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Press and Journal
16 hours ago
- General
- Press and Journal
Five overlooked Moray beaches that 'should have been included' after annual beach awards snub for region
While beaches across the north and north-east were recently recognised by Keep Scotland Beautiful – one area was conspicuously absent. The organisation's annual list of the best beaches included locations such as Nairn, Dornoch, Aberdeen and Balmedie. Eight beaches were recognised in Aberdeenshire, four in the Highlands and two in Shetland. But the stunning stretches of sands along the Moray coast were nowhere to be seen. Each beach on the list has to meet certain criteria, including sustainability, facilities and conservation, which means some of Scotland's favourites miss out. We asked Moray residents in The P&J's Elgin group about it and. And they had some strong opinions about which ones should make the list. Trev Vennard said: 'A lot of the Moray beaches should be included. Most are glorious.' Another reader commented: 'We are so lucky having so many beautiful beaches on our doorstep.' Cullen Beach is known for its fine sand and picturesque setting against the backdrop of the famous Cullen Viaduct and Cullen Golf Course. The beach has some shelter, making it a good spot for swimming and snorkelling in the summer months. There are plenty of coastal walks dotted around and facilities can be accessed via a short walk into town – where ice creams can be had. There is free car parking under the viaduct. Toilets are accessible down by Cullen Harbour and dogs are allowed on the beach. The larger of the two beaches in Hopeman, Hopeman East is mostly sandy with some rocky areas and rock pools. The geography ensures the beach gets large waves, making it ideal for surfers – in fact it's one of the top-rated spots in the north-east. There are also great views out to the Moray Firth. Hopeman East beach also benefits from nearby amenities including a skate park, public toilets and a number of beach huts as well as free parking. And if you need to cool down, you can always pop into Stew 'n' Drew's for a locally-made ice cream. Dogs are allowed on the beach. There is no lifeguard service available. This lengthy stretch of sandy coastline is a great spot for casual strolls and bird and dolphin watching. Located close to the village of Findhorn as well as the mouth of the River Findhorn, Findhorn Beach benefits from a range of facilities including pubs, shops and a caravan park. Findhorn is also a popular spot for those looking to try out watersports. There are toilets nearby as well as plenty of free parking at the east beach. A string of brightly-painted beach huts line the beach, providing a dry and wind-free retreat. At low tide Burghead Beach is expansive, offering plenty of space for dogs to roam around. If you're lucky, this area is also good for whale and dolphin spotting. The closest parking to the beach is along Station Road, where there used to be a train station. Burghead has a few places to eat including the Cable Cafe which opened last year and has been a hit with tourists and locals alike. There are also toilet facilities at Burghead Harbour. Readers John Stewart, Morag Whitelaw and Steven Mullen were among those who said Burghead Beach 'should have been included'. Perhaps one of the most well-known beaches in Moray, Lossiemouth East Beach is hugely popular with locals and visitors alike. A new bridge opened in 2022 to offer easy access – replacing a crumbling wooden bridge. The beach is located at the mouth of the River Lossie and is backed by grassy dunes. It also attracts watersports enthusiasts, dog walkers and birdwatchers. Its close proximity to RAF Lossiemouth offers the chance of an added thrill as powerful aircraft fly overhead. The beach is serviced by car parks and on-street parking nearby, while toilets are available on the Esplanade. And there plenty of places for refreshments and ice creams just a brief stroll away. Wallace Stewart said Lossiemouth East was 'stunning and clean'.
