Scotland is legendary for a lot of issues – lochs and glens, moody castles, whisky, and its proud and enigmatic folks, to call only a few – however seashores most likely aren’t the very first thing that leaps to thoughts. That is a serious oversight. The deeply indented Scottish shoreline shelters a number of the UK’s most picturesque strips of sand, many visited by extra seals than folks.
Nothing clears a whisky hangover fairly like a stroll alongside a wind-whipped shoreline, and the northwest coast and the Scottish Islands are blessed with a profusion of untamed seashores. The Western Isles particularly are famend for his or her tremendous stretches of blinding-white sand and turquoise waters.
There are additionally a number of respectable metropolis seashores too, set not removed from main cities akin to Aberdeen and Edinburgh and serving up the complete seaside expertise, full with present outlets filled with buckets and spades and fish and chip stands. From family-friendly seaside resorts to wild empty coves the place you possibly can really feel the wind in your hair, this is our decide of the very best Scottish seashores.
Sanday, Orkney
Greatest seashore for making sandcastles
Famed for historic standing stones, prehistoric villages and spectacular coastal surroundings, the scattered islands of Orkney inform of lives shared with a rugged local weather and the blessings and tough moods of the ocean. It is a vacation spot the place journey seekers scuba dive amidst the melancholy wrecks of warships and walkers share coastal paths with the salty clamor of seabird colonies, however the islands are additionally dotted with sandy, grass-backed coves.
Sanday is extensively accepted to have Orkney’s greatest seashores – dusted with the type of dazzling white sand extra generally related to the Caribbean. Begin the seek for seashore perfection at Whitemill Bay within the north of Sanday – it is peaceable, grass-edged and totally serene.
Sandwood Bay, Kinlochbervie
Greatest seashore for wild walks
South of Cape Wrath, Sandwood Bay boasts considered one of Scotland’s greatest and most remoted seashores, guarded at one finish by the spectacular rock pinnacle referred to as Am Buachaille (“The Shepherd”). A 9-mile round-trip hike from Blairmore automotive park, northwest of Kinlochbervie, follows a former peat observe throughout bleak moorland puddled with lochans (small swimming pools) earlier than arriving, nearly unexpectedly, at this coastal jewel. Few folks stroll all the best way to the seashore’s northern finish, so when you’ve packed a picnic, that’s the spot to move for whole privateness.
Aberdeen Seashore
Greatest metropolis seashore
Aberdeen has a spectacular 2-mile sweep of fresh, golden sand stretching between the mouths of the Rivers Dee and Don. On a heat summer season’s day, this is a wonderful seashore for watery thrill-seeking – when the waves are proper, devoted native surfers experience the breaks on the south finish of the sand. For much less energetic beachgoers, the beachfront Esplanade boasts a number of conventional seaside points of interest, together with Codona’s, an old school amusement park, full with stomach-flipping waltzers, dodgems, a curler coaster, a log flume and a haunted home.
Bosta Seashore, Nice Bernera
Greatest seashore for bracing coastal walks
The tiny, rocky island of Nice Bernera is related to Lewis by a bridge constructed by the native council in 1953, as a substitute for a plan by independent-minded islanders to explode a small hill with explosives and use the fabric to construct their very own causeway. There are tremendous coastal walks available right here – on a sunny day, make the lengthy detour to Nice Bernera’s northern tip for a picnic on the good little sandy seashore of Bosta. A signposted 5-mile coastal observe to this patch of paradise begins from Breacleit, the island’s solely village.
Dunnet Bay, Dunnet Head
Greatest seashore for uplifting views
Eight miles east of Thurso, a minor highway results in dramatic Dunnet Head, probably the most northerly level on the British mainland. Right here, majestic cliffs drop into the turbulent Pentland Firth, revealing inspiring views of Orkney to the north. Basking seals and nesting seabirds could be seen beneath, and there is a lighthouse constructed by Robert Louis Stevenson’s grandad. Simply south, the wonderful curving strand of Dunnet Bay is considered one of Scotland’s best seashores, backed by excessive dunes and a campsite – it is a cause to go to this stretch of coast all by itself.
