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Edinburgh Live
23-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
People gobsmacked that beautiful holiday spot that 'looks like Caribbean' is in Scotland
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Scotland boasts a hidden gem that rivals the Caribbean, with its crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches, but without the hefty price tag. We're all familiar with the need for a break, whether it's work stress, personal issues, or a jam-packed social calendar leaving us drained. Yet, with soaring bills and the high cost of living, a luxurious overseas holiday often seems unattainable. While jetting off would be lovely, Scotland offers an abundance of beauty right on our doorstep - including a 'Caribbean-like' beach in the north. This spot is none other than Luskentyre sands on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. As one of Harris's largest and most stunning beaches, it has been recognised as one of the UK's top beaches in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards. Here, you will discover miles of sand dunes, turquoise waters, a plethora of water sports, and ample opportunities for hill walking and cycling. The location also gained fame as the setting for BBC's Castaway. (Image: Getty Images) After a recent visit, Cara shared a video on TikTok from her @caramowbrayxoxox account, which has since garnered over a million views. She labelled it "paradise" and posed the question, "Scotland, or the Caribbean?". In another clip, she exclaimed she had "never seen water so clear". One commenter enthused: "Love Luskentyre beach it's gorgeous." While another added: "I love Scotland it's such a beautiful part of the world." One visitor, utterly astonished by the clarity of the waters, exclaimed: "Scotland! I live in Scotland and me and family went there at one point! Gorgeous place!". Another commented on the lack of awareness about the country's natural beauty: "The amount of people who don't know how beautiful our country/beaches and waters are is scary. But the less people who explore the quieter it will stay for us who do. "I've been here and the water is honestly not that cold," remarked another individual. The prime time to visit this location is during the summer months when the weather conditions are most favourable, and the daylight hours are longest. Getting there To reach this idyllic beach spot, the simplest method is to fly to Stornoway Airport. Daily flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh take just over an hour, with prices starting at £120, as per Rome2Rio. Upon arrival, driving to the beach takes approximately one hour and 19 minutes, which is the most cost-effective option. Alternatively, you can take a train for under three hours, hop on a bus, or hail a taxi. Direct train routes to Luskentyre are unavailable. Rome2Rio suggests: "However, you can take the bus to Uig Pier, walk to Uig Skye Ferry Terminal, take the ferry to Tarbert, walk to Car Park, then take the bus to Turning Point. "Alternatively, you can take a train from Glasgow Queen Street Low Level to Township via Spean Bridge, Spean Crescent, Uig Pier, Uig Skye Ferry Terminal, Tarbert, and Car Park in around 12 hours and 13 minutes." Have you visited this spot? Share your experience in the comments below.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Daily Record
People wowed by beautiful spot that 'looks like the Caribbean', but it's in Scotland
People cannot get over that this incredible beach spot is in Scotland. It has been compared to the Caribbean and boasts clear waters, beautiful white sands, plenty of water sports and great walking spots This incredible spot in Scotland has been compared to the Caribbean, but is much closer to home and won't cost you a fortune. People cannot get over the clear waters and white sand beaches. We all know the feeling of needing a break, whether it is due to work stress, personal issues, or an overbooked social calendar that leaves us exhausted. However, with rising bills and the high cost of living, splurging on a lavish holiday abroad often seems out of reach for many. While going abroad would be great, Scotland is home to so much beauty - and you can enjoy 'Caribbean-like' beaches close to home in this incredible spot in the north. The spot is Luskentyre sands in the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. It is one of the largest and most spectacular beaches on Harris and has been named one of the UK's best beaches in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards. You will find miles of sand dunes, green-blue water, plenty of water sports, and spots to go hill walking and cycling. The location is also famous for being the setting of BBC 's Castaway. After visiting recently, Cara shared a video on TikTok, which has raked in over one million views. On her @caramowbrayxoxox account, she dubbed it "paradise" and wrote, "Scotland, or the Caribbean?". In another video she said she has "never seen water so clear". "Love Luskentyre beach it's gorgeous," insisted one individual in the comments. "I love Scotland it's such a beautiful part of the world," added another. One who was gobsmacked by how clear the waters are, said: "Scotland! I live in Scotland and me and family went there at one point! Gorgeous place!" Another pointed out: "The amount of people who don't know how beautiful our country/beaches and waters are is scary. But the less people who explore the quieter it will stay for us who do." "I've been here and the water is honestly not that cold," noted one other. The best time to visit the spot is during the summer months for optimal weather conditions, and daylight hours. Getting there The easiest way to get to the beach spot is to catch a short flight to Stornoway Airport. Flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh run every day and are just over an hour. Prices range from £120 upwards, according to Rome2Rio. Once you arrive, you can drive one hour and 19 minutes to the beach, which is the cheapest option. You can also get a train which will take less than three hours, get on a bus, or order a taxi. Unfortunately there is not direct train routes from to Luskentyre. Rome2Rio states: "However, you can take the bus to Uig Pier, walk to Uig Skye Ferry Terminal, take the ferry to Tarbert, walk to Car Park, then take the bus to Turning Point. "Alternatively, you can take a train from Glasgow Queen Street Low Level to Township via Spean Bridge, Spean Crescent, Uig Pier, Uig Skye Ferry Terminal, Tarbert, and Car Park in around 12 hours and 13 minutes."
