The annual Keep Scotland Beautiful beach awards have revealed the beaches around Scotland that have qualified for their prestigious flag.
The environmental charity's awards celebrate the achievements of the well-managed beaches across Scotland and provide a shortlist of beaches visitors and locals alike know will offer them nothing short of a fantastic day out.
The well-kept beaches are looked after for the people visiting as well as the environment - and some located close to Edinburgh have been listed.
READ MORE: The golden beach near Edinburgh dubbed the 'finest in South of Scotland'
A total of 52 beaches have received the award this year - and some with some just a short distance away from the capital, it's well worth the trip out there - even if it's just for a memorable afternoon in the sun.
In total, 13 beaches within an hour's drive of the capital made it onto the list, with East Lothian favourites along the coast such as Dunbar, Yellowcraig and Longniddry Bents all appearing.
However, if you want to find the best beaches then apparently you should head north to Fife, which retains its title as the region with the most awards, boasting 14 winning beaches including Aberdour Silver Sands and Black Sands which are both just under an hour away and the pretty beach at Kinghorn (Pettycur).
Just a little further out, but rewarding for the extra time travelling lie the beaches at Elie, St Andrews and Anstruther, which all secured an award.
Awards Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, Jamie Ormiston, said: “Scotland's Beach Awards are the benchmark for quality, celebrating clean, well-managed and sustainable beaches.
"Our award-winning beaches demonstrate excellent beach management and we hope that all who visit this year play their part in keeping them beautiful. I’d like to thank all those who do so much to protect, maintain and enhance our beaches, protecting the sand and sea for us all to enjoy."
A map showing all the award-winning beaches with directions, facilities and images can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/beach
Scotland’s Beach Awards 2023 - full list of winners (those within an hour of Edinburgh in bold)
Keep Scotland Beautiful has presented 52 beaches with Scotland’s Beach Award recognising quality beaches which are well-managed and enjoyed by people across Scotland.
Beach name |
Applicant |
Awards in the area |
Consecutive years awarded |
Aberdeen Ballroom Beach |
Aberdeen City Council |
1 |
17 |
Balmedie |
Aberdeenshire Council |
8 |
18 |
Collieston |
Aberdeenshire Council |
16 |
|
Stonehaven |
Aberdeenshire Council |
17 |
|
Fraserburgh Waters of Philorth |
Aberdeenshire Council |
16 |
|
Peterhead Lido |
Aberdeenshire Council |
16 |
|
Cruden Bay |
Aberdeenshire Council |
14 |
|
Fraserburgh Tigerhill |
Aberdeenshire Council |
16 |
|
Inverboyndie |
Aberdeenshire Council |
17 |
|
Lunan Bay |
Angus Council |
6 |
7 |
Montrose Seafront |
Angus Council |
20 |
|
Arbroath |
Angus Council |
14 |
|
Carnoustie |
Angus Council |
18 |
|
Monifieth |
Angus Council |
13 |
|
East Haven |
East Haven Together |
8 |
|
Broughty Ferry |
Dundee City Council |
1 |
20 |
Dunbar East Beach |
Dunbar Community Council & East Lothian Council |
8 |
3 |
Gullane Bents |
East Lothian Council |
31 |
|
Belhaven Bay, Dunbar |
East Lothian Council |
19 |
|
Longniddry Bents, Gosford |
East Lothian Council |
20 |
|
North Berwick Milsey Bay |
East Lothian Council |
25 |
|
North Berwick West Beach |
East Lothian Council |
23 |
|
Yellowcraig |
East Lothian Council |
6 |
|
Longniddry Bents |
East Lothian Council |
20 |
|
Elie Harbour Beach |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
14 |
12 |
St Andrews West Sands |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
31 |
|
Leven |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
16 |
|
Burntisland |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
23 |
|
St Andrews East Sands |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
23 |
|
Aberdour Silver Sands |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
30 |
|
Aberdour Black Sands |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
15 |
|
Crail Roome Bay |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
25 |
|
Kingsbarns |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
21 |
|
Elie Ruby Bay |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
25 |
|
Billowness, Anstruther |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
12 |
|
Kinghorn (Pettycur) |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
23 |
|
Kirkcaldy Seafield |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
16 |
|
Kirkcaldy Pathhead Sands |
Fife Coast & Countryside Trust |
8 |
|
Loch Morlich |
Forestry and Land Scotland / Highland |
5 |
15 |
Brora Beach |
Brora Community Council |
22 |
|
Sango Sands |
Durness Community Council |
21 |
|
Dornoch Beach |
Dornoch Community Council |
29 |
|
Nairn Central |
High Life Highlands |
30 |
|
Irvine Beach |
Irvine Clean Up Crew/North Ayrshire Council |
1 |
2 |
Coldingham |
Scottish Borders Council |
1 |
17 |
West Sandwick |
Yell Community Council / Shetland |
1 |
13 |
Maidens |
South Ayrshire Council |
6 |
10 |
Ayr Beach |
South Ayrshire Council |
2 |
|
Prestwick |
South Ayrshire Council |
6 |
|
Girvan |
South Ayrshire Council |
3 |
|
Troon (South Beach) |
South Ayrshire Council |
8 |
|
Barassie Beach |
South Ayrshire Council |
New for 2023 |
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