This year's Keep Scotland Beautiful beach awards have been revealed with the environmental charity picking some top beaches not too far from Glasgow to receive the prestigious flag.
The award celebrates the achievements of well-managed beaches across Scotland allowing visitors and locals alike to select destinations they know will be 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 just an hour away from Glasgow have been listed.
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A total of 52 beaches have received the award this year - with some just a short distance away from Glasgow, it's well worth the trip out there - even if it's just for a memorable afternoon away.
Five beaches, Ayr, Prestwick, Troon (South Beach), Irvine and Barassie beach have been highlighted, all of which are less than an hour's drive from the city, on the shortlist with the latter being named for the first time this year.
While others such as Maidens and Girvan are also not too far from the city at just over an hour's drive making them viable options for a wee beach trip.
Maidens has a total of six awards in the area meanwhile Ayr Beach has two, Prestwick has six, Girvan has three and Troon has the highest sitting at eight awards.
The beaches themselves have a lot to offer with newcomer Barassie being known for its long, wide and mostly flat, sandy beach - perfect to soak up the sun on a week when the weather is glorious.
And with views out onto the Firth of Clyde, it's a great place to stop and have a picnic.
Another popular beach often visited by Glaswegians is Ayr. On the west coastline, the predominantly sandy beach is another one not to miss this summer with it also boasting views of Ailsa Craig, the Isle of Arran and on a clear day - Pladda.
Fife retains its title as the region with the most awards, boasting 14 winning beaches with Aberdeenshire and East Lothian following their lead with eight beaches receiving the award.
Jamie Ormiston, Awards Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful 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."
Scotland’s Beach Awards 2023 - full list of winners
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 |
A map showing all the award-winning beaches with directions, facilities and images can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/beach - you can also check out the criteria here.
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