The most beautiful beaches in Scotland

The Scottish weather being famously unpredictable, you can’t afford to delay on those precious few days when the sun shines and the temperature soars. Just grab your swimwear and a picnic and make for the coast quick, before the rain starts splashing in your sandwiches.

Luckily, you’re never far from a great beach in a small country with seas to three sides. They come in practically every shape and size imaginable – from I-can’t-believe-it’s-not-the-Bahamas white sandy havens to nature reserves buzzing with wildlife, rocky strips revealing prehistoric secrets, and even one or two beaches lapped by waters not salty but fresh. Don’t worry if the weather suddenly turns against you – many of these beaches are just as easily enjoyed on days when the sea and the skies are calm and clear as when they’re dramatic and wild.

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Malcolm Jack is a writer from Scotland. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.