Anthony Baines Photography

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Postcards from Harris: 4, Luskentyre beach

Light coming up beyond Luskentyre

Luskentyre beach is one of the most best known of Harris's beaches. It has a long expanse of fine golden sand down to the Sound of Taransay, and Loch a Siar. We spent two early mornings there, arriving in the blue hour before dawn and splitting up to find our own places to photograph.

The first day we were there, the rain showers came through on a wind that howled in our faces. I've already put a picture from that morning in number 2 of these postcards.

But weather on the second morning was fine, with the bluest sky, only occasional menacing clouds, and a beach that gleamed with the reflection of Taransay as the tide retreated. For much of that morning, I had to step away from the tripod, and just watch and soak in the atmosphere as the sun came up, lighting the tops of the hills across Loch a Siar in North Harris, and eventually Taransay.

The pictures shown here illustrate (top) the mid-morning light on the hills across the water, seen from behind the beach at Luskentyre, (below) the blue hour over the dunes, and (bottom) the empty golden sands. Apart from the few mad photographers and the occasional dog-walker, there was no-one there: a glorious experience!

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BTW: Car park for Luskentyre beach at approximately GPS:57.891499, -6.952539 (Geohack location)

Blue hour before dawn over the grasses on sand dunes over to Taransay

Receding tide, mid-morning - miles of golden sand, with no-one there!