The best beaches in Scotland for 2024

The Caribbean-looking coasts of Scotland and its isles are a shocking addition to its already impressive portfolio of rugged parks, unspoiled environments and distinctive natural world.

White sands, turquoise waters and roaring surf fill a summer season pleasure to the manage of the United Kingdom with never-ending possible for actions, together with browsing, swimming and sunbathing in secluded seaside places. From the wonders of the well-known North Coast 500 to mountain lochs and tombolo sand bars, a Scottish beach fracture has one thing for each and every seaside lover.

Light days will also be sparse, however the summer season months from June to August draw in the warmest climate and maximum guests to Scotland’s profusion of sandy shores and meals and track gala’s. Pace sizzling sizzling summers are not any oath, the bravest swimmers can hurry a refreshing dip within the crystal-clear seas all 12 months around – build positive to keep in mind your wetsuit. Effort visiting in April or Might for a quieter, albeit a lot chillier, month on probably the most UK’s very best seashores.

Right here’s The Distant‘s selection of the 10 best stretches of sand from the Isle of Skye to the Scottish Highlands.

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Achmelvich Bay, Lochinver

Best for: Swimming

With an emerald sea and immaculate white sand, Achmelvich Bay in the northwest of Scotland more closely resembles a Mediterranean paradise than a UK beach. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy swimming in the clear waters or unwind on shore to catch stunning sunsets over the gentle waves. A day at Achmelvich is well worth the trek down the narrow track road to reach the bay – make sure to head down early in peak season, as the popular swimming spot is also a huge hit with campers and kayakers.

Where to stay

Just two miles away, Suil na Mara glamping pod boasts sea views, a private balcony and a skylight to the stars in the bedroom.

Balnakeil Beach, Durness

Best for: White sands

A Caribbean dupe, the crescent-shaped white dunes of Balnakeil Beach in Durness, north Scotland, are wide, pure and unspoiled. The idyllic setting just off the NC500 route is a must-visit stop for those exploring Scotland’s scenic north coast to hurry a calming fracture. Balnakeil is inside strolling distance of ancient church ruins and Balnakeil Craft Village; go to in off-peak season for a frosty wintry weather proceed to Cocoa Mountain, the Scottish chocolatiers who’ve mastered the artwork of sizzling chocolate.

The place to stick

Bae Seren in Durness includes a farmland, sea perspectives and 3 double bedrooms so the entire people can revel in proximity to probably the most very best seashores in Scotland.

St Ninian’s Seashore, Shetland Islands

Perfect for: Windswept walks

Sandwiched between sapphire seas, Shetland’s crowning jewel is the longest tombolo sand causeway in the United Kingdom. Simply obtainable from Bigton the city at the west coast, St Ninian’s hyperlinks the mainland by way of a picturesque superb sand seaside to an archaeological web page on St Ninian’s Isle. The twisted sandbar is perfect for lengthy walks and is a favorite with households in need of to find the lavish historical past of faith and buried investmrent at the now emptied island. 

The place to stick

Hayhoull B&B is located only a five-minute proceed from St Ninian’s sands and do business in hearty breakfasts, biking alternatives and Shetland literature (for the extra culturally prone).

Doubles from £45pp

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Tolsta Seashore, Isle of Lewis

Perfect for: Natural world recognizing

Tolsta Seashore, at the east coast of the Isle of Lewis within the Outer Hebrides, boasts two miles of yellowish sand and grass banks lavish in plant occasion. Simply accessed from Stornoway, the admirable, sheltered coastline draws guests to far flung North Tolsta. Be certain to deliver your binoculars to identify Scottish natural world, similar to seals, porpoises, dolphins and whales offshore along a territory of seabird species. For the most efficient view, head up the cliffs or discover the department and proceed to the “Bridge to Nowhere”, a failed aim by means of Lord Leverhulme within the twentieth century to make bigger Tolsta’s jap street to Ness.

The place to stick

Remuera pleasure house in North Tolsta is a secluded keep that do business in a terrace, fish fry and farmland, along with its 4 bedrooms; it’s only a cut power from Tolsta’s seashores.

Luskentyre Sands, Isle of Harris

Perfect for: Browsing

Overlook you’re in the United Kingdom at the secluded white sands of Luskentyre stretching so far as the sight can see. A gem of south Harris’ west coast, Luskentyre surpasses probably the most excellent blue flag seashores in Europe, with panoramic perspectives of rolling waves on the finish of a single-track street. The expansive seaside is pervasive in the summertime, however immense plenty that the admirable backdrop of dramatic mountains and brilliant green-blue waters won’t ever really feel busy. Don a wetsuit – reasonable H2O temperatures are low year-round – and paddle out to catch a flow; the Atlantic coast will get admirable northern swells within the wintry weather and the surf is available in unbroken.

