Latest news with #NatalieWolfenden
Daily Record
9 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
9 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.'
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
England's most family-friendly seaside spots revealed as heatwave hits country
With the UK set to hit 30 degrees this weekend, the British seaside is calling. But where are the country's best-rated coastal spots? A new study has revealed the UK's most family-friendly beaches by looking at the average sea temperature, water quality, the availability of lifeguards, parking prices and watersport facilities. Sennen Cove, a picturesque beach in Cornwall, tops the list of family-friendly spots. Average sea temperatures can reach as high as 14 degrees and the beach has RNLI lifeguards between April and November, while parking costs just £6 for eight hours. Its water quality is classified as 'excellent' and it's a popular surfing spot in summer. The sandy beach stretches for almost a mile. Next on the list for a family-friendly seaside holiday is Bude in Cornwall. One of the area's best-rated beaches is Summerleaze which is wide and sandy. Summerleaze has RNLI lifeguards between May and September. Exmouth in Devon is the third-best rated seaside spot for families. Known as the gateway to the Jurassic Coast, the area's water quality is classified as 'excellent'. Exmouth Beach stretches for two miles and there are lots of rock pools for children to explore. Broadstairs in Kent lands just outside the top three for a family-friendly beach holiday. The area's water quality is rated as 'excellent' and tourists can head to Botany Bay to admire impressive chalk stacks. Car parking at Broadstairs costs only £6.50 for eight hours. Shanklin Beach in the Isle of Wight takes fifth place on the ranking. The beach offers easy access to restaurants and cafes and it has life guards on duty during the summer season. Bournemouth Beach in Dorset, Cromer in Norfolk, Littlehampton in West Sussex, Brighton Beach in East Sussex and Lyme Regis in Dorset are also named among the 10 most family-friendly beaches in the UK. Millets, who commissioned the study, used data from the ONS to find the UK's most popular beaches. Natalie Wolfenden, author and outdoor enthusiast at Millets, says: 'England is brimming with gorgeous beaches, from the pebbled Brighton Beach to the sandy shore of Sennen Cove. 'While a family beach trip is a great way to get children off screens and keep the whole family entertained, 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 peace of mind, but always keep a close eye when they are near or on 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 of beach shelter as a protective barrier against wind for a more comfortable beach experience.' Looking for a break outside the UK instead? Two exciting cities in Eastern Europe have become easier to visit this summer with new packages on offer from TUI. Europe's biggest tour operator has expanded its city breaks offering to include Riga, in Latvia, and the capital of Poland, Warsaw. The firm said that the new holidays are for 'travellers seeking destinations rich in culinary experiences, scenic beauty, and cultural attractions'.
Scotsman
09-06-2025
- Scotsman
The UK's most picturesque biking spots named ahead of Bike Week 2025
Ahead of Bike Week on June 9, new research has revealed the UK's most picturesque cycling routes. In the UK there are countless beautiful bike trails to explore, bringing plenty of opportunities to snap those visually appealing photos for your Instagram. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers 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... As such, the experts at GO Outdoors have revealed the most beautiful and Instagrammable bike trails in the UK. Natalie Wolfenden, Content Manager and outdoor specialist at GO Outdoors, commented: 'As the warmer weather approaches, people will be getting outdoors more and on biking or hiking trails to explore the natural beauty of the UK. But, it is essential to make sure you are properly prepared before you endeavour into the wilderness of the UK on your bike. