Carsaig Bay

Bay in Argyllshire

Scotland

Carsaig Bay

Carsaig Bay is a picturesque bay located on the southwestern coast of the Isle of Mull in Argyllshire, Scotland. It is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and diverse wildlife, attracting nature enthusiasts and visitors from all over the world.

The bay is characterized by its rugged cliffs, towering sea stacks, and dramatic rock formations, which provide a breathtaking backdrop to its crystal-clear turquoise waters. The bay is also home to a beautiful sandy beach, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the scenic surroundings.

Carsaig Bay is not only visually appealing, but it is also a haven for wildlife. The area is known for its rich marine life, including seals, dolphins, and various seabird species. Birdwatchers can spot rare species such as golden eagles, puffins, and guillemots nesting on the cliffs.

In addition to its natural wonders, Carsaig Bay holds historical significance. It is the site of the Carsaig Arches, a series of natural rock arches formed by erosion over thousands of years. These arches serve as a reminder of the area's geological history and attract geologists and geology enthusiasts.

Visitors to Carsaig Bay can indulge in various outdoor activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and photography. The bay can be accessed by foot or by boat, and there are several walking trails that lead to stunning viewpoints overlooking the bay.

Overall, Carsaig Bay offers a unique and captivating experience for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and those seeking tranquility amidst breathtaking scenery.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Carsaig Bay Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.320281/-5.9795041 or Grid Reference NM5421. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Heading for Carsaig Bay

The last section of the path from Loch Buie to Carsaig has reached relatively easy ground and by the next time that the shore gets rough and scrambly, it will bypass the difficulties via a pleasant path in the woods. This bit tends to lull walkers starting at Carsaig into something of a false sense of security, not realising how rough the route will become over its central section. Allow plenty of time.

Andy Waddington

Through the waterfall at Carraig MhÃ²r

Beyond the entrance to Loch Buie, the coast path to Carsaig looks out over more extensive water - the Firth of Lorne. By scrambling behind the waterfall (which can be done without getting wet, at least in this weather) the view can include water closer to hand, made a little more visible with a 1/10 second exposure. This is one of the higher waterfalls along the route, and isn't cut into such a deep notch in the cliffs as some of the others, as can be seen looking in the opposite direction NM5521 : Waterfall at Carraig Mhòr.

Andy Waddington

Waterfall at Carraig MhÃ²r

This is one of the higher waterfalls along the coast path between Carsaig and Loch Buie, and is in less of a deep notch in the cliffs than many, so it is possible, whilst staying dry (at least with this much water) to get behind the lower half of the fall NM5521 : Through the waterfall at Carraig Mhòr. We're not that far from Carsaig, and it looks possible to climb above the cliffs from An Dunan. This would make a very fine canyoning abseil descent in the sunshine without the epic walks-in and boat departures that some of the south coast falls would entail.

Andy Waddington

Forking dyke at Carraig MhÃ²r

This dyke doesn't seem to have been thought big enough to map on the 1:50000 1992 Geological sheet 44 but seems to be parallel to a fault which marks the boundary between lava flows to the east downfault past the Lower Jurassic Strata exposed either side of the dyke. On the aerial view it appears very curved, but seen here close up, the main dyke indeed curves west, but a subsidiary dyke, on the left in this view, and much more jointed, suggesting more rapid cooling, splits off from the main one and continues straight down towards the tide line. For anyone wanting to get across the slippery weed-covered tidal rocks to reach the tiny bit of land in the square to the south, the dyke forms a convenient walkway, for the most part remaining high enough not to have been colonised by the seaweed.

Andy Waddington

Footpath to Carsaig

The part of the Carsaig to Loch Buie coast path nearest the road system at the west end is an easy walking route through bracken-infested grassland with none of the obstacles that those heading east from here will encounter along the way. A change in the geology a short way to the east is caused by a fault, dropping the rough basalt plateau lavas to sea level, whilst here we are above softer Lower Jurassic sedimentary rocks which make for gentler terrain. The sediments form the shore for some way round Carsaig Bay before dipping below the shore just shy of Carsaig Arches and Malcolm's Point seen in the distance.

Andy Waddington

Emerging square

They say that time and tide waits for no man. Well, here, no man was waiting for time and tide - although it was falling it was going to be getting late if we waited until the land emerged much more. As it was, the GPS said I was in the square (but just by a metre or so with my feet overhanging the sea) and that was going to have to be good enough.

Andy Waddington

Passing the waterfall at Carraig MhÃ²r

Heading east from Carsaig along the coastal path to Loch Buie, a fault is crossed and the soft Jurassic sediments are left behind to traverse the Tertiary plateau group lavas on the southern flanks of the Mull Volcanic Centre. The lava flows are much more erosion resistant and have formed a semicontinuous line of cliffs below which a wave-cut notch (raised above sea level by isostatic rebound after the removal of the icesheets) pentrates leaving unercut rocks and free-falling waterfalls in places. This one, at 40m, is one of the higher falls on this part of the coast (there are considerably bigger ones west of Carsaig).

Andy Waddington

Road down Glen Leidle with Firth of Lorn in the distance

Jo and Steve Turner

Glimps of Carsaig House from the Glen Leidle road

Category B Listed house of about 1800 formerly the seat of Macleans of Pennycross and called Pennycross House that was superseded by Innimore Lodge in 1877. George Well Cheape of Wellfield acquired the house in the late 19th century. The house is currently (2015) available for holiday rental.

Jo and Steve Turner

Carsaig Bay

Alan Reid

Aird Ghlas basalt dyke in Carsaig Bay

Alan Reid

Shore at Rubh' a' Chromain

Alan Reid

Sgeir Bhuidhe, the yellow rock

Alan Reid

Intertidal rocks and boulders

The Paps of Jura on the horizon.

Alan Reid

Coast below SrÃ²n nam Boc

Following in the footsteps of David Balfour, the hero of Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped, as he makes his way back to Edinburgh to confront his wicked uncle. Stage 1, June 2016 from Erraid to Fishnish on the Isle of Mull. See Link