Scotland’s best beaches named and the ones near Glasgow you need to visit

This year’s Keep Scotland Beautiful awards have been announced and there are some top beaches not too far from Glasgow that made the list.

The environmental charity created the awards to celebrate the well-managed beaches across Scotland allowing visitors and locals alike to select destinations they know will be nothing short of a fantastic day out.

These well-kept beaches have been selected as the best from around the country for not just people visiting but also the environment – and some are located just an hour away from our fair city.

Just over 50 beaches have received the award this year offering a top list of places to go for a memorable afternoon away.

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Seven beaches including Ayr South, Prestwick, Girvan, Maidens, Troon (South Beach), Irvine and Barassie Shore have been highlighted, all of which are around an hour’s drive from the city.

The beaches themselves have a lot to offer with Barassie being known for its long, wide and mostly flat, sandy beach – perfect to soak up the sun on a week when the weather is glorious.

And with views out onto the Firth of Clyde, it’s a great place to stop and have a picnic.

While Troon is a Glasgow fave that’s popular with families and dog owners even when the sun isn’t shining.

Another popular beach often visited by Glaswegians is Ayr. On the west coastline, the predominantly sandy beach is another one not to miss this summer with it also boasting views of Ailsa Craig, the Isle of Arran and on a clear day – Pladda.

Both Maidens and Girvan are further out, but they tend to be quieter and less crowded than the better known Ayrshire beaches.

Fife retains its title as the region with the most awards, boasting 14 winning beaches with Aberdeenshire and East Lothian following their lead with eight beaches receiving the award.

You can see the full list on the charity’s interactive map.

Scotland’s Beach Awards 2024 – full list of winners

Keep Scotland Beautiful has presented 51 beaches with Scotland’s Beach Award recognising quality beaches which are well-managed and enjoyed by people across Scotland.