Edinburgh’s metropolis seashores
Greatest seashores for day-trippers
There are a number of interesting seashores in Edinburgh’s suburbs. For a charmingly unhurried expertise, traipse all the way down to the sand within the picturesque village suburb of Cramond. Initially a mill village, Cramond has a historic Seventeenth-century church and a Fifteenth-century tower home, in addition to some much less spectacular Roman stays, however most individuals come to get pleasure from walks alongside the river to ruined mills and stroll alongside the seafront. To the east is Portobello Seashore, a preferred Victorian seaside city, dwelling to a kayaking and sailing club, in addition to a preferred sandy seashore.
Kiloran Bay, Colonsay, South Argyll
Greatest seashore for escaping the vacationer path
There are a number of fairly sandy seashores on Colonsay within the Interior Hebrides, however Kiloran Bay within the northwest, a scimitar-shaped strand of darkish golden sand, is excellent. Going through west, it is also the best vantage level for gorgeous sunsets. In addition to pure points of interest, there is a gin distillery and a brewery to go to on the island, which is accessible by ferry from Oban on the mainland.
West Sands Seashore, St Andrews
Greatest seashore for film buffs
St Andrews, the official dwelling of the sport of golf, is a beautiful place to go to even when you’ve no real interest in hitting little white balls. There are a few lovely sandy seashores close by, however the very best is the magnificent West Sands seashore, made well-known by the movie Chariots of Fireplace (1981), because the setting for an epic working race accompanied by the rousing music of Vangelis.
Luskentyre, Harris, Outer Hebrides
Greatest seashore for followers of good sand
The blinding white sands and turquoise waters of Luskentyre and Traigh Scarista on the west coast of the island of Harris could be main vacation resorts in the event that they had been transported to someplace with a hotter local weather. As it’s, they’re normally abandoned, and all the higher for it.
Luskentyre is among the largest and most lovely seashores in Scotland, famed for its acres of white sands and cat-eye inexperienced waters at low tide. A minor highway leads alongside the northern aspect of the bay to a parking space beside an historic graveyard; from right here you possibly can stroll west alongside the seashore or via the grassy dunes, with beautiful views throughout the ocean to the island of Taransay.
Traigh Mor, Barra, Outer Hebrides
Greatest seashore for plane-spotters
With its lovely seashores, wildflower-clad dunes, rugged low hills and robust sense of neighborhood, diminutive Barra – simply 14 miles in circumference – is the Outer Hebrides in microcosm. The huge expanse of golden sand at Traigh Mor (“Large Strand”) will not be solely a beautiful stretch of seashore, it additionally serves as Barra’s airport.
A mile throughout at low tide, that is the one seashore airport on the planet that receives scheduled flights, with three runways organized in a triangle, permitting planes to land in any wind situations. Watching tiny Twin Otter planes come and go is a well-liked spectator sport on the island, and in between flights, locals collect on the sand to reap cockles, a neighborhood seafood specialty.
Arisaig and Morar, West Highlands
Greatest seashore for seafront tenting
The quick stretch of coast between the tiny villages of Arisaig and Morar is stuffed with rocky islets, inlets and beautiful silver-sand seashores backed by dunes and machair (coastal grassland), with gorgeous sundown views throughout the ocean to the silhouetted peaks of Eigg and Rum.
The Silver Sands of Morar, as they’re recognized, draw crowds in July and August, when the numerous campsites scattered alongside the coast are crammed to overflowing. Followers of the film Native Hero nonetheless make pilgrimages to Camusdarach Seashore, simply south of Morar, which starred within the movie as Ben’s seashore.