Mint
04-05-2025
- Mint
Planning your next holiday? These apps will make your life easier
When it comes to travel planning, while the big names like Airbnb, and dominate the landscape, there's a vibrant ecosystem of lesser-known apps that offer powerful, often more focused features for savvy travelers. Whether you're a foodie on a mission, a sustainability-conscious adventurer, or simply someone looking to streamline travel logistics, these underrated travel planning apps are worth adding to your digital toolkit. Rome free Planning how to get from Point A to Point B in an unfamiliar country can be tricky, especially when the route involves multiple modes of transport. Rome2Rio is a travel planner that shows you how to get anywhere by plane, train, bus, ferry, or car. Simply enter your origin and destination, and it maps out routes complete with estimated durations, prices, and booking links. Whether you're trying to reach a remote village in the Alps or figuring out the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Rome2Rio gives a comprehensive overview of your options. Yes, Rome2Rio works in India as well and can be used to plan journeys within the country. It provides travel options for various modes of transportation, including trains, buses, ferries, and planes, and includes operators like Indian Railways, FlixBus, and other local transportation companies. Not all who wander... If you're tired of juggling spreadsheets, notes, and email confirmations, Wanderlog is a godsend. It lets you build detailed itineraries with drag-and-drop ease, integrating reservations, flights, maps, and activity lists in one place. You can add restaurants, attractions, and custom notes, then view your plans by day, map, or timeline. Wanderlog is especially great for group trips—it offers collaborative planning, so everyone can pitch in and stay on the same page. And unlike some planners, it works offline too. TripIt shines in its simplicity: forward any confirmation email (flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.) to a designated address, and it automatically builds a master itinerary. You can access it anytime, even offline. For frequent travelers, the Pro version offers real-time flight alerts, gate changes, and reward point tracking. It may not be as flashy as some newer apps, but TripIt excels at consolidating scattered information into a single, stress-free view of your trip. Culture vulture The best app to discover authentic local experiences. While most travelers want to see the major attractions, if you are among those seeking authentic experiences—places locals go, hidden gems, and stories behind the destination—Culture Trip will curate content created by locals, blending destination guides with personal essays, offbeat tips, and neighborhood deep-dives—think of it as part travel planner, part magazine. The app has information and articles on trips within India as well. If you are one for always finding scenic routes and quirky stops, Roadtrippers is the app for you—especially if you are travelling to the USA and Canada. It helps plan car journeys with a focus on discovering unique roadside attractions, scenic points, diners, and offbeat museums. Simply enter your start and end points, and the app maps a route with interesting detours and must-see places. The app also calculates fuel costs and allows for collaboration, making it great for group road trips. The US and Canada have the best coverage, but it's expanding. Packing made easy Overpacking and underpacking are both travel woes that PackPoint helps solve. Input your destination, travel dates, type of trip (business, beach, hiking), and PackPoint generates a customized packing list that factors in weather forecasts and activities. You can tweak it manually and even share your list with others. It's a small but mighty tool that saves time, reduces stress, and ensures you don't forget essentials like chargers or umbrellas. Veg only For vegetarian and vegan travelers, finding food on the road can be a challenge—especially in places where plant-based diets are uncommon. Enter HappyCow, a crowd-sourced guide to vegan and vegetarian restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and health food stores around the world. With listings in over 180 countries, HappyCow offers reviews, photos, and filters (like gluten-free or organic) to help you find the best plant-based meals wherever you go. It also lists places with veg-friendly options, so even omnivores traveling with vegans can benefit. There are over 2000 listings for India! Down the drain Flush does exactly what it promises: helps you locate the nearest public restroom, fast. With a clean interface and offline access, it's a life-saver during long days of sightseeing or transit. The database includes thousands of toilets around the world, with filters for disabled access and paid vs. free options. Not glamorous, but absolutely practical. Sources claim that the app lists over 13,000 toilets in 11 Indian cities, but we could not verify this. First Published: 4 May 2025, 09:00 AM IST
