"Probably the least visited nudist beach in the known universe"

We set off from Brown Head round the SW corner of Arran. All the time Ailsa Craig was growing on the horizon but we did not spend all the time gazing out to sea.

At Corriecravie I thought of all the hard work of my ancestors who were tenant farmers here from at least the early 1700's until the 1930's. The four top fields are still the greenest on Arran!

SE of Corriecravie, the beach consists of basalt dykes...

...rocks below the water and shingle at the HW mark.

As we approached Cleits Shore patches of sand appeared and...

...it looked an ideal spot for third luncheon.

Cleits Shore is one of the few official naturist beaches in Scotland. The book "Bare Britain" describes it thus... "probably the least visited nudist beach in the known universe.". Whatever, it seemed churlish to leave without making full use of the local facilities, as I am sure my ancestors did.

The clear waters of Brown Head, Arran.

We cut across Drumadoon Bay, which is backed by the village of Blackwaterfoot, and made landfall at...

...Brown Head. The water here was crystal clear but the extensive boulder beach, which lies at the bottom of the headland, extends for 4 kilometres and...

...virtually prevents landing.

However, as it was approaching LW, we found a little strip of sand below the rocks on which to land.

Somehow we had managed to paddle right past this narrow clearing which has been made through the rocks. This was obviously used by our ancestors who wished to launch boats here.

I had spotted an otter as we approached and found this half eaten sea urchin at the edge of the sparkling sea. I went for a swim in the cool clear water then...

 ...dried off in the sun on the grassy machair of a...

...raised beach while Tony went for a walk. The machair was filled with buttercups and would have made a great place to camp but Ailsa Craig (on the horizon) was still some way off and it made sense to carry on round the Arran coast.