Latest news with #Scotland'sBeachAward
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
The 52 best beaches in Scotland revealed, thanks to their crystal-clear waters and stunning golden sands
JUST BEACHY The 52 best beaches in Scotland revealed, thanks to their crystal-clear waters and stunning golden sands Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN INCREDIBLE 52 beaches around Scotland's glorious coastline have been recognised in the Keep Scotland Beautiful Awards. The annual Scotland's Beach Awards have been overseen by charity for the last 33 years, to 'help visitors and locals chose where they want to visit' and set a 'benchmark for quality'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 West sand beach in St Andrews has made the list every single year Credit: Alamy 8 Sillver Sands beach at Aberdour in Fife has been on the list for an impressive 32 out of 33 years Credit: John Kirkby - The Sun Glasgow Each of the 2025 Scotland's Beach Award winners offer something unique, whether you are after a swim in the sea, picnic on the sands or just to take in the views and (hopefully) the weather. Every beach along Scotland's 11,800km of coastline receiving the award will have a flag displaying the accolade. It means it's easy for seaside lovers to find out exactly which beach closest (or further away if you're making a weekend of it) is the cleanest, with pristine sands and clean healthy waters. The awards are the benchmark for quality and celebrate the achievements of well managed beaches across Scotland. Read more in travel GO WILD Inside stunning Scots national park where kids can walk with dinosaurs Beaches from Aberdeenshire to the Scottish Borders all made the list, with the most popular beaches including St Andrews West Sands and Aberdour Silver Sands retaining the honour for over three decades. Additionally, 42 beaches on the list have successfully achieved an award for 10 or more years. Fife retain its title as the region with the most awards, boasting 13 winning beaches. The famous West Sands has made the list every year for the past 33 years, followed by in East Sand which has been awarded for the last 25 consecutive years. Silver Sands beach in Aberdour has made the list for the last 32 years, proving why it is one of the most popular in the country, And Pettycur Bay in Kinghorn was honoured again - making it 25 years in a row they've been chosen for the prestigious award. 8 IPettycur Bay is backed by a fabulous caravan park on the Fife coast 8 Stonehaven bay and harbour in Aberdeenshire Credit: Alamy Elie Harbour was named for the 14th year in a row and Ruby Bay, also in Elie has made the list again for the 27th time along with Crail Roome Bay. Aberdeenshire and East Lothian follow with eight award winning beaches. Stonehaven Bay and Fraserburgh Tigerhill helped Aberdeenshire's mighty haul. While in East Lothian Gullane Bents, North Berwick's West Beaches and Dunbar East all made the list along with Belhaven Bay in the John Muir Country park in Dunbar. Six beaches in Angus were chosen by Keep Scotland Beautiful for their beach quality, including Lunan Bay (for the 9th year in a row) , Carnoustie (20 years on the list) and Montrose Seafront (22 years) The iconic Loch Morlich in the Cairngorms National Park was the only inland beach to make the grade and was one of four awarded it the Highland region along with Brora (24 years), Dornoch (31 years) and Nairn beaches. 8 the golden sand beach at Loch Morlich Credit: Getty 8 Irvine Beach Credit: Mark Ferguson In Shetland two beaches were picked out for the honours - West Sandwick, for the 15th year, and Sands of Breacon making it for the second year in a row. Irvine beach and Newton beach in Millport were the only two in North Ayrshire to make the grade, with Newton Beach making a welcome comeback following investment work. Six South Ayrshire beaches made the list, including the iconic Ayr South, Troon and Barassie Shore. Coldingham was the only beach in the Scottish Borders to be awarded with Dundee City's Broughty Ferry and Aberdeen City's Ballroom Beach also making the grade. 8 Coldingham Sands beach at Coldingham Bay, Berwickshire Credit: Alamy 8 Dundee's Broughty Ferry beach is a firm favourite Credit: Alamy Vicki Miller, VisitScotland Chief Executive said: 'Congratulations to all the winners for their achievements. It's 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's vital we protect and preserve them for the future.' Scotland's Beach Awards have been managed by Keep Scotland Beautiful for 33 years, playing a vital role in protecting our beaches for people and nature, encouraging people to visit responsibly and signposting people to beaches that best meet their needs. A range of criteria must be met, including beach safety, access and facilities, and cleanliness. Focusing on local environmental quality, the award is designed to complement the work undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on bathing water quality. For the full list see here
Press and Journal
30-05-2025
- 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.'
