Gruinard Bay

Gruinard Bay is a large, remote bay on the Atlantic coast of Wester Ross, to be found 12 miles north of Poolewe. Its shoreline is divided between Ross-shire and a detached part of Cromartyshire.

On this rugged coast, scooped and sliced by the sea and ancient ice into bays and sea-lochs, it is a bay in a half-ring with Little Loch Broom to the northeast and Loch Ewe to the southwest. In the midst of the bay is Gruinard Island. The name 'Gruinard' in the names of the island and the bay, and in two rivers entering the bay (Gruinard River and the Little Gruinard River) and Gruinard House standing by the shore.

Settlements

Gruinard Bay has a number of settlements, mainly located on the eastern shore of the bay. On the southeast corner, the small hamlet of Little Gruinard stands, where the like-named river leaves enters the bay. On the western coast, the former fishing village of Laide, in the nook where the coast turns north, overlooks Gruinard Island to the northeast. Further up the west coast, the villages of Achgarve, the main village of Mellon Udrigle and the smaller crofting township of Opinan have a commanding view of the bay and Gruinard Island.

Geography

Gruinard Bay is formed from the boundary of Loch Broom to the northeast, encompasses the opening of Little Loch Broom to the east with Static Point further south, and on the west side by the Rubha Mòr peninsula, and Loch Ewe on the southwestern boundary. The bay measures 5.5 miles along its western shore, and 4.5 miles on its eastern shore, forming a L shape.

The bay overlooks the infamous Gruinard Island, which is just over half a mile offshore, at the eastern side of the bay. The Summer Isles are visible to the northeast.

Three fast flowing rivers flow into the Bay. The Little Gruinard River, flows 4 miles from the Fionn Loch to enter Bay at the settlement of Little Gruinard, and Camas Gaineamhaich beach. The Gruinard River flows a similar distance from the two lochs, the larger to the east, Loch Sealga and the smaller Loch Ghiubhsachain to the west, into the bay at the western side of Camas Gaineamhaich beach. The smaller stream of the River Inverianvie, flows from the small loch, Loch à Mhadaidh Mòr and enters the bay between the two other rivers.

References

• Wikishire map: 57°53’35"N, 5°29’31"W