More than 50 beaches across Scotland have received a prestigious national award ahead of the start of summer.
The 2023 winners of Scotland's Beach Awards have been announced - and a total 52 destinations have been named. The awards, run by Scottish environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, recognise "clean, well managed and sustainable" beaches.
Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, East Lothian, Fife, Highland, North Ayrshire, the Scottish Borders, Shetland, and South Ayrshire are among the winning beaches.
The winners of the award demonstrate "excellent beach management" and "environmental best practice", as well as the maintenance of high standards. Focusing on local environmental quality, the award is designed to complement the work undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on bathing water quality.
Awards Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful Jamie Ormiston commented: "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."
With summer officially here, people around Scotland will be looking to head to their nearest beach across the country's 11,800km coastline. Whether you're keen to spend a day relaxing in the sun with friends or family, or want to do a bit of wildlife watching, there is sure to be an awarded beach near you.
Read on for the full list of the 2023 Scotland's Beach Award winners. More information can be found on the Keep Scotland Beautiful website.
The 2023 winners of Scotland's Beach Award
- Aberdeen Ballroom Beach, Aberdeen City
- Balmedie Beach, Aberdeenshire
- Collieston, Aberdeenshire
- Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire
- Fraserburgh Tigerhill, Aberdeenshire
- Fraserburgh Waters of Philorth, Aberdeenshire
- Inverboyndie Beach, Aberdeenshire
- Peterhead Lido, Aberdeenshire
- Stonehaven Beach, Aberdeenshire
- Montrose Seafront, Angus
- Carnoustie, Angus
- Arbroath, Angus
- Lunan Bay, Angus
- Monifieth, Angus
- East Haven, Angus
- Broughty Ferry, Dundee City
- Belhaven Bay, East Lothian
- Dunbar East, East Lothian
- Gullane Bents, East Lothian
- Longniddry Bents, Gosford, East Lothian
- North Berwick Milsey Bay, East Lothian
- North Berwick West Beach, East Lothian
- Longniddry Bents, East Lothian
- Yellowcraig, East Lothian
- Aberdour Silversands, Fife
- Anstruther Billowness, Fife
- Burntisland Beach, Fife
- Crail Roome Bay, Fife
- Elie Harbour, Fife
- Elie Ruby Bay, Fife
- Kingsbarns Beach, Fife
- Kinghorn and Pettycur Bay, Fife
- Kirkcaldy Seafield, Fife
- Leven East, Fife
- St Andrews East Sands, Fife
- St Andrews West Sands, Fife
- Aberdour Black Sands, Fife
- Kirkcaldy Pathhead Sands, Fife
- Brora Beach, Highland
- Dornoch Beach, Highland
- Sango Sands, Highland
- Nairn Central, Highland
- Loch Morlich, Highland
- Irvine, North Ayrshire
- Coldingham, Scottish Borders
- West Sandwick, Shetland
- Ayr South, South Ayrshire
- Troon, South Ayrshire
- Maidens, South Ayrshire
- Prestwick, South Ayrshire
- Girvan, South Ayrshire
- Barassie Shore, South Ayrshire
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