The little known Scottish beach that was named country's 'most dog friendly'

Daily Record

4 days ago

One visitor wrote called it a "wonderful dog walking beach".
All around Scotland's coastline, there are picturesque beaches ideal for a day out. Whether you live in the Scottish Borders or the Northern Highlands, you will never be too far from a stunning bay.
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With August well underway, the end of summer is sadly in sight—so there is no time like the present to head out for an afternoon by the seaside. If you have a dog, you have even more reason to enjoy a walk along one of Scotland's beaches.
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As we previously reported, the "most dog friendly" beaches in Europe were recently named. Coming in at number one for Scotland on the roundup was Sandhead Beach in Dumfries in Galloway.
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Sandhead Beach is found by the small village of Sandhead near the town of Stranraer. It stretches out for more than a mile, and offers seemingly unlimited swathes of sand to explore when the tide is out.
The beach benefits from plenty of parking, ideal for those who are travelling by car. There are also picnic tables with views out over the bay—just make sure your four-legged friend doesn't steal your food while you are admiring the vistas.
Meanwhile, according to VisitScotland, small boats can be launched at high tide from Sandhead Beach. Windsurfing and waterskiing are also popular activities in the nearby waters.
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As well as being named among the best beaches in Europe for a dog walk, Sandhead Beach has also received positive reviews from the public. It has an overall score of 4.8 out of five on Google based on 17 ratings.
"Wonderful dog walking beach," one visitor shared, while a second agreed: "Long beach ideal for a beach walk".
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"Beautiful, large, clean beach, what is not to love," another beachgoer wrote. And a fourth simply stated: "Amazing beach".
The village of Sandhead itself may be small, but it is home to a popular hotel and restaurant. The Tigh Na Mara Hotel serves up an extensive menu created using local ingredients, while visitors can enjoy its beer garden during the warmer months.
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Another popular accommodation option in the area is the Sands of Luce Holiday Park, which offers both modern static caravans to hire and fully serviced pitches.
The award-winning family-run holiday park is also home to the Lighthouse Restaurant, which hosts regular evening live music and other events.
Elsewhere, one of the top sights in the area is the Kirkmadrine Chapel that is home to the Kirkmadrine Stones. According to Historic Environment Scotland, these eight stones include three of the oldest Christian memorials in Scotland that date back to the sixth century.
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The remaining memorials at Kirkmadrine Chapel date back to between the 700s and 1100s, and highlight the growth of the Scottish church during the period. The Kirkmadrine Stones are evidence of an early Christian church at the site, and are hugely historically important.
Additionally, a few miles from Sandhead is the Stoneykirk Aviation Museum. As the name suggests, the attraction is home to a small collection of aviation artefacts and offers a rare glimpse into the golden age of British aviation.
More information about Sandhead Beach can be found on the VisitScotland website.