Beaches & swimming in ScotlandScotland

Miles of white shell-sand and turquoise shallows against the Harris hills — routinely voted among the best beaches in Europe, and empty most days of the year.

Na h-Eileanan Siar

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.

Highland

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

Highland

White-sand Eriskay bay where Bonnie Prince Charlie first set foot in Scotland in 1745.

Na h-Eileanan Siar

Broad sandy town beach backed by a long esplanade, the heart of the Ayrshire seaside.

South Ayrshire

Three-mile stretch of empty white sand and dunes voted among Europe's most beautiful beaches.

Na h-Eileanan Siar

Golden-sand beach and small harbour on Arran's quiet west coast.

North Ayrshire

Golden sands on the Tay estuary beside Broughty Castle, with a nature reserve alongside.

Dundee

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

Highland

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

Highland

Long sandy South Ayrshire beach and promenade looking out to Ailsa Craig.

South Ayrshire

A heated seawater pool of 1909 on the Clyde shore at Gourock, with views across the firth to the Cowal hills.

Inverclyde

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

Highland

Long dune-backed sands reached by a footbridge across the Lossie, a favourite family beach.

Moray

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

Highland

Edinburgh's own beach, a broad sweep of sand with a Victorian promenade and independent cafés.

Edinburgh

Wide family beach in a sheltered bay between Saltcoats and Ardrossan, with a promenade to the old fishing harbour.

North Ayrshire

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

Highland

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

Highland

Wide golden beach and dunes at Troon with views to Arran and the Royal Troon links behind.

South Ayrshire

Huge tidal sweep of sand backed by the Uig hills, where the Lewis Chessmen were discovered.

Na h-Eileanan Siar

Curving white-sand bay on Vatersay with views to Heaval and Castlebay.

Na h-Eileanan Siar

A two-mile sweep of sand beside the Old Course, made famous by the opening scene of Chariots of Fire.

Fife

Long sandy east-coast beach on Arran facing Holy Isle.

North Ayrshire

Rural sandy beach with rocky outcrops between Maidens and Dunure, with views to Culzean and Ailsa Craig.

South Ayrshire

Bute's largest and most popular beach, a wide flat sweep of sand on the island's west coast with a tearoom.

Argyll and Bute

Family sandy beach just outside Oban with views to Mull, Morvern and Lismore.

Argyll and Bute

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

Highland

Colonsay's celebrated golden beach, a sweeping sandy bay open to Atlantic surf.

Argyll and Bute

A long, quiet sweep of sand backed by dunes near Kingsbarns, part of the Fife Coastal Path.

Fife

Wide Atlantic-facing beach of golden sand and high dunes on Islay's Rinns, near Kilchoman.

Argyll and Bute

Mile-long west Lewis beach (Traigh na Beirghe) fringed with machair wildflowers on the Valtos peninsula.

Na h-Eileanan Siar

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

Highland

Broad tidal sands of turquoise shallows facing Luskentyre across the estuary on Harris's west coast.

Na h-Eileanan Siar

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

Highland

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

Highland

Long city beach curving between the Dee and Don with a broad promenade below Aberdeen's granite skyline.

Aberdeen

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

Highland

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

Highland

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

Highland

Sweep of white sand (Traigh Hamara) on Barra's west coast with views to the Atlantic.

Na h-Eileanan Siar

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

Highland

Sheltered shingle-and-sand beach on Loch Long backed by the Argyll Forest Park.

Argyll and Bute

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

Highland

Pink-sand bay below Portencross with cliff walks and Arran views on the North Ayrshire coast.

North Ayrshire

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

Highland

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

Highland

A long sweeping white-sand beach on Sanday, prized for shell-hunting and solitude.

Orkney Islands