Gruinard Bay

Gruinard Bay

ID: QZP40_CARD_0600 DESCRIPTION: Gruinard Bay (between Gairloch and Ullapool) Gruinard Bay is an inlet of the sea on the coast of Wester Ross. It has beautiful beaches of pinkish sand from Torridon rock. Gruinard, from the Norse, means either green or shallow bay. Gruinard Bay is both. Little Gruinard River, which flows from Fionn Loch in to the bay, marks the boundary between the parishes of Gairloch and Lochbroom. In the distance, on the right, is Beinn Ghobhlach, meaning horned or forked, a mountain on the Scoraig Peninsula between Little Loch Broom and Loch Broom. At 2083 (635metres) feet it may not be one of Scotland's highest peaks but its isolation makes it very impressive. On the left are the mountains of the Coigach Peninsula, north of Loch Broom. Further out in the bay is Gruinard Island which, in 1942, was a testing site for biological weapons using anthrax. Anthrax can live in the soil for many years. It wasn't until 1990, after several attempts at decontamination, that the island was declared safe. Sheep now living on the island remain anthrax free PLACENAME: Gruinard Bay DISTRICT: Gairloch OLD COUNTY/PARISH: ROSS: Gairloch PERIOD: 1930s; 1940s SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Highland Libraries' Postcard Collection Asset ID: 32521 KEYWORDS: