Scotland Now Douglas Dickie and Ambarish Awale 15:45, 17 Jun 2025
a
Scotland is set for a scorcher in coming days, with heatwave conditions forecast and families gearing up for the last full weekend before the school summer holidays begin. With the sun shining and holiday mode kicking in early, many will be heading to the coast to make the most of the weather.
While Scotland's vast 12,000-kilometre coastline offers everything from hidden Highland coves to wide, bustling sands, families with younger children often prefer somewhere easier to access and packed with handy amenities.
And now, new research has revealed the best beach in Scotland for a family day out.
Aberdour Silver Sands, on the scenic Fife coast, has been named Scotland's most family friendly beach in a new study by outdoor retailer Millets.
Using a range of criteria including sea temperature, facilities and safety, the beach scored an impressive 9.22 out of 10, well ahead of St Andrews West Sands in second place.
Aberdour came out on top in several key areas. It boasts the warmest average maximum sea temperature among the top five at 12.2°C, offers water sports activities and RNLI lifeguard cover, and is one of 52 beaches in Scotland to receive a Keep Scotland Beautiful Award.
Water quality at Silver Sands is rated 'excellent', and while parking is not free, it costs just £1 for up to eight hours.
Scenic and compact, Aberdour is home to not one but two beaches. Silver Sands lies to the east of town, while Black Sands sits closer to the centre beside a picturesque harbour.
The town also features a historic castle, a popular golf course, and a selection of traditional pubs and local shops.
Getting there is easy, too. The beach is just 30 minutes from Edinburgh by train, 45 minutes by car, and just over an hour's drive from Glasgow.
On clear days, visitors can even enjoy views across the Firth of Forth to the capital.
The Millets top five also included Troon Beach in South Ayrshire, Anstruther in Fife, and Montrose in Angus.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Natalie Wolfenden, outdoor expert at Millets, encouraged families to embrace beach days but warned preparation is key. 'Scotland is brimming with gorgeous beaches, from Troon Beach to Gullane Beach,' she said.
'While a family beach trip is a great way to get children off screens and can provide the whole family with something they enjoy, preparation is key.
'Make sure you pack all the essentials tailored to your family's needs. If you have younger children or those less confident in the water, packing some armbands can provide some sense of mind, but always keep a close eye when they are near or in the water.
'Suncream is essential for all the family, while caps and sunglasses offer an extra layer of protection from the sun's rays. Consider taking a windbreak or beach shelter as a protective barrier against wind for a more comfortable beach experience.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Four Scottish family days out this summer from Royal Highland Show to Nessie hunt
There is limitless fun to be had for people of all ages. Summer is here, which means there is no excuse not to get out for some family fun. Rain or shine, there is no better time than the summer months to explore Scotland. The country is certainly not short of places to go and things to see. From bustling cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh to idyllic beaches and charming fishing villages, Scotland is your oyster. To celebrate summertime, the Daily Record has rounded up a few exciting events and attractions around the country. From the Royal Highland Show to The Loch Ness Centre, Scots and holidaymakers of all ages will get a kick out of each one. Read on for four of the best family days out in Scotland this summer. Royal Highland Show Taking place between June 20 and 23 in Ingliston, the Royal Highland Show is a celebration of Scotland's rural roots and makes for a perfect day out for the family. From prize-winning sheep to the mighty Clydesdale, more than 4,500 animals will descend on the showground for four days of farming, food, and fun. family zone. Edinburgh's hidden city Launching on Thursday, June 19, is a new dual underground experience from The Real Mary King's Close and The Lost Close. The attractions will be joining forces for a one-of-a-kind tour through two of Edinburgh's most mysterious subterranean streets. Starting with a coffee and stories underneath John's Coffee House—where Scottish Enlightenment minds once met—visitors will then encounter a Victorian Crossley engine buried in time before heading across the iconic Royal Mile to The Real Mary King's Close. Here, they will step into a perfectly preserved 17th-century street on which plague doctors, paupers, and more once walked. More information can be found on The Real Mary King's Close website. The Loch Ness Centre At the newly reimagined Loch Ness Centre, visitors of all ages can walk through 500 million years of natural history, folklore and scientific exploration, and try and solve Scotland's greatest mystery. The Loch Ness Centre offers one-hour tours where visitors can explore themed rooms packed with interactive exhibits, ancient myths, real scientific research, and dramatic retellings of sightings of the Loch Ness Monster. The centre also offers special Deep Scan Cruises that set sail directly onto the legendary loch's waters. Visitors will learn all about the past 40 years of monster-hunting science, while using cutting-edge sonar equipment to search the loch's inky depths for themselves. CalMac Ferries They say the journey is half the fun, and nowhere is that more true than with Caledonian MacBrayne. Whether it is a short trip to Arran or Bute, or a grand Outer Hebrides adventure, island-hopping offers an exciting slice of Scottish magic for the entire family. Among the things you can get up to are paddleboarding on Mull and hunting for dinosaur tracks on Skye. Holidaymakers can also take part in a new family trail The Quest on Mull and Iona.