Coldingham Bay, Borders
Greatest seashore for clifftop walks to quiet coves
The picturesque shoreline north of Berwick-Upon-Tweed is improbable for individuals who love the good open air. A few of the UK’s greatest diving spots are right here, in addition to glorious biking, strolling, angling and birdwatching. In Coldingham, about 12 miles north of Berwick, a signposted turn-off leads all the way down to secluded Coldingham Bay, which has a tremendous sandy seashore and a clifftop strolling path to Eyemouth (3 miles). At St Vedas Surf Shop you possibly can rent surfboards, sea kayaks and snorkeling gear; there’s additionally a comfy lodge right here that serves low-cost meals.
The Coral Seashores, Dunvegan, Skye
Greatest seashore for escaping the Skye crowds
Dunvegan, an unremarkable village on the western aspect of Skye, is legendary for its historic namesake fortress with historic hyperlinks to each Sir Walter Scott and Bonnie Prince Charlie. From the tip of the minor highway past Dunvegan Citadel, a simple mile-long stroll results in the Coral Seashores – a pair of blindingly white seashores composed of the bleached exoskeletons of coralline algae referred to as maerl. Each are tremendous locations to gap up on a sunny day.
Scousburgh Sands, Shetland
Greatest seashore for bird-watchers
The gloriously white sandy seashore of Scousburgh Sands, on Shetland’s South Mainland, is backed by dunes and rolling countryside and it is extensively thought-about to be Shetland’s best strand. Close to it, Spiggie Loch is a crucial fowl reserve and in addition attracts flyfishing folks. Better of all, you may hardly ever must share this pretty spot with a crowd. To get right here, head north from the airport at Sumburgh and switch left simply previous Boddam.
Calgary Seashore, Mull
Greatest seashore for calm contemplation
Mull’s greatest (and busiest) silver-sand seashore, with views out to Coll and Tiree, is about 12 miles west of Tobermory, close to the northwest tip of the island. That is the place from which Canada’s extra well-known Calgary takes its identify, and it is a neat curve of bone-white sand shelving into good blue waters, bookended by grassy, craggy headlands.
Belhaven Bay, Dunbar
Greatest seashore for photographers
Belhaven (“lovely harbor”) is about proper for this superb sweep of sand, which arcs beside the open sea for practically 2 miles on the fringes of John Muir Country Park west of Dunbar. Identified for its browsing, it is backed by the park’s romantic tableau of sand dunes, salt marsh and woodlands (the place you may additionally discover services akin to a play park and barbecues for sunny day lunches). Crossing a stream at its japanese finish is the “Bridge to Nowhere”, photogenically marooned at excessive tide.
Elie and Earlsferry, East Neuk
Greatest seashores for coasteering
These two enticing villages mark the southwestern finish of the East Neuk, probably the most northerly a part of the Firth of Forth. There are nice sandy seashores, two golf programs and good walks alongside the coast – begin with the Chain Stroll, an adventurous scramble alongside the rocky shoreline at Kincraig Level, west of Earlsferry, utilizing chains and metal rungs cemented into the rock (permit two hours, and ask native recommendation about tides earlier than setting off). For a gentler day trip, there’s nothing higher than a lazy summer season Sunday on the huge seashore within the village of Elie, watching the native crew play cricket on the sand.
Seashores of North Berwick
Greatest seashores for the entire Scottish expertise
Gazing north throughout the Firth of Forth, North Berwick is a sexy Victorian seaside resort with lengthy sandy seashores and a small harbor. 5 miles west of city, the golden crescent of Gullane Bents has epic views over the Firth and its shaggy fringe of dunes and sea buckthorn bushes additionally shelter a wealth of wildlife, together with seabirds and roe deer.
East of North Berwick, Seacliff Seashore is a pristine sweep of sand with views of bird-thronged Bass Rock and majestic Tantallon Citadel. The latter is seen at low tide from the western finish of the seashore, the place there’s additionally a tiny rock-hewn harbor. Fringed by dunes, meadows and woodland, the broad sandy cove of Yellowcraig seems out to the island of Fidra and its Victorian lighthouse (considered one of a number of islands mentioned to be the inspiration for RL Stevenson’s Treasure Island). Observe the quick path to Yellow Craig, an historic volcanic vent, for the very best sea views.
