Life’s a beach and beaches are for living!

We are so, so lucky living here with some of the finest coastline and beaches in the world on our doorsteps. Beaches and seas considered so important that they are protected by law because of their scenic or scientific importance. People come from all over the world to work on them, study them or have their holidays on them! Here are some of our favourites. The West Highlands and Islands are packed full of beaches and magnificent ones at that. So our question this summer is which one is yours? Which is your special place, the beach that draws you back, time-after-time? Is it one with special memories from your childhood, a romance, the incredible view or just because it makes your dogs wild with delight when you slip off their leads and let them run free? There are so many beaches, each with their own unique features so do you have a number of special favourites you return to for different reasons? Do you have one for your toddlers to enjoy, all soft white sand and safe shallows to paddle and play? Or a rock pool beach where older kids can explore and widen their knowledge of marine life, ornithology, wildlife, plants, geology, cloud formations and the stars at night? Yes, life’s a beach and it teaches us about life in so many ways. Or do you have different beaches for different needs? A beach to celebrate and party on, a beach you go to sit and think out your troubles. A chill out beach to meditate or pray; where the seascape connects you to something deeper and more spiritual within yourself? A beach that’s guaranteed to banish your blues – a beach where whatever the weather you wrap up and walk amidst the wind and the sound of Atlantic rollers crashing on shingle - an exercise that blasts whatever is bugging you clean out of your system. What ever, wherever, whenever enjoy your beaches this summer and make friends with some new ones this year from the ones we have here. Many of the images have been taken by an old friend of The Oban Times, who is greatly missed, the late Dennis Hardley one of life’s gentlemen and a true professional with a great eye for a photograph. It is always an honour to present his work, with the kind permission of Tony Hardley. And we would also like to thank Ron at www.islayinfo.com and Eilidh Carr of Coralbox gift shop, Berneray for also allowing us to use some of their fine work.