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Ensure that your bike is in full working condition. This includes ensuring your tyres are pumped to the correct pressure, which is usually written on the sidewall of your tyres. There may be a recommended range to adjust for different conditions. You should check your brakes are in working order as well, and it may be a good idea to pack repair kits for your tyres, just in case. Tell us your news 'You may also want to research the bike trail you'll be travelling along before heading out to make sure there are no potentially unpleasant surprises. There are sites, such as All Trails, that give each trail a difficulty rating, estimated completion time and best starting point to help you choose the optimum route along the trail.' The most beautiful bike trails in the UK: Rank Route Name Location Total Number of Reviews TripAdvisor Reviews that Mention "Beautiful" Percentage of Reviews that Mention "Beautiful" 1 Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal Brecon Beacons, Wales 536 150 28.0% 2 Kielder Water & Forest Park Kielder, England 778 217 27.9% 3 Beddgelert Forest Beddgelert, Wales 70 19 27.1% 4 Manifold Way Hulme End, England 98 26 26.5% 5 Great Stour Way Canterbury, England 89 20 22.5% 6 Tarka Trail North Devon, England 253 55 21.7% 7 The River Avon Trail Stratford-upon-Avon, England 393 83 21.1% 8 Kinnoull Hill Perth, Scotland 310 63 20.3% 9 The Granite Way Okehampton, England 249 50 20.1% 10 Drakes Trail Plymouth, England 51 10 19.6% 11 The Camel Trail Wadebridge, England 641 115 17.9% 12 Longdendale Trail Glossop, England 74 12 16.2% 13 Tissington Trail Peak District, England 478 70 14.6% 14 Exe Trail Exmouth, England 82 12 14.6% 15 Grizedale Forest Hawkshead, Lake District, England 995 133 13.4% Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Brecon Beacons Percentage of Reviews that Mention "beautiful": 28.0% Of the most popular bike trails in the UK, the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal trail is the one with the highest proportion of reviews including the word 'beautiful'. Of the 536 reviews for this trail on TripAdvisor, 28% of them mentioned how beautiful the sights along the trail are. One such reviewer commented, 'The canal and surrounding countryside was beautiful' and another on the 'beautiful surrounding countryside and wildlife' the trail provides. Kielder Water & Forest Park, Kielder Percentage of Reviews that Mention "beautiful": 27.9% Praised for its beauty by 27.9% of the 778 reviews on TripAdvisor, in second place for the most beautiful bike trail in the UK, we have the Kielder Water and Forest Park trail. Home to northern Europe's largest man-made lake and England's largest forest, reviewers said, 'The walks are just beautiful, it is so scenic', and another commented on the 'Beautiful views of the water and spotted an osprey catching a fish'. Beddgelert Forest, Beddgelert Percentage of Reviews that Mention "beautiful": 27.1% Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And in third place for the most beautiful bike trails in the UK, we have the Beddgelert Forest trail. One of the more remote and less known trails, it has 70 reviews on TripAdvisor, but of those reviews, over one in four (27%) of them mention the beauty of this trail. One reviewer commented that it is a 'beautiful place, great for de-stressing', and another of the 'views of forest fauna and the essential mountains'. The most Instagrammable bike trails in the UK: Rank Route Name Location Number of Instagram Posts 1 Tarka Trail North Devon, England 18,045 2 Grizedale Forest Hawkshead, Lake District, England 17,648 3 Tissington Trail Peak District, England 11,443 4 Kinnoull Hill Perth, Scotland 8,909 5 Antur Stiniog Blaenau Ffestiniog, Snowdonia-Eryi, Wales 7,743 6 Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal Brecon Beacons, Wales 4,734 7 Strawberry Line Cheddar, Somerset, England 4,586 8 Cuckoo Trail Polegate, East Sussex, England 3,780 9 Hicks Lodge Ashby-de-la-Zouch, England 3,034 10 Longdendale Trail Glossop, England 2,095 11 Beddgelert Forest Beddgelert, Wales 1,881 12 Kielder Water & Forest Park Kielder, England 1,705 13 Drakes Trail Plymouth, England 1,596 14 Alvaston Park Alvaston, Derbyshire, England 1,482 15 Crab & Winkle Way Whitstable, England 1,377 Tarka Trail Number of Instagram Posts: 18,045 Among the most popular bike trails in the UK, the Tarka Trail comes out as the one with the most Instagram posts. The trail runs from Braunton to Meeth down in Devon, and there are currently 18,045 posts on the social media site. There's a vast array of pictures of people biking and the gorgeous views of the river along the trail, as well as old railway infrastructure for those interested in trains. Grizedale Forest Number of Instagram Posts: 17,648 Grizedale Forest comes in second place for popular UK bike trails with the most Instagram posts. The trail is in the heart of the Lake District, near Hawkshead, and has 17,648 posts on Instagram. Many of these posts show off the unique and wondrous sites along the trail, including the musical tree in which you can wind a key inserted into it, and a melody is played. Tissington Trail Number of Instagram Posts: 11,443 And in third place, we have Tissington Trail, a popular cycling route in the Peak District. This trail appears in 11,443 posts for #tissingtontrail on Instagram, which displays yet another vast array of people's images showcasing the cycling route and the beauty you can find along it, including vast fields of wildflowers and oftentimes sheep.
