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Scottish Sun
15 hours ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Scotland's best hidden gem seaside towns named – as ‘stunning and tranquil' area takes top spot
Read on to discover the full top five list of towns STUNNING SPOT Scotland's best hidden gem seaside towns named – as 'stunning and tranquil' area takes top spot ST Andrews has reportedly been named as Scotland's best "hidden gem" for summer. The seaside town, in Fife, topped a list compiled by experts at travel firm FlixBus, according to the Daily Record. 2 Ayr Beach with the Heads of Ayr in the background Credit: Alamy Several factors were considered, including the number of nature parks, spas, and wellness centres, as well as minimum temperatures, sunshine, and rainfall. St Andrews boasts stunning golf courses, beaches and a selection of bars and restaurants. Meanwhile, St Monans, also in Fife, bagged second place while St Abbs, in the Scottish Borders, was third. Tourists can enjoy the gorgeous scenery in St Monans while St Abbs has a nature reserve and harbour. Ayr, in Ayrshire, was fourth and Arbroath, in Angus, made fifth place. Ayr is known for its beaches and fish and chip shops, while Arbroath is famed for being the home town of the famous smokie. TOP FIVE 'HIDDEN GEMS' St Andrews St Monans St Abbs Ayr Arbroath Elsewher,e a Scottish beach has been crowned as the best stargazing spot in the UK. With summer just around the corner, most people might plan a beach trip to soak up the sun, but exploring the shoreline after dark could be even more exciting this half term. Luskentyre, on the Isle of Harris, is often hailed for its golden sands and crystal clear waters and now it has proved its views really are out of this world. New data from SIXT revealed that the best beaches for hopeful stargazers gave the Outer Hebrides location the top spot. Gorgeous seaside town voted best in Scotland with beautiful beaches & scenery Positioned in the rugged coastland, Luskentyre has the lowest light pollution out of all other beaches in Britain, making it easy to see the entire night sky like never before. It offers a quiet retreat for couples, families, or solo travellers looking to enjoy picturesque scenes. With miles of golden sands and dunes waiting to be explored, you can take a low-impact hike up the rocky cliffs and enjoy diverse wildlife before having an evening picnic along the coastline. You can even take your furry friend along with you for the walk, as Luskentyre Beach is dog-friendly. SIXT also revealed that there have been over 13k searches for 'stargazing spots near me' over the past 30 days alone. In response to this demand, experts at SIXT analysed environmental data to find the top 10 beaches in the UK with the lowest light pollution where families can enjoy the mesmerising night sky.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Scottish seaside town crowned top 'hidden gem' for summer 2025 as top five named
A Fife town has been revealed as the best travel destination in Scotland. Scotland's top "hidden gems" have been named ahead of summer. The number one title has gone to a seaside town in Fife. Now that June has begun, summer has well and truly started. While the weather across much of the country may not be as warm and sunny as we would like, there is still no better time than the start of June to plan a day trip or a staycation. FlixBus has shared a list of the top five hidden gem destinations in Scotland for those after a quieter and less-crowded summer getaway. The experts compared more than 30 Scottish towns and villages, considering factors such as the number of nature parks, spas, wellness centres, minimum temperatures, sunshine and rainfall, as well as how locations are cropping up in Google searches. Coming in at number one on FlixBus' list of the top hidden gems in Scotland is St Andrews. The town is located along Scotland's east coast, northeast of Edinburgh. St Andrews was praised by the experts for its "stunning coastal views" and laid-back atmosphere. The seaside town was also singled out for its "tranquillity and natural beauty". With summer here, the most prominent feature of St Andrews is arguably its sandy beaches. East Sands and West Sands are both stunning bays that are popular amongst locals and visitors alike. West Sands in particular is famous for featuring in the film Chariots of Fire, and is popular spot for running. Meanwhile, East Sands is a top location for watersports such as surfing and sailing. Other top beauty spots in St Andrews are St Andrews Castle and St Andrews Cathedral. St Andrews Castle dates back to the 13th century and sits on a rocky cliff looking out over a small beach, while St Andrews Cathedral features the remnants of Scotland's biggest and most impressive medieval church. FlixBus also praised St Andrews for its fascinating history. In addition to attractions such as St Andrews Castle and St Andrews Cathedral, the town is also known for its golf heritage. Often referred to as the 'home of golf', the seaside town is reportedly where the sport was invented back in the 15th century. The Old Course, which is open to the public., is among the most iconic and historic golf courses in the world. Elsewhere, St Monans comes in at number two on FlixBus' list of the top hidden gems in Scotland. Also located in Fife, the village was noted for its high average hours of sunshine and outdoor activities and was described as "a prime escape from the hustle and bustle of the city". In third place on the roundup is St Abbs, which is located in the Scottish Borders. According to the experts, the small fishing village offers a rugged coastline, dramatic cliffs, and clear waters to explore. Meanwhile, the fourth-best hidden gem in Scotland was named as Ayr. Situated along the southwest coast of Scotland, Ayr earned praise for its beauty spots and wellness facilities. Finally, rounding out the top five hidden gems in Scotland according to FlixBus is Arbroath. Known for being the home of the Arbroath smokie delicacy, the experts said the Angus town is "the perfect destination" and singled it out as a top destination for relaxation. See below for the list of Scotland's top hidden gems. More information can be found on the FlixBus website. St Andrews St Monans St Abbs Ayr Arbroath
