Tràigh a’ Chorail

We last visited Tràigh a’ Chorail, also known as Coral Bay, in 1998, exactly twenty-five years ago. I can vaguely recall that visit, with me carrying a one-year-old on my back. However, I can’t seem to recall the stony track we encountered today, which has made it suitable for cycling the final two kilometres. Instead, I prefer to remember green undulating slopes covered in soft, springy turf by the loch’s edge.

Tràigh a’ Chorail derives its name from the bleached skeletons of a red coralline seaweed called maërl. Internationally recognized, maërl grows at an exceptionally slow pace of about 1 millimeter per year. To put that into perspective, our fingernails grow approximately 3 millimeters each month, making maërl’s growth rate relatively sluggish. However, it compensates with an impressive lifespan, as some maërl beds are estimated to be around 8,000 years old. Rich in calcium carbonate, maërl has been utilized by local farmers and crofters in regions where it occurs to enhance soil fertility. Brittany, in particular, boasts a long history of commercial maërl extraction for agricultural purposes¹Information Board at Claigan NG 23193 53749..

The obvious striking feature of Tràigh a’ Chorail is the sharp contrast between the brilliant white beach and the scattered black basalt boulders that adorn its shores. Every tourist guide showcasing Skye will undoubtedly include at least one photograph capturing this dazzling sight. It stands as yet another iconic natural wonder that the island has to offer, and so is on every visitor’s must-see list. In order to enjoy the tranquility of the place before the crowds descended, we made an early departure, cycling in and leaving us with the beach almost entirely to ourselves, except for one wild camper who had claimed their spot.

• 1
  Information Board at Claigan NG 23193 53749.