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The ‘secret’ Scots beach in nature reserve near inn with ‘lovely’ Sunday roast

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The ‘secret’ Scots beach in nature reserve near inn with ‘lovely’ Sunday roast

It is once again time for the Daily Record’s Walk of the Week.

Each week, we select one hike or beauty spot from across Scotland and shine a light on what makes it so special. Once again, to celebrate the summer season, we have picked a beautiful beach.



While most of the country’s beaches become flooded with Scots any time there’s even a hint of sun, there are a few that are a bit more hidden. One of these lesser-known “secret” beaches, according to experts at The Beach Guide, is Hackley Bay.

Also known as Forvie Sands, this secluded little spot is found just north of Newburgh in Aberdeenshire. It is found within the Forvie National Nature Reserve, which covers nearly 1,000 hectares of sand dunes between the North Sea and the estuary of the River Ythan.

Given its location in a nature reserve, Forvie Sands is unsurprisingly a haven for wildlife. Among the animals that you may see around the beach are seals and eider birds.

The Beach Guide writes: “This wide sandy crescent of golden sand, flanked by high cliffs, could well be the prettiest bay on the Aberdeenshire coast. To the rear of the beach are sand dunes and more gently sloping cliffs.

“Set within the Forvie National Nature Reserve, Hackley Bay is very much unspoilt and qualifies as both a Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.”


Once you’re done taking in the views at Forvie Sands, you can walk back to Newburgh to enjoy a well-earned meal at The Newburgh Inn. With one recent customer calling it a “great place for Sunday lunch”, it seems like the perfect capper to any day out.

Read on for some photos that show why Forvie Sands is so special. Meanwhile, if you’re still after some travel inspiration, you can find a few of the Daily Record’s past Walks of the Week here:

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With Forvie Sands being described as one of the best “secret” beaches in Scotland, it seems like an ideal place to head when the sun comes out. Dogs are permitted, so it is also a great place for a peaceful day out with your four-legged friend.

(Image: Colin_Hunter / Getty Images)

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The Sands of Forvie are the fifth biggest sand dune system in the UK, and considered the least disturbed by human activity. If you squint your eyes, you could almost mistake it for the Sahara Desert.

(Image: Iain Sarjeant / Getty Imagres)

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Forvie is a top site for watching grey and common seals, with the adorable aquatic creatures hauling out onto beaches and mudflats around the mouth of the Ythan estuary. If you’re an animal lover, it’s just one more reason to visit.

(Image: Gannet77 / Getty Images)

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The opportunity to potentially be able to see grey and common seals up close is probably enough to justify a visit all on its own. However, visitors should not disturb the animals.

(Image: ARTERRA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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To cap off your day, you can head to the Newburgh Inn for a nice hot meal — with everything from fish and chips to Sunday roasts available. Recent reviews on Tripadvisor, where the inn has an average rating of four out of five based on 143 reviews, have singled it out its “lovely Sunday lunch” and “warm and welcoming staff”.

(Image: Photo © Anne Burgess (cc-by-sa/2.0))

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