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Hop on this bus to head directly to Moraine Lake from Calgary
Those wishing to take in the majestic beauty of Moraine Lake this summer can easily access the popular tourist destination thanks to a new route from FlixBus. The intercity bus service will take people from several Calgary locations to the Moraine Lake Road parking lot, directly adjacent to the lake. Previously, the FlixBus bus went to Canmore, downtown Banff and Lake Louise Village, but not the lake. Moraine Lake, named among the world's most beautiful places by Condé Nast Traveler, is only accessible from June to October and a shuttle is required to access it. 'This extension to Moraine Lake reflects both our rapid growth across Canada and our commitment to making world-class destinations more accessible to more people,' said spokesperson Karina Frayter in a Friday news release. 'Banff is a bucket-list region that draws travelers from across the globe, and with shuttle options to Moraine Lake often fully booked months in advance, we saw an opportunity to provide a more convenient, reliable and affordable way to get there.' The new extended route starts on June 2, operating twice daily, seven days a week.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
FlixBus to operate new route linking Ottawa with Toronto suburbs
Ottawa residents will soon have a direct, low-cost way to get to the outer suburbs of Toronto. Starting May 29, the intercity bus service will operate a route connecting downtown Toronto, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Kingston with Ottawa. Key stops along the route include Toronto Pearson Airport, Pioneer Village Terminal, Richmond Hill Centre, the Cornell GO Bus terminal and Ottawa's Via Rail terminal, FlixBus says. The service will offer connections with York Region Transit, Peel Region Transit and the TTC. 'This is a major step forward for intercity travel in Ontario,' said Karina Frayter, head of communications for Flix North America in a news release. 'Until now, residents in these fast-growing suburbs had limited options to reach Ottawa without first traveling into downtown Toronto. We're proud to fill that gap and give more Ontarians access to affordable, convenient and dependable long-distance transportation.' The new service will operate seven days a week with twice-daily departures on most days, and once-daily service on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. FlixBus already offers routes linking Ottawa with downtown Toronto, London, Niagara Falls, Windsor and Detroit, Michigan.
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Scotsman
The most serene hidden gems to visit in Scotland this summer
Discover a different side of Scotland. While iconic sites like Edinburgh Castle and Loch Ness draw the crowds, a new report has highlighted some equally impressive but lesser-known destinations. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The alternate destinations are perfect for travellers seeking tranquillity, charm, and authentic local experiences which are a little further from the tourist trail. This shift aligns with the growing travel trend known as JOMO (the 'Joy of Missing Out'), which encourages visitors to embrace slower, more meaningful journeys focused on personal interests and peaceful moments rather than rushing through popular tourist hotspots. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To uncover the best Scottish destinations that capture the essence of JOMO, FlixBus conducted a study comparing over 30 Scottish towns and villages, considering factors like the number of nature parks, spas, wellness centres, minimum temperatures, sunshine and rainfall, as well as how locations are cropping up in Google searches. St Monans Five Alternative Scottish Destinations for JOMO Travel This Summer 1. St Andrews Renowned for being the 'home of golf', the seaside town of St. Andrews comes in first place as the ultimate Scottish JOMO destination. Approximately an hour away from Fife, the coastal town scored an overall 55 out of 100 due to its abundance of JOMO experiences. With 6,100 travel-related Google searches per month, St. Andrews has solidified its position as a go-to destination for relaxation. 2. St Monans Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If village life is calling your name, St Monans offers a prime escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Scoring 53 out of 100 in our index, this quaint village ranks highly for average hours of sunshine (1,574) and outdoor activities, proving the power of nature-based experiences. 3. St Abbs Natural beauty and wildlife go hand in hand in St Abbs, a small fishing village on the southeastern coast of Scotland. Coming in at third place with a 52 out of 100 ranking score, it's the ideal place for a JOMO trip, offering a rugged coastline, dramatic cliffs, and clear waters to explore. St Abbs is home to two stunning nature parks, the highest number per capita in the study - but it only has 350 travel-related Google searches per month, showing it is a true hidden gem. 4. Ayr With a rich literary history and links to famous poet, Robert Burns, the seaside town of Ayr offers a peaceful escape for JOMO travellers. Scoring 51 out of 100 within our index, Ayr still ranks highly for JOMO travel amongst Scottish towns and villages despite its larger size. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With impressively positive reviews for its nature attractions (2,202 4*+ reviews) and wellness amenities (average of 4.5/5), visitors are bound to enjoy the full JOMO experience in Ayr. 5. Arbroath If you're looking for a JOMO trip where pure relaxation is the goal, Arbroath is the perfect destination. In Flixbus' analysis, this town on the North Sea coast scored the highest average reviews for spas, wellness centres, and spa hotels (average of 4.8/5), with an overall score of 50 out of 100. Top 15 Jomo Destinations 2025