STV News
3 days ago
- Business
- STV News
UK ban on single-use vapes comes into force
Single-use vapes will no longer be stocked or sold in Scotland under new legislation that has come into force. The UK-wide ban has been introduced to prevent the environmental damage disposable vapes cause and to cut their use among young people in line with government ambitions to create a tobacco-free generation by 2034. The crackdown on the devices makes it illegal for any retailer, ranging from corner shops to supermarkets, to sell them. Rogue traders who continue to sell them risk a £ 200 fine in the first instance, followed by an unlimited fine or jail time for repeat offending. An estimated 26 million disposable vapes were thrown away in Scotland in 2023. Of these, more than half were not recycled properly, and around 10% were littered. The batteries used in disposable vapes are difficult to recycle, leak harmful waste, and can cause fires in waste facilities. Acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said: 'Scotland was the first nation in the UK to commit to taking action on single-use vapes. 'It's estimated that over half of disposable vapes are incorrectly disposed of each year in Scotland – creating a fire risk and littering our beautiful environment. They also contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. 'This change to the law fulfils a Programme for Government commitment and will help tackle the threat that single-use vapes pose to our environment as well as to our public health. 'We have worked closely across the four nations to ensure a consistent approach to a ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes and will continue to work with regulators regarding enforcement once in force.' STV News An estimated 26 million disposable vapes were thrown away in Scotland in 2023 STV News Moves to raise the age of sale of tobacco products and regulate the displays, flavours, and packaging of reusable vapes are being pursued separately through the four-nations Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Last year, it was estimated that almost five million single-use vapes were either littered or thrown away in general waste every week in the UK, the equivalent of eight being thrown away per second. There was an exponential increase in children's use of e-cigarettes in Scotland, driven by the popularity of disposable vapes, between 2018 and 2022. Data collected by Keep Scotland Beautiful highlighted that single-use vapes were the fastest-growing litter type in 2024/25. With half of people in Scotland saying sightings of the products have become more common in the past 12 months, we know that a ban will help reverse this trend. Source to Sea litter surveys carried out by Marine Conservation Society volunteers in streets, parks and beaches revealed an increase in prevalence of vapes from being recorded on 46% of surveys in Scotland in 2023 to almost all – 85% – of surveys carried out in 2024. Barry Fisher, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: 'We first became aware of the impact single-use vapes were having on our environment back in 2022 when members of the public and our volunteers were noticing them more often and asked what could be done. 'I'm proud of the effort we have made, alongside our partners, to see this product banned in Scotland – it shows what true collaboration can achieve. 'Our surveys and supporters have made it clear that this product was becoming more and more common, spoiling our environment and causing danger to wildlife. 'We are dealing with a litter emergency and the last thing we need is single-use products coming to market that can end up discarded harming our environment. This ban will help remove the fastest growing litter item from our streets, parks and beaches and is a welcome step in the right direction, but everyone must dispose of their waste in the correct way.' STV News Disposable vapes to be banned in Scotland STV News Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: 'We celebrate the ban of cheap recreational disposable e-cigarettes, which are the starter vaping product for most youngsters who vape, as a vital first step towards halting the alarming upsurge of children vaping in Scotland during the last few years. 'Although we warmly welcome these regulations coming into effect, government must take further, stronger actions to restrict the advertising and promotion of all e-cigarettes as well as banning vape flavours, colours, descriptors and branding on device designs and packaging to reduce the attractiveness of the products to children. 'The tobacco and nicotine industries must be halted in their attempts to attract children to use their addictive and health harming products, generating huge profits at a considerable cost to the health of our young people now and future generations.' Catherine Gemmell, Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Marine Conservation Society, said volunteers found vapes on 85% of their litter surveys in 2024. She added: 'Littered vapes can leak harmful chemicals and microplastics into the environment which can find their way into our seas and pose a real risk to marine life. 'This is a great step in removing single-use products from the market. We know bans and charges like this work, having seen a decrease in things like single-use plastic bags in our litter surveys. Like so many areas of our society, we must move away from other single-use products, including plastic cigarette filters, towards a circular economy – one in which refilling and reusing is the norm, rather than throwing away and polluting our environment.' STV News is now on WhatsApp Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
The Courier
5 days ago
- The Courier
Full list of Tayside and Fife beaches recognised in Scotland's Beach Awards
Beaches across Tayside and Fife have been named as some of the best in the country after receiving Scotland's Beach Awards. Keep Scotland Beautiful has revealed the recipients of the 2025 awards ahead of the summer season. Each beach receiving an award will have a flag displaying the accolade. A total of 52 beaches across Scotland are on this year's list, with Fife retaining its title as the region with the most awards. Some of the beaches in Tayside and Fife, including St Andrews West Sands and Montrose, have received the awards for decades. The recipients of the awards, as well as the number of years they have received them, are listed below: Barry Fisher, Keep Scotland Beautiful's CEO, said: 'Scotland's award-winning beaches demonstrate excellent beach management. We hope that all who visit this year play their part in keeping them beautiful. 'I'd like to congratulate all those who do so much to protect, maintain and enhance our beaches, protecting the sand and sea for us all to enjoy – from the local authorities to the communities who care so passionately about these phenomenal assets.'
