Author Josie Rogers on her love of Dun Mhuilig Bay in Argyll

Dun Mhuilig Bay on the Craignish Peninsula, Argyll – a quick 10 minute bike ride from the house I grew up in. However, we call it Seal Bay because the seals often bob up and down in the water.

why are you going there

Think. The bay is just a small horseshoe of shore with a large rock at one end (accessible if you don’t mind climbing and a bit of seaweed).

It’s fairly unremarkable for this part of Argyll. But zipping down the empty road a bit, watching the light hit the surface of the lagoon, and then the ritual of climbing the rocks and looking out at the vast expanse of sky and sea—it’s hard not to get carried away to be inspired.

When I come home from Seal Bay, I often feel the urge to write something down; often it becomes a story or a poem.

how often do you go

Whenever I go home to see my parents. I wrote most of Ambrose Follows His Nose – the book I co-wrote with my late great-grandfather Dick King-Smith – during lockdown in Glasgow. The first trip back to Craignish after this lockdown when I was editing the book was so comforting it almost felt like a revelation.

A farmer for much of his life, Dick has always been surrounded and inspired by animals. To continue his manuscript, it felt important to be in nature whenever I could. Around Seal Bay you are guaranteed to see certain creatures – crabs, hooded crows, sheep and cows – and if you are lucky you may see wild rabbits, deer, herons and of course seals.

Gazing at the sea and the boundless sky, you may feel tiny and alone; then you’ll hear the bleep of an oystercatcher and be reminded of the hum of life around you.

How did you discover it?

As a kid I wasn’t very outdoors – I much preferred being indoors with my stack of books. My father lured us out of the house with promises of spotting seals and skimming rocks.

What’s your favorite memory?

Being high with my buddies on our bikes, pedaling hard uphill and then freewheeling down to Seal Bay. Be free to roam the beach as we please. As a child, I wasn’t initially enthusiastic about moving to rural Scotland. Now I appreciate the access to freedom and tranquility it gave me.

who do you take

Maybe our dog or my family, but I prefer to go alone.

what are you taking

Rubber boots for wading. A jacket with pockets so I can take home a shell or pebble that catches my eye.

what are you leaving behind

Whatever was clouding my mind.

Sum it up in five words.

Quiet. Expansive. dazzling. grounding Quiet.

What other travel destination is on your wish list?

Now that I’m an adult I would love to return to the Outer Hebrides and make the most of the sandy beaches. Seal Bay is shallow and muddy: a terrible place to swim. That’s the only flaw, but it means it’s never crowded.

Ambrose Follows His Nose by Dick King-Smith and Josie Rogers is available now (Puffin Books, £7.99)