Five of the best beaches in Scotland

14th April 2019

Updated on 02/02/2022

Scotland’s long, rugged coastline means that you are never far away from a pristine and breathtaking beach. Away from the Ordinary has created a list, recommending some of our favourite coastal spots across the country. Here are five of the best beaches in Scotland.

St Cyrus Beach and Nature Reserve, Aberdeenshire

On the Aberdeenshire coast, St Cyrus Beach and Nature Reserve boast miles of golden sand, impressive sea cliffs, and is teeming with flora and bird life. In the spring and summer, the cliffs and grasslands are blooming with colour from wild flowers.  It is a fantastic location to enjoy many of Scotland’s famous species of wildlife and it is the perfect place to take a long walk along the shore and admire the diversity of life that Scotland has to offer.

Ceannabeinne Beach

Situated on the north coast of Scotland, Ceannabeinne is a beautiful white-sand beach next to a cliff-side road that is part of the North Coast 500 route. Near to Durness, a trip here can easily align with a visit to Smoo Cave and the Balnakeil Craft Village. A stop at this beach is highly recommended, whether for a serene walk along the shore or a thrilling zip-wire across the bay.

Traigh na Clibhe, Isle of Lewis

While there are a plethora of white sandy beaches on the Outer Hebrides, such as Luskentyre on Harris, we especially love Traigh na Clibhe. On the remote western side of Lewis, this beach is accessible by a single track, and is nestled between rocky sea cliffs with views out to the Atlantic Ocean. It is a pristine beach on the winding peninsula of Bhaltos and Cnip. The whole area around Traigh na Clibhe is packed with natural, coastal beauty and is guaranteed to delight all visitors.

Dornoch Beach, Dornoch

It’s not unusual to find beaches in Scotland next to world famous golf courses, but this one is extra special. Before or after playing a round at The Royal Dornoch visitors can stretch their legs along this golden stretch of sand. The village of Dornoch is postcard perfect and has all you need to remain entertained for a weekend; one of Scotland’s best whisky bars, a hot chocolate shop, a delightful antique and jewellery store, a castle, an impressive church, and incredible history.

Singing Sands, Ardtoe

Singing Sands Beach at Ardtoe is a remote and quiet beach, which can be a little bit of a challenge to reach (it is a 2 mile walk from the nearest car park).  It is impressive in scale and the dunes are so large that British commandos used to practice their beach landings here in WW2. Visitors still occasionally find ammunition shells as they stroll along the beautiful shoreline. The view from the beach is stunning, offering sight of the small isles of Rum and Eigg.

You can find more wonderful content about enjoying Scotland’s outdoors here:

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