Loch Gruinart (from the Old Norse, meaning "shallow fjord) is a sea loch on the northern coast of isle of Islay. Land at the head of the loch, Gruinart Flats, is a designated nature reserve owned by the RSPB. It is an important winter roosting site for barnacle geese.
Ardnave Point is a coastal promontory near the mouth of the loch on the northwest of Islay. The long sandy beach on the Ardnave side of Loch Gruinart is backed by extensive dunes, some of the largest dune systems on Islay. From the higher dunes you get wide views towards Jura, Colonsay, Scarba and, on very clear days, Mull which I could just see today in the haze.
The waters of Loch Gruinart often look unexpectedly turquoise because of the shallow sandy seabed and clear Atlantic light, especially at low tide.
