With the weather starting to take a turn for the better and the Easter holidays upon us, you may be looking for some places to spend sunny days with the kids of your friends.
And luckily enough, Scotland is full of beautiful spots, with one beach so breathtaking it is hard to believe it is actually part of our country.
St Ninian's was named Scotland's best beach by holiday rental site Holidu in 2022, taking a spot in the top five beaches throughout the entire UK. The picturesque location is often used in promotional material for Shetland as a whole, but you would be forgiven for assuming the snap was taken from a sunny beach overseas.
Situated in a rural farming region on Shetland, the beach is also situated on an archaeological site located on St. Ninians Isle.
But how easy is it to visit, where is St Ninian's beach and what can you do during your visit?
Where is St Ninian's beach?
The beautiful St Ninian's Beach can be found on the west coast of the Shetland Isles, connecting the small island of St Ninian's to Shetland's mainland.
The beach is made up of a strip of sand with clear blue waters on either site. The beach is actually the UK's biggest tombolo - a sandbar connecting one island to another.
With the aquamarine waters, white sand and bright greenery surrounding, it is difficult to accept that St Ninian's is on our doorstep - just about.
How to get to St Ninian's beach
The beach is easily accessible from the main spots across Shetland, with Bigton the nearest township. There are bus lines (the most regular is route 6) close to the spot, with the Bigton shop stop just a four minute walk away.
The get to Shetland from mainland Scotland you will need to jump on the ferry, with regular boats operated by North Link, you can check times and prices online here.
What can you do when visiting St Ninian's beach?
There is plenty for visitors to do.
After simply taking in the breathtaking site, you can enjoy an array of water sports. Whether you fancy some canoeing, snorkelling in the sparkly clear waters, a spot of sailing or even windsurfing.
What's more, the beach is dog friendly, so feel free to bring your four legged furry friend along for what is sure to be a fabulous visit.
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