It seems for once that the east coast is the best coast when it comes to beaches after a recent survey named seven of them in the top 10 in Scotland.
Incredibly, three of them are also all under an hour's drive from the capital meaning they make for excellent days out if you live near Edinburgh - Gullane, Yellowcraig and Seacliff.
And should you be from Glasgow, they are still only over an hour and a half to get to so they could well be worth the trip.
Holidu, the search engine for holiday rentals, has conducted an analysis to find out where the Top 50 best-rated beaches are located in the UK.
The list of beaches was taken from Google Maps with their number of reviews and average ratings. All those with more than 100 reviews were then ranked by the average rating given by the users and the number of reviews they received.
The three beaches near Edinburgh named on the list are:
1. Gullane Beach, East Lothian (45 mins)
With sand stretching as far as the eye can see, this is an excellent beach for a walk with the family (and of course the pooch).
This is probably the best known of the three and for good reason, so expect crowds on a warm day.
2. Yellowcraig, East Lothian (47 mins)
Found on Scotland's "golf coast" between Gullane and North Berwick, Yellowcraigs offers panoramic views of the Firth of Forth and the tiny uninhabited isle of Fidra – said to have been the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.
3. Seacliff, East Lothian (51 mins)
Probably the least well-known of the three, Seacliff should be quieter and less busy on a sunny day mean you can enjoy a wee bit more space. With stunning views of the Firth of Forth and the impressive. ruins of Tantallon Castle lying nearby, there is lots to see and do.
Oh, and look out for the intriguing little harbour known as the Gegan.
Top 10 Beaches in Scotland
| Rank: UK | Rank: Scotland | Name | Location | No. Reviews | Avg. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | |||||
| 6 | |||||
| 7 | |||||
| 10 | |||||
| 18 | |||||
| 19 | |||||
| 20 | |||||
| 24 | |||||
| 29 | |||||
| 34 |
You can see the full list here.
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