The place to stick

Solas, a luxurious self-catering house, sits above the shores of Luskentyre Seashore. A wood-fired sizzling bath, sauna and yoga deck are on deal to visitors later a protracted month of using the waves.

From £3,450 in line with generation for as much as six visitors

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Loch Morlich Seashore, Glenmore

Perfect for: Mountain perspectives

The lengthy stretch of herbal yellowish coastline at the banks of Loch Morlich, 318m above sea degree and 30 miles from the ocean, is a sandy haven with impressive perspectives. Located on the understructure of snow-capped mountains Cairngorms and Ben Macdui in Glenmore Jungle Ground, it’s the gorgeous surroundings that steals the display. Calm down al fresco at the non violent loch akin Aviemore, the one award-winning freshwater seaside in Scotland (and the absolute best in Britain), reached by way of a cut meander thru Caledonian pine, birch and alder bushes. The loch’s sands are well-equipped with watersports, yachting and tenting amenities, absolute best for the ones shopping to benefit from the tranquility waters and breathtaking mountain perspectives.

The place to stick

Pine Marten Bar Glenmore Treehouse is a unusual Scottish keep in Aviemore that boasts mountain perspectives, a little kitchen and a snug dwelling length absolute best for a people.

Clachtoll Seashore, Sutherland

Perfect for: NC500 pit-stops

Press recess for your street shuttle and relaxation at the white shores of Clachtoll Seashore, within the admirable department of Assynt, Sutherland. Sat 5 miles north of Lochniver, at once at the iconic NC500 direction and a snorkelling path by means of the Scottish Natural world Trusts, geometric rock formations together with the well-known Crack Rock stack in Clachtoll’s Bay. The fewer pervasive neighbour of Achmelvich Seashore at the Stoer peninsular options unspoiled rugged park and perspectives over to the isles of Lewis, Harris and Skye. With its crystal-clear sea, wood walkways and bustling campsite, the Scottish paradise is a must-visit shore on any street shuttle.

The place to stick

North Coast 500 Pods in Achmelvich trait a terrace, kitchenette and communal fish fry amenities, and so they’re only a cut proceed from a number of of Scotland’s gold sand seashores (and a 20-minute power from Clachtoll Seashore).

Vatersay Bay, Isle of Barra

Perfect for: Sunbathing

Vatersay Bay, in a different way referred to as Traigh a Bhaigh or “East Beach”, is one in all two seashores within the centre of Vatersay Island. Related to the Isle of Barra by means of a causeway, Vatersay options distinctive wildflowers, a scenic sea coast and the azure waters of the Atlantic. Essentially the most southerly of the Outer Hebrides’ inhabited islands, the shallow bay is absolute best for swimming, paddle boarding and stretching out at the broad dunes. Guests can camp in a single day and head over to “West Beach”, Traigh Siar, to be told the gruesome historical past of the Annie Jane shipwreck.

The place to stick

The Todday Cosy Studio in Ersary options sea, mountain and farmland perspectives from a non-public patio, all only a 15-minute power from Vattersay Bay.

Coral Seashore, Isle of Skye

Perfect for: Off-peak vacations

Within the north of Skye, Coral Seashore is an sovereign stretch of Skye’s sea coast, reached by means of a power indisposed a coarse nation music and scenic proceed. The seaside’s white shores are made up of neither sand nor coral – they’re a mixture of dehydrated and sun-bleached seaweed and algae. On a luminous month, the blue waters akin Claigan shine, and Coral Seashore’s number of shells and fossils arise out in its rock swimming pools and banks. The solar makes an occasional look in Scotland throughout the low season, and generation there is not any oath of heat climate, taking within the tropical surroundings with out crowds is definitely importance a effort, come downpour or radiance.

The place to stick

Lampay Chalets deal pleasure houses with sea perspectives, double bedrooms and picnic benches simply 1.3 miles from Coral Seashore.

Uyea, Shetland Islands

Perfect: Secluded spot

The emptied tidal island of Uyea, off the northwest of mainland Shetland and the Northmavine peninsula, has a park of dramatic granite rock and emerald H2O. Attached by means of a protracted sand tombolo, similar to the seaside at St Ninian’s, the secluded spot and its atmosphere skerries stun at low flow on luminous days. Even if it’s not instructed to scramble indisposed the cliffs to pass the sandbar, the view is solely as breathtaking when admired from above. It’s somewhat a proceed to the far flung standpoint thru wild Scottish environments – a celebratory picnic overlooking Uyea’s yellowish sands comes extremely advisable.

The place to stick

St Magnus Bay Resort, within the center of Shetland. boasts serene environment, conventional décor and a lavish cultural historical past. It’s lower than a two-hour power from Uyea.

Learn extra of our very best Scotland Highlands lodge critiques