This cache is dedicated to my Dad, Bill, who moved on to bigger mountains and better IPA 16 years ago today (14/7/2013). The reason we discovered the white sands was because my mum had told me he used to sail from the Point of Sleat. When we came to Skye I hadn't thought of coming down here as there were no caches! Darleygirl thought we should go and say hello to one of his memories and we did. We hope you enjoy this place as much as we did and as much as my old man.
To reach Camas Daraich and it's sandy bay you must travel along the footpath south west from the parking waypoint outside An Aird. This walk is just under 2 miles and offers some fantastic views. The terrain is easy going in some parts but is not recommended for wheelchair users or those with a pushchair as it does get rough in places and there are some heavily uneven pathways.
Further along the path, when the Point of Sleat is in view, there is a clear sign indicating the path to sandy bay. Follow the sign for 1/4 mile (that's what the sign says, we think it's longer) and you will be rewarded with a beautiful bay which may steal a wee part of your heart.
Welcome to the white sands of Camas Daraich
The best thing about this earthcache is that you can actually see the white sands being formed.
Sand beaches.
'How are they formed?' I hear you say.
Well, I'm glad you asked.
Sand is defined by geologists as a granular mineral between 1/16 mm and 2 mm in diameter. Particles that have a larger diameter are called gravel. Particles with a smaller diameter are called silt, which resembles flour in its consistency. Sand accounts for 2 percent of the Earth's crust. Most of that sand is on the sea bed, in rivers, or in dunes and not on coastal beaches.
Beaches are formed when ocean currents bring sand with them toward the shore. Small waves bring sand and other sediment from the shallow ocean floor and deposit it on the coast. Medium waves bring in sand on the up-rush and take some back, usually less, on their way back to the ocean. Both of these types of waves cause beaches to grow. During a storm, very strong waves erode the beach, taking more sand than they contribute. Because the strength of waves is always changing, the amount of sand on a beach fluctuates as well.
'That's all very well and you've done a great job of trawling the internet for this information but why is this beach white?' is the next question I can tell is on your lips.
I think I can provide you with some of that information, some you will have to find out for yourself in order to log this earthcache.
White sand beaches are formed from calcium carbonate. Coral, crushed seashells and tiny wee skeletons of marine life provide the basis for the formation of white sands. These tend to be in tropical or subtropical areas but aren't exclusive as you can see by many of the beaches in the north of Scotland.
The white sands created by coral reefs are created in a couple of ways. The first way is by mechanical erosion which is basically where the force of the waves hitting the beach and abrasion of the pebbles in the water create the sand.
The second way reef beaches get their white sand is from bioerosion. All the creatures who graze or bore on the coral then have to excrete it and this is where the sand forms.
I can hear what you're thinking...
...Yup, some white sand coral beaches are actually fish doo doo.
Happily this one isn't 
To log this earthcache we require you to ...
1) Head to approximately N 57° 01.449 W 006° 00.700. Be careful as these rocks are slippy. Have a look at the rocks in this area, they are fantastic and would probably justify an earthcache in themselves, look in the rock pools, what can you see? What forms the white sands of Camas Daraich? The answer is in front of you.
2) Grab a handful of the sand. Describe how it feels. What colours can you see in it? How many grains do you think you are holding?
3) An optional extra to brighten up the cache page - take a picture of a drawing you have made in the sand or your cache name written in it.
4) A pic of you and your precious geocache locator device on the beach would be appreciated also.
You must physically visit this cache in order to log it, feel free to log once found.
Email your answers to questions 1 and 2 via our profile above and we will confirm if you are correct. Please release your email address when answering so we can reply promptly.
Please do not post your answers to the questions in your log or photographs of how the sand is created.
Please do post as many other photos (of the area) as you like. It deserves it.
|
| I am a proud |
 |