Kentra Bay, also known as the Singing Sands, is a remote tidal, 306° orientated, coastal Bay
Settlement
At the head of the channel that connects the bay to the sea on the north coast lies the small settlement of
Ardtoe, which has sandy beaches with views to the island of
Eigg.
Further east along the B8004 is the settlement which gives the bay its name,
Kentra. A short distance further east is the large village of
Acharacle. To the south of Kentra, and located on the southeast coast of Kentra Bay, is the tiny former crofting settlement of Arivegaig.
Geography
The bay has an irregular shape, located inland from the sea, and is connected to the sea through a channel that is only 170 metres wide at the sea with the channel widening to some 500metres when it meets the bay proper, some 1.4 km from the sea, on a bearing of 120°. To the east of the bay is Kentra Moss, which consists of several raised
occupying the low-lying coastal flats between Kentra Bay and the
River Shiel. Much of Kentra Moss has been damaged by drainage and localised peat cutting.
To the west of the bay is the small peninsula of some 1.61 km in length with Kentra bay on the east side and the sea loch, Loch Ceann Traigh, on the open west side. The small peninsula is heavily forested, with several small peaks, with () at 88metres being the highest. The south coast of the bay consists of mixed bogs and rocky areas with three small rivers joining the bay. The first of these is the (), further east is the (), and east again, on the bottom right corner of the bay is the large burn (). On the eastern shore of the bay is the small river ()
Islands
Kentra Bay has two groups of small islands. Located close to the southern coast is the small island group, consisting of two islands, called (). These small islands are easily accessible at low tide. Further north, close to the east coast, and slightly north of the small settlement of
Kentra, lies the group of tiny islands called (). These are also accessible at low tide. Further north at the channel that connects the bay to the sea loch are two very small, unnamed islands.
Flora
Kentra Bay supports one of the largest
in the Scottish Highlands.
Muddy areas in the sediment support
and submerged
Zostera is common. Sheep grazing provides ideal conditions for rare pink flowered
seaside centaury. The bog is an attractive location for botanists. The mildness of the climate supports species more commonly found in the
New Forest in the south coast of
England.
These include brown beak-sedge and bog-sedge.
Gallery
File:Centaurium littorale (Salz-Tausendguldenkraut) IMG 2323.jpg|Seaside Centaury
File:Sand and mud flats in Kentra Bay - geograph.org.uk - 126198.jpg|Sand and mud flats in Kentra Bay. This shot taken from the north edge is looking due south across the whole square.
File:Kentra Bay and the Small Isles from Cruach Bhreac - geograph.org.uk - 1404271.jpg|Kentra Bay and the Small Isles from Cruach Bhreac
File:Kentra Bay narrows - geograph.org.uk - 126193.jpg|Kentra Bay narrows. Kentra Bay narrows from the old pier between Ardtoe and Gobshealach. Looking SE towards the head of the bay
File:Allt Beithe, Kentra Bay - geograph.org.uk - 869353.jpg|Allt Beithe, Kentra Bay
File:Kentra Bay by Gobshealach - geograph.org.uk - 125938.jpg|Kentra Bay by Gobshealach. Small bay of Kentra Bay by Gobshealach where much of Kentra moss drains to the sea. The road leads to Ardtoe and Newton of Nrdtoe
File:Kentra Bay at Low Tide - geograph.org.uk - 679110.jpg|Kentra Bay at Low Tide
File:South of Kentra Bay - geograph.org.uk - 250896.jpg|South of Kentra Bay View from a river crossing (of Allt Eas an Taileir?) showing the piers of a previous bridge and the ford beyond. The view opens out to the mudflats of Kentra Bay in the distance.
