Scotland's best beaches for summer 2025 named as 'special' spot tops list
Scotland's best beaches for 2025 have been named, with a Scottish Borders bay described as "special" topping the list. Holiday experts at Big 7 Travel recently shared a roundup of the "most stunning Scottish beaches".
A total of seven picturesque bays up and down the country were singled out. Topping the experts' list is Coldingham Bay near the town of Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders. The bay is an inlet in the North Sea coast.
Coldingham Bay is a sheltered sandy beach found at the mouth of the Buskin Burn, within the St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve. The reserve is famed for its wealth and diversity of marine life, as well as for being the first voluntary marine reserve in Scotland.
The beach itself features sand dunes and crystal clear waters, and offers opportunities for rock pooling. It has previously been recognised with a Seaside Award by Keep Scotland Beautiful and recommended by the Marine Conservation Society for its cleanliness, water quality, and management.
Big 7 Travel wrote: "Quietly nestled along the Berwickshire coast, Coldingham Bay has something special about it. It's only one kilometre long, but the beach has a familial, rural feel that has a cosy warmth to it."
The experts added: "Keep walking and you'll come across a 30-metre-high cliff—Yellow Craig. There are also some pretty dunes just behind the beach—they're particularly lovely in summer, when the butterflies and wildflowers come out to play."
The second most beautiful beach in Scotland according to the experts is Achmelvich Bay in Sutherland. The beach is located along the country's northwest coast, three miles northwest of Lochinver and 40 miles north of Ullapool.
Achmelvich Bay is among Scotland's most renowned beaches, and is a popular stopping point on the North Coast 500 scenic driving route. It was praised by Big 7 Travel for its hiking opportunities, and was described as a top swimming spot.
The experts stated: "Tucked away on the rural west coast, Achmelvich Bay is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in Scotland. The sugary white sand is flanked by granite outcrops, creating a paradisiacal cove that's the perfect summer sun trap.
"The sea is crystal clear and calm—perfect for swimming. As well as soaking up the supremely refreshing breeze and enjoying the view—you can see the Isles of Harris and Lewis on a clear day—there are tonnes of activities to do.
"Fishing enthusiasts will love it here, there are plenty of fishing boats in the bay catching cod, haddock, whiting, and more. And it's perfect for hikers, too. The craggy, rocky landscape makes Achmelvich a fun climbing spot—make your way up to An Farad Bheag and take in the stunning views."
Meanwhile, Big 7 Travel named Camusdarach Beach in Morar at number three on their list. The beach is situated just south of the estuary of River Morar, with views out over to the isles of Skye, Rum, and Eigg.
The experts praised Camusdarach Beach as a top swimming destination, as well as kayaking and paddling. They suggested that visitors head to the bay on a clear day to make the most of the views.
Rounding out the top five "most stunning Scottish beaches" are Oldshoremore Beach in Sutherland and West Bay in the East Lothian town of North Berwick. Oldshoremore Beach was noted for its soft sand and glistening turquoise water, while West Bay earned acclaim for its birdwatching and picnicking opportunities.
Elsewhere, completing the list of seven are Gullane Beach in East Lothian and Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris. The former is located a short distance from Edinburgh and was described as "a great day out for families", and the latter was compared to beaches found in Australia.
The most stunning Scottish beaches
Coldingham Bay, Eyemouth
Achmelvich Bay, Sutherland
Camusdarach Beach, Morar
Oldshoremore Beach, Sutherland
West Bay (North Berwick), East Lothian
Gullane Beach, East Lothian
Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris
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