Photo of Prince's Beach, Eriskay - Fine Art Prints
For a number of years I used to drive past this beach, without stopping to photograph it. I don’t know why – maybe because I was always on the way to catch the nearby ferry to Barra. However, one day my ferry was delayed and I had a couple of hours to kill – arguably the one and only time I was grateful for a Calmac Ferries delay. It has now become one of my favourite stretches of coastline in the Outer Hebrides.
Prince’s Beach is located on the west side of the Isle of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides.
One of Scotland’s most historic beaches, Prince’s Beach on Eriskay is known as Coilleag a’Phrionnsa, Gaelic for ‘the Prince’s cockleshell strand’. It is also known, more affectionately as Charlies Beach.
Prince’s Beach is said to be where Bonnie Prince Charlie first set foot on Scottish soil, and from here he proceeded to Glenfinnan and made his first attempt in taking the crown in the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion.
Today this stretch of sand is home to pretty flowers, and above the beach is a cairn commemorating the prince’s landing.