Scottish coastal spot with picturesque beaches named one of the best seaside towns in the UK
TOP SPOT Scottish coastal spot with picturesque beaches named one of the best seaside towns in the UK
A SCOTTISH coastal spot with picturesque beaches has been named in a list of the UK's best seaside towns.
Writers at National Geographic Traveller compiled a guide to seven "gems" worth visiting this summer.
2
North Berwick was praised for its spectacular beaches and thriving food scene
Credit: Alamy
2
Fringe by the Sea boasts 10 days of comedy, live music and culinary masterclasses
Credit: Alamy
The travel magazine hailed the destinations for bouncing back amid tough economic conditions.
As the only Scottish addition to the list, North Berwick in East Lothian was praised for its Fringe by the Sea festival and thriving food scene.
Situated just 20 miles from Edinburgh, the town is great for yachting, surfing, sea kayaking, paddleboarding or open-water swimming, not to mention golf.
National Geographic wrote: "Granted, there are coastal resorts that have suffered greater travails than this affluent East Lothian town.
"But it still had to endure a choppy few decades at the close of the 20th century as its 'Biarritz of the North' epithet slipped, hotels closed and local tensions around the courting of tourists grew.
"A healthy truce has since descended and visitors can enjoy a town that's lauded for everything from its long sandy beach to its nation-leading living standards."
Fringe by the Sea boasts 10 days of comedy, live music and culinary masterclasses.
Meanwhile, the town's Lobster Shack serves up tasty langoustine, sweet crab, meaty mussels and line-caught mackerel.
National Geographic Traveller added: "Berwick's foodie reputation is well deserved. Leading the charge are harbour-front Lobster Shack, serving the likes of lobster and crab rolls and smoked haddock and salmon fishcakes, and Drift, a cliff-edge medley of upcycled shipping containers with rousing Firth of Forth views and an indecently good brunch."
The other locations on the list are Margate, Penzance, Barmouth, Scarborough, Weymouth, and Whitley Bay.
UK beach named one of the top 100 in the world
Meanwhile, North Berwick was also named the best place to live in Scotland.
It was hailed by The Sunday Times Best Places to Live list thanks to its combination of beaches, quality schools and independent businesses.
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: "It is easy to feel overwhelmed by everything going on in the world, but there really is so much to celebrate closer to home, from small gestures that lift the everyday from verges blooming with daffodils to volunteer-run dementia cafés, to new initiatives from repair cafés to new railway stations."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey starts filming at Findlater Castle
The block-buster, said to have a budget of £185m, has an all-star ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway and Charlize Theron. It is a retelling of the heroic voyage of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, as he returned from the Trojan War - encountering various adventures along the way. Slated for a July 2026 release, The Odyssey his thought to be director Nolan's most expensive project to date. Universal Pictures described it as "a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology", while Jim Orr, the studio's distribution chief, said it will be 'a visionary, once-in-a-generation cinematic masterpiece that Homer himself would quite likely be proud of.' The production has criss-crossed the globe in search of exotic and authentic locations to film. A new building has been built in the castle grounds (Image: Peter Jolly) Principal photography began at Aït Benhaddou in Morocco in February before filming moved to Pelopennese in Greece and the island of Favignana off the coast of Sicily - believed by some scholars to be one of the locations described in Homer's epic poem. Now, after shooting in Italy, production crews have arrived in Scotland to film several scenes. details are being kept under wraps, but our sneak peek shows that Findlater Castle is being used as a backdrop to the action, with a new building constructed in the foreground. In the Odyssey, the crew encounter a cyclops, are enticed by deadly sirens and get turned into pigs buy the witch-goddess Circe. Matt Damon as Odysseus READ MORE: JJ Abrams lines up Glasgow shoot for secret new movie I rewatched classic 80s Scottish movie Restless Natives and you know what? It's good Lynch, Hitchcock, Tarantino lead GFT birthday line-up Variety named Scotland among the list of 'announced locations' for the film in April, while actor Jesse Garcia said: "The locations are beautiful. It's been fun to work with all the actors that we're working with, and everyone is putting everything into it. We're literally emptying the tank every day. "It's epic. There's going to be some groundbreaking stuff on screen that's really never been done before. [Nolan] keeps upping the game with everything that he does, and the way it's going to look on screen is just going to be incredible." Details of the scenes are being kept under warps (Image: Peter Jolly) Back in February, Universal unveiled a first look at Matt Damon as Odysseus. Nolan is no stranger to Scotland, having filmed parts of The Dark Knight Rises here. The opening scene, where supervillain Bane hijacks a plane, was filmed over the Mar Lodge Estate in the Cairngorms National Park. Scenes from Christopher Nolan's 'THE ODYSSEY will be filmed in Scotland and Ireland. (via @Variety) — Christopher Nolan Art & Updates (@NolanAnalyst) April 14, 2025 News of The Odyssey filming in Scotland comes after The Herald revealed that the fourth Spiderman film starring Tom Holland will be filmed in Glasgow this summer.
