Scotland’s best beaches revealed with crystal-clear waters and golden sands

THE sun might not have its hat on just yet, but there’s no harm on planning days out at the beach for when it finally graces our skies.

But before you set off for the coast to enjoy some summer days out, you might want to brush up on which of Scotland’s beaches are best.

And that’s easy, thanks to the new Scotland’s Beach Awards released by Keep Scotland Beautiful this week.

Now seaside sun-seekers as you can find out exactly which beach closest to you (or further away if you’re making a weekend of it) is the cleanest, with pristine sands and clean healthy waters.

Scotland’s Beach Awards celebrates those well-managed and well cared for beaches across Scotland allowing visitors and locals to choose where they want to visit with the knowledge the coastline is being well looked after for both people and the environment.

Across Scotland a total of 51 beaches have received the award this year.

St Andrews West Sands made the list for an astonishing 32 years running – along with Gullane Bends in East Lothian, the only Scottish beaches to achieve such acclaim.

Aberdour Silver Sands in Fife, joined the revered 30-plus years group last year and made this list again in 2024, marking 31 years in a row of being named among the best in Scotland.

Fife retained its title as the region with the most awards – 13 – with Aberdeenshire and East Lothian following with eight each.

Another 40 beaches on the list have won the award for ten or more years – pretty impressive numbers!

Aberdeenshire beaches winning the acclaim include Cruden Bay – a glorious 2.5 km beach said to have a pink glow thanks to the pin/red granite facing of the nearby Longhaven Cliffs.

It’s popular with day trippers, water sports enthusiasts and for fishing. The entire bay is a designated bathing water area.

Six beaches in Angus were recognised this year, including Montrose Seafront. The beach sits in front of a tidal basin and nature reserve: Montrose House of Dun & Montrose Basin Nature Reserve.

It’s accessed by a set of steps or a timber boardwalk and has a play area for children nearby, including paddling pool. There’s also a cafe and burger restaurant, a pitch and putt course, free car parking and picnic areas.

Lovely Lunan Bay is of the biggest expanses of sand in Angus.

This beautiful beach is great for family days out and is popular with surfers/. There’s a gift shop open in the summer and a viewing platform at the top of the dunes.

Beautiful Broughty Ferry won Dundee City its one award. Situated beneath the historic castle in the former fishing village it has huge sweeping sands backed by dunes.

It’s a feeding ground for waders in the winter and you can spot seals, birds and the occasional dolphin or porpoise.

East Lothian is famous for its beaches so it’s no surprise eight of them were granted the prestigious award, including North Berwick’s West Beach – a long stretch of sand with views to the island of Craigleith and the Bass Rock.

It’s a popular family beach for sunbathing, bird watching, paddling, picnics and dog walking. Behind the beach is a putting green and it’s walking distance of the Scottish Seabird Centre.

Aberdour Silversands is one of the most popular resorts on the Fife coast. The beach is quintessentially seaside and the shore looks out to the islands of Inchmickery and Inchcolm, where there is a famous abbey. The Fife coastal path passes by this beach and the section from here is well worth walking.

Sands of Beckon is a white sand beach in the North of Yell, which has the largest area of shell sand dune and dune grassland in Shetland. The beach is in a rural farming region and access to the beach can be steep in places, but it is well worth the walk.

St Andrews East Sands beach is located on the south side of the old harbour close to the East Sands Leisure Centre, with plenty of water sports, including surfing and sailing, to keep everyone entertained.

Kids will love the rock pools at the south end of the beach and the Kinkell Braes Caravan Site is only five minutes away.

Highland beaches also feature highly, with four winning acclaim including Brora Beach, famous for being the first place in Scotland to have electricity.

The small village neighbouring the beach is home to a perfectly situated golf course, with fabulous seaviews.

The unspoilt beach has golden sand and impressive rocks that slope against the sea front with an abundance of wildlife to spot including dolphins and Minke whales.

Irvine Beach is a long stretch of golden sand sheltered by flowing dunes and one of Ayrshire’s best assets. On the edge of a protected site of special scientifc interest, you’re as likely to see an Oyster Catcher or Pied Wagtail darting on the shore as you are to see a sandcastle.

It’s ideal for dog walking, running wild or riding and families love the eateries, pubs and coffee shops near by.

Coldingham Bay in Eyemouth, Berwickshire was the only beach in the Scottish Borders to be recognised.

The sheltered sandy beach stretches for a kilometre with rocky shore at either end and it’s near to Coldingham Village where there are historic sites including the Priory and close to St Abbs village and harbour.

It will probably come as no surprise to many that Ayr South beach was among the awardees. It is one of the most popular in Scotland and has been enjoyed by people of all ages through the years.

From picnics and sandcastles to paddling, collecting shells and playing games, you can always find something to do. The esplanade has a putting green, play area and refurbished Pavilion which provides indoor soft play.

For the full list, visit here