Online Guide to the Best Scottish Beaches
The Top Scotland Surfing, Swimming and Beach Basking Spots
Nov 15, 2009
Including some eight hundred islands and an incredibly varied coast from clifftop walks to cute fishing villages, Scotland's coast also contains some of the best beaches – not just in Britain but anywhere in the world. Think miles of sand miles from anywhere with not another soul on any of it. The crowds stay away because many of the best beaches are remote, but for the adventurous holiday-maker some truly incredible swimming awaits. Due to the warm currents of the Gulf Stream, swimming in Scotland isn't nearly as cold as people think.
Southern Scotland Beaches
Dumfies and Galloway is Scotland's answer to Cornwall – sandy bay upon sandy bay flanked by picturesque fishing ports and sandy coves. Also in this region is the Borders – sporting some great diving spots – and Ayrshire – with its traditional old coastal resorts.
- Rinns of Galloway – A wild peninsula known for its birdlife at the Mull of Galoway and the quait fishing village of Portpatrick. The east of the peninsula around the Sands of Luce has sheltered, tranqul swimming.
- Coldingham and St Abbs – On the east coast of Scotland just above Berwick on Tweed, this is one of the top Scotland surf spots. Come here for other watersports too including diving - the water visibility is very good for this far north and surfing.
- Largs – one of the traditional old British seaside towns – with plenty of amusements, fish and chip shops – and beach.
East Scotland Coast
Often overlooked by many, Scotland's east coast includes the Kingdom of Fife, with some of the world's best golf courses including the links at St Andrews. Heading north, Aberdeenshire has a coast jam-packed with great sandy bathing spots.
- East Neuk Fishing villages in Fife such as Elie have great sandy beaches – with wonderful fish restaurants like the Anstruther Fish Bar.
- Aberdeen Beach – Aberdeen is a beach city and the stretch of sand around it extends some 30 km, including a golf course and the cute old-world fishing village of Footdee.
- St Combs – Miles of windy sand dune just south of Fraserburgh.
West Scotland and the Inner Hebrides
Some of Scotland's best beaches are found here, in the area of Scotland known as Argyll and the Inner Hebrides. With an abundance of isles and coves and more coastline than all of France, there are, needlss to say,fantastic beaches and, due to the Gulf Stream, probably the best swimming spots in the country.
- Southern Islay – Islay, sporting some of the best whisky distilleries in the world, also has a relatively unknown and gorgeous coastline. The best of it is in the south, near the hamlet of Ardtalla. The swimming here is quite sheltered.
- South-western Mull – The Isle of Mull is a diverse and mostly deserted island but in the souh-west near the Isle of Iona are jaw-droppingly gorgeous beaches, such as Knockvologan, near Fionnphort.
- Tiree – Tiree is ringed by sandy coast and due to the wind here is perfect for windsurfing - some rank it above even Cornwall for the surfing experience here.
- Arisaig – It was near here that the well-known movie Local Hero was shot - anyone who has seen the film will remember the breathtaking beaches and Arisaig, on the way up to Mallig on the west coast mainland, is where they are.
Northern Scotland
Northern Scotland is said to be the remotest part of Europe - with single-track roads running for tens of miles without a soul nearby, this region is more famed for its Highland mountain scenery, but contains plenty of great beaches too – including Britains remotest beach.
- Sandwood Bay – North of Ullapool near the small villge of Kinlochbervie (and an 8km hike from here), this is Britain's remotest beach – a vast tract of sand which rarely gets visitors. Be careful swimming here though
- Durness – John Lennon used to come on holday to Durness and was inspired to write the song "In My Life" as a result. Durness is full of inspiring sandy coastline and has Britain's largest cave, Smoo Cave, also nearby.
- Golspie – On the east coast way north of Inverness are arguably the finest beaches in Nothern Scotland – six miles of sand and good coastal fun (ice cream parlours; caravan parks).
Outer Hebrides Beaches
Wild, windswept and all but forgotten by the rest of Britain, the otherworldly coast of the Outer Hebrides has some of Europe's best beaches – minus the crowds.
- Luskentyre – On South Harris, one of the most wonderful beaches in the world.
- Barra – The Big Strand on Barra, the most southerly of the Outer Hebrides, is one of the world's only beach airport runways. Most of the time, it's just a gorgeous sandy beach.
For a guide to Scotland's best islands to visit, click here
To book your next holiday in Scotland, click here
 |
 |
 |
