Five of the best family-friendly Scottish beaches

Times

01-07-2025

Sun's out, fun's in (we hope). Ditch the screens and grab your buckets and spades as the author of Hidden Beaches, Daniel Start, reveals five of his favourite family-friendly Scottish beaches.
Six miles south of Montrose, off the A92, this great sweep of sheltered sandy beach is backed by a ruined castle and harbour, the perfect spot for a dip or an afternoon of gentle sandcastle-building. There's a car park and seasonal café and, for further adventuring, a lime kiln, arch and adjacent coves at ruined Boddin Harbour, two miles north. Do a bit of exploring and you'll also find wonderful caves and rock pools.
Also known as Kingsbarns Beach, Cambo Sands is a quiet family beach that stretches for about two miles. Set below Cambo Gardens, a Georgian walled garden with naturalistic coastal planting and areas of woodland (there's also a homely vegetarian café on site), the beach is backed by extensive sand dunes and can be great for rockpooling. From the beachside car park walk a mile north to enjoy the most secluded sands at Airbow Point.
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The coral beaches of Skye are at its north end, just beyond Dunvegan where the castle displays the Macleod 'faerie flag'. This is no tropical coral, of course, but Scottish coral composed of fragments of billions of bleached skeletons of the red algae that grows at the bottom of the ocean nearby. It's a mile or so's walk to the beach from the car park, but it's worth it to stroll on this spectacular swirl of white sand. Behind the hill at the north end of the beach you'll find beautiful basalt columns forming steps down into the sea. If you want to swim, time your visit for high tide.
There are far less well-known beaches on Mull to explore once you've got your bearings, but Calgary Bay makes an excellent jumping-off point on the island for visiting beach-loving families. A long sweep of white sand about five miles west of Dervaig, it's backed by wildflower-rich machair and a woodland sculpture trail (with a tea room) while an ice cream kiosk hewn partly from an old boat opens just above the beach every afternoon in summer 'when sunny'.
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This stunning beach is one of the most popular in the area, but you can easily escape the handful of summer tourists by walking to a 'secret' second cove: bear right from the car park and walk 500m to find this wedge of peely-wally sand. Set between igneous outcrops that form a turquoise swimming pool and suntrap, it's an otherwordly spot with wonderful swimming. The main beach is also great with small children in tow. Pick up some picnic supplies in nearby Lochinver and make a day of it.
Taken from Hidden Beaches by Daniel Start (£16.99, wildthingspublishing.com). Buy from timesbookshop.co.uk. Discount for Times+ members. Free UK standard P&P on orders over £25. Special discount available for Times+ members