The rocky island of Great Bernera is connected to Lewis by a bridge built by the local council in 1953 – the islanders had originally planned to blow up a small hill with explosives and use the material to build their own causeway. At St Vedas Surf Shop you can hire surfboards, sea kayaks and snorkeling gear; there's a hotel here that serves cheap food. A family of these fantastic birds have been successfully breeding on the Isle of Mull since 1985. Bonus Best Beaches In Scotland: Best Beach for Being Easy To Reach: Portobello, Edinburgh. Top Scottish Highlands Beaches: See reviews and photos of Beaches in Scottish Highlands, Scotland on Tripadvisor. The beaches of Harris are breathtaking, and if they were in any climate warmer than... 3. Wednesday, 3rd June 2020, 2:21 pm. Vatersay Beach. St Andrews West Sands in Fife (pictured below) and Gullane Bents in East Lothian … The Caledonian Sleeper: Britain’s best train journey? Beach fact: A Pictish treasure hoard was found on the island, beside the ancient chapel site. Iconic Ben Nevis needs to be top of your Scottish to-do list. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter. The magnificent stretch of pink-hued beach is bounded by the Am Buachaille sea stack and backed by a broad belt of rolling dunes where it's possible to find shelter for wild camping. The 5 miles of coast between the tiny villages of Arisaig and Morar is full of rocky islets, inlets and gorgeous silver-sand beaches backed by dunes and machair, with stunning sunset views across the sea to the silhouetted peaks of Eigg and Rum. Granted, Scotland is no tropical playground – its frigid North Atlantic waters are rarely warm enough for a swim. You can use our search to find businesses that are open and Good to Go (with a COVID-19 risk assessment). Dunvegan, an unremarkable village on the western side of Skye, is famous for its historic namesake castle that has links to Sir Walter Scott and Bonnie Prince Charlie. You are never more than 5 km from the sea on the northerly Shetland archipelago, so a Scottish beach adventure is always on the cards! Located in the city of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Beach is one of Scotland's most popular seaside destinations. Though it doesn’t have the rugged beauty of those above, Troon is one of the most popular beaches for those from Glasgow to visit and the most accessible of all on this list. In between flights, locals gather cockles, a local seafood speciality, from the sands. Scotland has many beautiful beaches caressing its coastline ranging from rugged shingly beaches to pure-white sandy beaches with crystal-clear waters. Image Source. Jemima Kirkwood 26 June 2020 Whilst beaches tend to be visited most in the summer months, they are actually an all-year-round destination that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Why not learn more about clean and sustainable beaches across the country with these beach cleaning tips? Here’s his pick of beaches and seaside villages Isle of Lewis, Isle of Harris & Stornoway, Luskentyre Sands & Seilebost Beach, Isle of Harris. Edinburgh is a glorious place to visit, so much so that you may find it difficult to tear yourself away. Of course it's the home of golf in Scotland but there's much more to see around town. It’s one of their best kept secrets – and it’s worked out for the Scots, as their beaches are nowhere near as damaged by tourism than the likes of some in England. Just over an hour's drive from the capital, Coldingham Bay is one of several pristine beaches near Edinburgh, quietly situated along the Berwickshire coast. With an art-deco inspired esplanade, the golden coastline stretches 3 km and is one of the best beaches in Scotland to see bottlenose dolphins in the summer and try watersports. There are a couple of good beaches in Edinburgh's suburbs. South of Cape Wrath, Sandwood Bay boasts one of Scotland’s best and most isolated beaches, guarded at one end by the spectacular rock pinnacle Am Buachaille. The ‘Scotland the Best’ author has been touring the country for 25 years in search of its finest places. South Scotland is more populated and accessible than the wild north, although much of its coastline remains beautifully unspoilt. You might recognise it from the opening scenes of Chariots of Fire (1981), but West Sands Beach in St Andrews is equally well known for simply being a long, lovely beach - with the Old Course to one side and atmospheric swirling seas to the other. 12 of the best beaches in Scotland 1. No beach is the same here … The beach featured in … Expert local knowledge, gifts and inspiration. Best Beaches In Scotland Available To Visit Near Edinburgh. Beach fact: There is a lost, ancient citadel at the hilltop, Mote of Mark, which is believed to date back to the 5th or 6th century. Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice. Found on the edge of Coldingham village, on the North Sea coast, Coldingham Bay is a picturesque beach... Achmelvich Beach. Camasdarach beach, Morar North of Arisaig the coastline has a whole string of simply stunning beaches. There are several good sandy beaches on Colonsay, but Kiloran Bay in the northwest, a scimitar-shaped strand of dark golden sand, is outstanding. Look across to the sea and enjoy the views across to Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran. Mull’s best (and busiest) silver-sand beach, flanked by cliffs and with views out to Coll and Tiree, is about 12 miles west of Tobermory. Walk from Coldingham to St Abbs along the Creel Path for more breathtaking wildlife and crystal-clear seas. Adjacent to the beach, there is a putting green, play area and crazy golf. To find accessible beaches, browse Euan's Guide to help you plan your next beach day! Beach fact: Fresh seafood is still a local favourite here - try some of the catch served up in Moon Fish Café or Silver Darling in Aberdeen's city centre. One of the best beaches on the west coast of Scotland and also one of the most secluded, Langamull Beach is a hidden gem on the Isle of Mull. It was founded between 1410 - 1413. Tolsta, a crofting village, is not far from Lewis' main town of Stornoway and this peaceful cove is hidden away from the road, ideal for a picnic stop. 5 of the best beaches near Glasgow You don’t have to travel far from Glasgow to access some of the country’s finest beaches . It's also the ideal vantage point for stunning sunsets. Seilebost Beach. The east's pretty sand dunes and long stretches of white sand make it a lovely place to walk the dog, or just yourself, with views across to the harbour town. This beach has won Scotland’s cleanest beach award for years and years consecutively. A circular 6 km walk will see you set foot across one of the finest sand tombolos in Europe, walking straight through the middle of the ocean over a natural sand causeway towards a blissful isle. This is one of the best beaches in Scotland and the rise of the North Coast 500 means that even more people get to see the beauty of it first hand than ever before! Which places provide the best beaches in Scottish Highlands for travellers on a budget? Visitors will definitely enjoy, while they visit with other family members. There are a couple of beautiful sandy beaches nearby, but the best is the magnificent West Sands beach, made famous by the film Chariots of Fire (1981). Beach fact: Coldingham is home to the Coldingham Priory, the former house of Benedictine monks with records dating back as far as 640 AD. One of the most incredible coastal sights is St Ninian's Isle. Douglas The state, country, or island where the beach is. All rights reserved. https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/landscapes-nature/beaches Fans of the movie Local Hero still make pilgrimages to Camusdarach Beach, just south of Morar, which starred in the film as Ben’s beach. Here is a city beach with bucket and spade-loads of charm! Known as one of the best beaches in Scotland, West Port Beach is located in Argyll on the west coast of the country. 10 of Scotland’s most magical white sand beaches Country Life July 3, 2018 . Five miles east, the golden crescent of Gullane Bents has epic views over the Firth of Forth. Dubbed the Mull Caribbean, this expanse of soft white-shell sand which stretches into turquoise waters rivals any exotic beach. On a sunny day, make the long detour to Great Bernera's northern tip for a picnic at the perfect little sandy beach of Bosta. There are also a few decent beaches not far from major cities such as Aberdeen and Edinburgh. 12 Best Beaches in Scotland Aberdeen Beach. Or keep up-to-date with the latest changes to restrictions. With its beautiful beaches, wildflower-clad dunes, rugged little hills and strong sense of community, diminutive Barra – just 14 miles in circumference – is the Outer Hebrides in miniature. 13 secret beaches in Scotland. Scottish beaches come in many shapes and sizes - why not visit some in 2021 when we celebrate our Year of Coasts and Waters? The gloriously white sandy beach of Scousburgh Sands (also known as Spiggie Beach), is backed by dunes and rolling countryside and is considered Shetland's finest strand. On a more relaxing note, there's nothing better than a lazy summer Sunday in Elie, watching the local team play cricket on the beach. It forms part of a string of beautiful beaches called the Silver Sands of Morar. From here, you can see the jaggy outline of the Cuillin mountain range on the Isle of Skye, the rugged blue peaks of Rum and the steep sea cliff of Eigg. Beach fact: This beach was featured in the classic Scottish film Local Hero (1983). A minor road leads along the northern side of the bay to a parking area beside an ancient graveyard; from here you can walk west along the beach or through the grassy dunes with gorgeous views across the sea to the island of Taransay. Camusdarach Beach is a vision of glistening sands and sparkling clear water, just south of the estuary of River Morar, near Mallaig. 2. Destinations. For those staying onshore the beach offers panoramic views of North Minch, not to mention it's a stone's throw away from Smoo Cave, the largest cave in Scotland. The best beaches in Wales Alamy; Three Cliffs Bay, Wales. More of the best beaches in Scotland. … Camasdarach Beach is deservedly the best known, where dunes lead down to a simply stunning sweep of sand with unmatched views out to the Isles of Rum and Eigg. A total of 61 beaches have been given awards in recognition of their high standards in cleanliness, amenities and water quality. At Rockcliffe, a bird sanctuary called Rough Island can be reached on foot at low tide all year round, except for May and June (when the birds take charge of the isle!). See the latest changes to the current Covid-19 restrictions and plan and book your next trip. Cookies are required to view this content. St Ninian’s Isle, Shetland. Best beach in Scotland for coastal walks: Sanna Bay, Ardnamurchan peninsula (Image credit: Getty Images) If coastal walks are on your to-do list, head out to the Ardnamurchan peninsula and park up at Portuairk. Hidden within sheltered rocky coves where the beach, dating back to the sea and enjoy the across. 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