back to the years around 780AD and stands in its original position. For centuries it served as a beacon for the fishermen of this coast, until it blew down and broke in half in 1846. There is a local custom that unbaptised babies who had died during birth were buried near to the stone.The stone has since been restored and is now protected from the elements by a large glass box. As befits a beacon, its site offers excellent views along the coast to the north east.
Pictured left is the car park off Shore street which has excellent views and beach access. I do not have any information currently about wild camping here and have not visited myself. I will update as necessary. If you can add information to this page then please do get in touch as I want to keep this blog up to date, thanks!
Great facilities for "Wild" Campers at the Seaboard Centre in Balintore
The Seaboard Centre
East Street,
Balintore
IV20 1UA
Great facilities for "Wild" Campers at the Seaboard Centre in Balintore
The Seaboard Centre
East Street,
Balintore
IV20 1UA
In Balintore you will find the Seaboard Centre.If you contact the office ahead of your arrival and pay a small fee you can get a code that works 24/7. You can use the showers, toilets as well as a washing machine and tumble dryer. There is a disabled access toilet too. Office hours are 10am-3pm and there is a cafe open serving lunches until 2.30pm. Telephone: 01862 832 888 or visit their Website for more information. New CDP point available here too.Mermaid of The North and the Seaboard Sculpture Trail
The Mermaid of the North is part of the area’s Seaboard Sculpture Trail, which includes several other sculptures related to the sea, such as three giant salmon and three slate monuments.
In 2012 the mermaid was damaged by a severe storm. Originally made from wood and resin, she was not strong enough to withstand the stormy weather. In 2014 the mermaid was replaced with a bronze cast model.
The Mermaid’s origins are deep rooted in Easter Ross folklore; legend tells that once a fisherman stole a beautiful mermaid away to be his wife and hid her tail. Years later, after bearing his children, she found her tail and escaped back to sea, returning regularly to the shore to bring fish to her hungry children.
The Seaboard Villages boasts 5 public works inspired by themes that reflect the history and characteristics of the area: Folklore, Fortitude, Fishing, the Four corners of the earth and Faith. These were installed in 2007 . Please click here to download the Seaboard Sculpture Trail flyer.
Map of Local Facilities
Nearest petrol - Click map to EnlargeAsda Petrol IV19 1NZ 7am to 11pm
Tesco Petrol IV19 1HY 8am to 10pm
Ken's Garage IV18 ONX 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm Saturdays. Filling station, shop and off licence.
Morangie Filling Station IV19 1PY 6.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. No card payments on pumps. Toilet and small shop
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