I think my stream needs a bit of colour after so many dark and moody images. This is Balnakiel beach in the evening light, and it is quite simply a heavenly place. It is a mile or do from Durness and forms a large part of the spit of land that ends at Faraid Head. This shot is looking south along the beach and in the distance you can see centre to right of the image) the mountains of Beinn Spionnaidh (the most northerly mountain above 2000 feet in Britain), Cranstackie, and finally the magnificent Foinaven. At the busiest of times there would barely be a dozen or so people here, and often it as empty as you see it now. In the bright sun the sand appears almost white, but becomes more golden as the sun goes down. The sea is turquoise and crystal clear. It is one of the finest beaches in Scotland. I heard someone on the radio say that the beaches in Northern Scotland were like those in the Maldives, which could be true but I doubt you need a fleece and a Goretex coat in the Maldives......