The beach next to Big House, boasts orange sands, chunky rocks and waves suitable for surfing.
Melvich is 15 miles from The Captains to the east, taking about 30 minutes to drive, and is the last beach in Sutherland before the Caithness border.
It is hard for your eye not to be drawn towards Melvich beach as you enter the village, with the footbridge crossing the river over to Big House. Follow the signs directing you to the beach, although you might want to make use of the public toilets and/or cafe on the other side of the road first.
In the car park you will find an information board about the history of the Big House area and a bit about the poet Rob Donn MacKay. From the car park, you can follow tracks through the dunes to the beach, or down to the river. There are plenty of satisfying pebbles along the river bank that you can skim if the whim takes you. The footbridge is not public access, unfortunately, but you can follow the river round onto the beach and look across the river to the old icehouse.
The beach itself has an orange tinge to it, influenced by the Old Red Sandstone in Caithness. Here the waves are suitable for surfing and it is a popular place for this.
Further along the beach there are chunky rocks along the shoreline, including lumps of conglomerates. And if you fancy a long walk along the beach, you can walk down to the jetty at the west end.
Notes for visitors with limited mobility:
The car park at the beach gives a good view across to Big House and there is an information board located here. Access to the beach is unsuitable for visitors with limited mobility.