Beaches & swimming in HighlandHighland, Scotland

A mile of pink sand backed by dunes and a freshwater loch, guarded by the sea stack Am Buachaille — often called the finest beach in Britain, never called crowded.

White-sand beach south of Morar with dune-backed turquoise water, the filming location for the 1983 film Local Hero.

White-sand hidden beach reached by a steep path, overlooking the Kyle of Tongue.

Long dune-backed Blue Flag beach beside the Royal Dornoch golf links.

Sandy freshwater beach on the shore of Loch Morlich in Glenmore Forest, ringed by pines beneath the Cairngorms.

Sheltered west-facing sandy beach at Portmahomack, often visited by basking seals.

Golden beach of sea stacks and hidden coves right beside Durness village.

Town beach on Thurso Bay renowned among surfers for the reef break at Thurso East.

Vast curving stretch of pink-red sand backed by mountains, looking out to Gruinard Island.

Sweep of white sand and dunes at the far west of Ardnamurchan with views to the Small Isles.

String of dazzling white-sand beaches between Morar and Arisaig looking out to the Small Isles.

Wild dark-sand bay backed by a sea stack and a cliff waterfall, west of Carbost.

Quiet shingle-and-sand cove on the Coigach shore reached on foot, facing the Summer Isles.

Dazzling white-sand cove of turquoise water west of Lochinver, often likened to a Caribbean beach.

Broad sweep of pale sand and dunes on the Coigach coast with far views to the Summer Isles and Assynt peaks.

Sandy bay below Applecross village facing the island of Raasay, with rock pools and Cuillin views.

Curving pebble-and-shingle bay north of Ullapool under the crags of Ben More Coigach.

Series of sheltered sandy coves at Ardtoe near Acharacle in Moidart.

Cluster of silver-sand coves on the crofting coast just north of Arisaig.

Wide sweep of white sand and tall dunes beside Balnakeil, running north to Faraid Head.

Broad sandy bay below Cleadale on Eigg's west coast, looking out to Rum.

Wide dune-backed sandy beach near Gairloch with views to Longa Island, Skye and Raasay.

Sand-and-rock pool beach beside the golf links at Brora.

Hidden white-sand cove near the Point of Sleat, with views to Rum, Eigg and Knoydart.

Wild remote bay with a bothy and beach between Elgol and the Cuillin, reached only on foot.

Small golden-sand cove east of Durness with clear water and views to Eilean Hoan, plus a zip line above it.

White-sand Assynt beach of clear water and black gneiss rocks beside an Iron Age broch.

Wide sweep of pinkish sand on the Assynt coast between Stoer and Drumbeg.

White beach of crushed coralline seaweed with turquoise water, north of Dunvegan.

Shingle beach at the head of Loch Ness giving the classic straight-down-the-loch view toward Urquhart Castle.

Two-mile sweep of sand along Dunnet Bay, a surf and walking beach backed by dunes.

Long sandy beach stretching north from the former fishing village of Embo.

Sheltered curve of sand at the mouth of the River Naver below Bettyhill.

Reddish-sand beach on Loch Ewe near Poolewe, warmed by the Gulf Stream and popular for summer bathing.

Safe sheltered sandy beach below the golf course in Gairloch, reached by boardwalks.

Wide dark volcanic-sand beach at the head of Loch Brittle beneath the Cuillin.

White-sand bay at Rum's north end, backed by a red-deer research base and views to the Cuillin of Skye.

Wide north-coast Ardnamurchan beach at Kilmory looking to the Small Isles.

Horseshoe of soft white sand and turquoise water with a celebrated panorama over to the Assynt peaks.

Golden sands at the mouth of the Halladale River, popular for swimming and paddleboarding.

Long sandy central beach and promenade at Nairn, looking across the Moray Firth to the Black Isle and hills beyond.

Dune-backed beach beyond Nairn's Victorian harbour, a wide expanse of sand at the river mouth.

Sheltered white-sand cove among machair and rock near Kinlochbervie.

Sheltered sandy cove at Portuairk near Ardnamurchan Point.

Sweep of red sand south of Gairloch with views across to Raasay, Skye and the Torridon hills.

Sand-and-shingle Black Isle beach backed by red cliffs, with a café and the Fairy Glen walk at the far end.

Sandy Caithness bay beside a small harbour and golf course at Reay.

Huge sweep of Caithness sand between Wick and Keiss, flanked by a castle at each end.

Quartz beach at Camas Sgiotaig below Cleadale on Eigg, whose dry sand squeaks underfoot.

Remote beach near Kentra reached by a woodland walk, whose dry sand 'sings' underfoot.

Sandy Trotternish bay at An Corran, known for exposed dinosaur footprints and Quiraing views.

Quiet sandy bay on the west side of the Kyle of Tongue, good for gentle walks and watersports.

A tidal pool cut into the rocks south of Wick in 1931, cleaned and painted each year by volunteers.

Sandy beach and links by Arisaig with views to Eigg and Rum, beside the Traigh golf course.