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Scots offered chance to relocate to remote island with stunning beaches & incredible wildlife
ISLE BE OFF Scots offered chance to relocate to remote island with stunning beaches & incredible wildlife SCOTS looking to soak in one of the most beautiful corners of the country might finally be able to do just that thanks to a rare opportunity. With white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and incredible wildlife, life on the tiny Scottish isle of Papa Westray in Orkney sounds idyllic. 1 Papa Westray Community School is advertising for a one-day-a-week school teacher Credit: Alamy And thanks to a long-standing job vacancy, it could become a reality for someone ready to adapt to island life. Papa Westray Community School is advertising for a one-day-a-week school teacher. The tiny community school has just seven pupils in one composite class of primary one to seven pupils. The school is currently supported by staff from Westray Junior High School but is hoping to fill the position permanently. Papa Westray has a population of less than 100 with the lowest population being just 54 in the 1990s. Due to its small population and remote location the teaching post has been advertised since 2019. The island is home to the world's shortest scheduled passenger flight, with the record for the 1.7-mile trip to neighbouring island of Westray being only 53 seconds. The school, which is run by Orkney Council has performed well and was praised by education watchdogs last year. Last year The National Trust of Scotland was advertising the role of Pier Manager on Canna, a tiny island off the west coast, that's home to just 15 permanent residents. The once in a lifetime "dream job" to live and work on the island would see the the successful candidate "ensure the smooth operation and maintenance of Canna Harbour, an essential facility for the Isle of Canna community." Relocate to Spectacular Scots Island The NTS, who look after the island after it was bequeathed to them in 1981, said they were looking for a person with "marine or seafaring experience, a strong health & safety ethos, and a passion for preserving Scotland's incredible places and heritage." Based on the island of Canna the Pier Manager role will be to manage the operation and maintenance of Canna Harbour.
Daily Record
8 hours ago
- Daily Record
The 'relaxing' Scottish city hotel you can stay in for better than half price
It is housed in a Victorian building that dates back to 1845. A Scottish hotel that has been described as "very enjoyable and relaxing" can now be booked for better than half price. The accommodation is located in the city of Stirling. The Stirling Highland Hotel is a hotel and spa situated in the heart of Stirling, near the historic Stirling Castle. It is housed within a Victorian building that dates back to 1845. At the moment, guests can book a one-night stay for two at the Stirling Highland Hotel at a cost of £145 through Wowcher. Usually, an overnight stay is priced at £298.95—equating to a discount of 51 per cent. Visitors can choose from either a classic double or twin room at the hotel. The Wowcher deal includes a glass of Prosecco each upon arrival, as well as a £25 dining credit per person at its restaurant. The Scholar's Restaurant serves up a mix of Scottish and European cuisine, with its ingredients locally sourced. Its dinner menu includes dishes such as gnocchi primavera, shepherd's pie, and pan roasted sea bass. Guests will also have access to the Stirling Highland Hotel's leisure centre, which includes a pool, sauna, steam room, and gym. Meanwhile, the spa offers a range of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments. Another highlight of the Stirling Highland Hotel is its 130-year-old rooftop observatory. Guests can enjoy tours hosted by the Astronomical Society, and take advantage of rare photo opportunities. Elsewhere, Stirling offers a huge range of things to see and do outside of the hotel. In addition to Stirling Castle, visitors can climb the National Wallace Monument or head to The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum. The Stirling Highland Hotel has mostly received good feedback from guests. On Tripadvisor, the hotel has an overall rating of 3.8 out of five based on 3,483 reviews. One previous guest wrote: "Very enjoyable and relaxing. I was impressed with this hotel. "The staff are friendly, professional, helpful and approachable. The mattress was so comfortable and I slept like a log. "Breakfast was good. Buffet style hot and cold which gives freedom to enjoy at your own pace." However, a less positive two-star review states: "We had a very pleasant stay here a couple of years ago hence our return but wish we hadn't come back. At nearly £500 for two nights feel it was a total waste of money and that we'd have been better off in the travel lodge." Meanwhile, another positive writeup reads: "As a family we enjoyed our stay. The reception staff are a credit to the hotel, possibly the best customer service we have ever received. "The spa facilities were very good. I would recommend a visit to the pool if you stay. "Good location, short walk from castle and shops. Room was warm, comfortable and clean. Had everything we needed for a short stay." If the Stirling Highland Hotel does not appeal, there are many other accommodation options in Stirling. Among these are the Stirling Court Hotel and The Golden Lion Hotel.