Press and Journal
5 days ago
- Press and Journal
The 15 best quality beaches across the north and north-east
An annual list of Scotland's best beaches has been released – and it features 15 from the north and north-east. Keep Scotland Beautiful celebrates well-managed beaches across the country with its Scotland's Beach Award. Dozens feature yearly – in fact some of not missed a place on the list for over three decades. That includes Nairn in the Highlands, which is known for its soft, white sand, low dunes and views of the Moray Firth. The list is intended to help guide tourists and locals to top beaches that make for great days out. Below are the 15 beaches from across the Highlands, Shetland and Aberdeenshire to feature this year and how many consecutive years they've made the list. Missing will be some favourites, but the criteria includes considerations such as accessibility and facilities meaning not all can feature. To receive an award, beaches must meet several criteria including access, facilities and safety, local environmental quality and community and heritage. Barry Fisher, chief executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: 'Scotland's award-winning beaches demonstrate excellent beach management. 'We hope that all who visit this year play their part in keeping them beautiful. 'I'd like to congratulate all those who do so much to protect, maintain and enhance our beaches, protecting the sand and sea for us all to enjoy – from the local authorities to the communities who care so passionately about these phenomenal assets.'
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Ayrshire beaches named among best in Scotland
Eight Ayrshire beaches from Millport to Girvan have been named as winners of Scotland's Beach Awards. Eight of Ayrshire 's finest beaches have been named as some of the best in Scotland after winning recognition in the Scotland's Beach Awards. Ayr South Beach, Barassie Beach, Girvan Beach, Irvine Beach, Maidens Beach, Newton Beach at Millport, Prestwick Beach and Troon South Beach all met the criteria and high standards set out to be recognised. Scotland's Beach Award, organised by Keep Scotland Beautiful, celebrates the achievements of well managed beaches across Scotland. The prestigious flag helps visitors and locals chose where they want to visit, with the knowledge that the beach is being looked after for people and the environment. Only Fife with 13 award-winning beaches had more listed than Ayrshire as 52 beaches across Scotland were recognised. Both Maidens Beach and Troon South Beach have retained their award status for more than a decade - 12 and 10 years respectively - while Newton Beach on Great Cumbrae has made a comeback after flood defence works prevented it from entering over the past couple of years. Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful said: 'Scotland's award-winning beaches demonstrate excellent beach management and we hope that all who visit this year play their part in keeping them beautiful. 'I'd like to congratulate all those who do so much to protect, maintain and enhance our beaches, protecting the sand and sea for us all to enjoy – from the local authorities to the communities who care so passionately about these phenomenal assets. 'Scotland's Beach Awards are the benchmark for quality, celebrating clean, well-managed and sustainable beaches and it is testament to those who look after them that so many have received awards over decades. 'We would love to encourage more communities to work towards accreditation of their beaches and are currently seeking sponsorship of the programme so we can enhance capacity and capability in communities which boast stunning beaches. 'Please get in touch if you can help us.' Vicki Miller, VisitScotland chief executive, said: 'Scotland has thousands of miles of coastline, providing a huge choice of beaches to enjoy stunning scenery and unique experiences. 'Whether visitors are looking for tranquil islands and rural escapes or the bustling cities and towns boasting serene shores, there is something for everyone. 'Congratulations to all the winners for their achievements. It is particularly encouraging to see some beaches making a return to the awards. This demonstrates a real dedication to improving the visitor experience and environment. 'Our communities, along with our natural and cultural heritage, are what make Scotland so special. It is vital we protect and preserve them for the future.' North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: 'Newton Beach has a long track record of receiving this national beach award and unfortunately due to the flood defence works it couldn't participate the past couple of years. 'We are delighted this high-quality beach and valued community asset has been recognised again.'
