Crakaig Beach

Crakaig Beach is on the east coast of Sutherland at Loth, a few miles north of Brora, on the stretch of the A9 between Brora and Helmsdale. It is a remote sandy beach with dunes behind it, near a small river mouth. In 2006 the landowner set aside part of the beach for naturists. Several guides describe the naturist section as running from the river mouth to Lothbeg Point, and call it the only officially designated naturist beach on mainland Scotland. A walking-club guide warns that those claims may just repeat one another. A small campsite next to the beach takes caravans and tents. It is normally a clothed site but opens to naturists for one week around World Naturist Day in early June. It has basic toilets and showers. A 2006 visitor found midges no problem and the sea warm enough to swim. One guide recommends swimming near the river mouth, while a review calls the beach less good for swimming. Brora has shops for supplies. Information is sparse and much of it dates from 2006, so check the current arrangements, for example with the campsite, before you travel.