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
Popular seaside spot named Scotland's best family-friendly beach for sunny day out
If you're looking to get out in this weekend's warm weather this may be the place for you Scotland is set for a scorcher in the coming days, with heatwave conditions forecast for the weekend. Families will be gearing up for the last full weekend before the school summer holidays begin. With the sun shining and holiday mode kicking in early, many will be heading to the coast to make the most of the weather. Scotland's vast 12,000-kilometre coastline offers everything from hidden Highland coves to wide, bustling sands. But families with younger children often prefer somewhere easier to access and packed with handy amenities. And now, new research has revealed the best beach in Scotland for a family day out. Aberdour Silver Sands, on the scenic Fife coast, has been named Scotland's most family friendly beach in a new study by outdoor retailer Millets. Using a range of criteria including sea temperature, facilities and safety, the beach scored an impressive 9.22 out of 10, well ahead of St Andrews West Sands in second place. Aberdour came out on top in several key areas. It boasts the warmest average maximum sea temperature among the top five at 12.2°C, offers water sports activities and RNLI lifeguard cover, and is one of 52 beaches in Scotland to receive a Keep Scotland Beautiful Award. Water quality at Silver Sands is rated 'excellent', and while parking is not free, it costs just £1 for up to eight hours. Scenic and compact, Aberdour is home to not one but two beaches. Silver Sands lies to the east of town, while Black Sands sits closer to the centre beside a picturesque harbour. The town also features a historic castle, a popular golf course, and a selection of traditional pubs and local shops. Getting there is easy, too. The beach is just 30 minutes from Edinburgh by train, 45 minutes by car, and just over an hour's drive from Glasgow. On clear days, visitors can even enjoy views across the Firth of Forth to the capital. The Millets top five also included Troon Beach in South Ayrshire, Anstruther in Fife, and Montrose in Angus. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Natalie Wolfenden, outdoor expert at Millets, encouraged families to embrace beach days but warned preparation is key. 'Scotland is brimming with gorgeous beaches, from Troon Beach to Gullane Beach,' she said. 'While a family beach trip is a great way to get children off screens and can provide the whole family with something they enjoy, preparation is key. 'Make sure you pack all the essentials tailored to your family's needs. If you have younger children or those less confident in the water, packing some armbands can provide some sense of mind, but always keep a close eye when they are near or in the water. 'Suncream is essential for all the family, while caps and sunglasses offer an extra layer of protection from the sun's rays. Consider taking a windbreak or beach shelter as a protective barrier against wind for a more comfortable beach experience.'
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
Scotland Now Douglas Dickie and Ambarish Awale 15:45, 17 Jun 2025
a Scotland is set for a scorcher in coming days, with heatwave conditions forecast and families gearing up for the last full weekend before the school summer holidays begin. With the sun shining and holiday mode kicking in early, many will be heading to the coast to make the most of the weather. While Scotland's vast 12,000-kilometre coastline offers everything from hidden Highland coves to wide, bustling sands, families with younger children often prefer somewhere easier to access and packed with handy amenities. And now, new research has revealed the best beach in Scotland for a family day out. Aberdour Silver Sands, on the scenic Fife coast, has been named Scotland's most family friendly beach in a new study by outdoor retailer Millets. Using a range of criteria including sea temperature, facilities and safety, the beach scored an impressive 9.22 out of 10, well ahead of St Andrews West Sands in second place. Aberdour came out on top in several key areas. It boasts the warmest average maximum sea temperature among the top five at 12.2°C, offers water sports activities and RNLI lifeguard cover, and is one of 52 beaches in Scotland to receive a Keep Scotland Beautiful Award. Water quality at Silver Sands is rated 'excellent', and while parking is not free, it costs just £1 for up to eight hours. Scenic and compact, Aberdour is home to not one but two beaches. Silver Sands lies to the east of town, while Black Sands sits closer to the centre beside a picturesque harbour. The town also features a historic castle, a popular golf course, and a selection of traditional pubs and local shops. Getting there is easy, too. The beach is just 30 minutes from Edinburgh by train, 45 minutes by car, and just over an hour's drive from Glasgow. On clear days, visitors can even enjoy views across the Firth of Forth to the capital. The Millets top five also included Troon Beach in South Ayrshire, Anstruther in Fife, and Montrose in Angus. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Natalie Wolfenden, outdoor expert at Millets, encouraged families to embrace beach days but warned preparation is key. 'Scotland is brimming with gorgeous beaches, from Troon Beach to Gullane Beach,' she said. 'While a family beach trip is a great way to get children off screens and can provide the whole family with something they enjoy, preparation is key. 'Make sure you pack all the essentials tailored to your family's needs. If you have younger children or those less confident in the water, packing some armbands can provide some sense of mind, but always keep a close eye when they are near or in the water. 'Suncream is essential for all the family, while caps and sunglasses offer an extra layer of protection from the sun's rays. Consider taking a windbreak or beach shelter as a protective barrier against wind for a more comfortable beach experience.'
