Discover the Best & Most Beautiful Beaches in Scotland,  Scotland's Most Magical White Sand Beaches, Scotland's Best Beaches for Families, Scotland's Cleanest Beaches, Scotland's Most Spectacular Beaches as well as the Best Beaches in Scotland for Swimming.

The Best Beaches in Scotland are listed in this Ultimate Guide of the Top-Rated Beaches in Scotland. 

Book your flights, your accommodation in Scotland as well as your tours & activities in Scotland and discover the Best Beaches in Scotland to Visit this Summer. 

1. Vatersay Beach

Isle of Barra - Outer Hebrides

One of the Most Beautiful Beaches in Scotland is located on the Isle of Barra.

The Isle of Barra offers Scotland's Most Magical White Sand Beaches. Beautiful Caribbean type beaches but with milder temperatures and fewer mosquitoes.

During your stay on the island do not miss visiting Kisimul Castle. 

You can cycle around Barra in one day. A break at the airport is almost obligatory: first, because you will find one of the only cafes on the island, second, because you can see planes landing on… the beach! Opened in 1936, this microscopic airport is known to be the only one in the world to offer an all-sand airstrip.

There are actually three tracks drawn on the sand, used according to the wind. One or two planes land there every day, at low tide: flight schedules vary depending on the tides.

 How to get there: Book your flights to Barra via Glasgow (55min).  

 Where to stay: The "Isle of Barra Beach Hotel" is the best choice for a stay in the heart of Barra. 

2. Seilebost beach

Isle of Harris - Outer Hebrides

Seilebost Beach is one of the Most Beautiful Beaches in Scotland. Seilebost is a small crofting village on the coast road along the west side of Harris. 

Book your accommodation at the best price on the Isle of Harris and discover one of the Top-Rated Beach in Scotland.

The best time to visit one of the Cleanest Beaches in Scotland is in late spring, early summer, when the primroses are in bloom.  

 How to get there:  Book your flights to Stornoway (1h from Edinburgh) and drive to Seilebost (1h). 

 Where to stay: "Ullabhal & Cleiseabhal" with sea views. 

3. Calgary Bay

Isle of Mull

Do you agree that beautiful things must be earned? We do too. This summer escape the heat wave while enjoying a beach of fine white sand as beautiful as Caribbean sand and relax on one of the Cleanest Beaches in Scotland.

Book your flights to Glasgow and drive to Oban, one of the best hidden gems in Scotland.

Once in Oban, why not drop your suitcases for a day or two and enjoy the sweetness of life of this pretty little town from where most of the ferries to the Hebrides leave.

When you are ready, head to Oban Harbour and board a ferry to Craignure (50 min). Once in Craignure, it is only one hour by car to one of the Most Magical White Sand Beaches in Scotland.

 How to get there: Book your flights to Glasgow and drive to Oban (2h). Take the ferry to Craignure (50 min) then drive to Calgary (1h). 

 Where to stay: "Killoran House" is located 5km from Calgary Bay. This guesthouse features garden views and a terrace.

4. Coral Beach

Isle of Skye

Coral beach is the name of one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece but also one of the Most Beautiful Beaches in Scotland.

Thousands of kilometers separate them but both have crystal clear waters and lovely fine sand. If you do not like hot summers Coral Beach on the Isle of Skye is for you. It is one of Scotland's Most Magical White Sand Beaches.

Book your flights to Inverness and your accommodation at the best price on the Isle of Skye as well as your tours and activities in Scotland, such as an "Isle of Skye tour from Inverness".

During your stay do not miss to visit Dunvegan Castle located a 15- minute drive from Coral Beach; it is classified among the most beautiful castles of Scotland. 

 How to get there: Book your flights to Inverness and join Claigan by car (3h30) 

 Where to stay:  "Glendale View" is located 9km from Coral Beach.

5. Sango Bay

Durness - Sutherland - The Highlands

Sango Bay beach is one of the Best Beaches in Scotland to Visit this Summer. It is a stunning beach of white sand and turquoise waters.

Walk there at low tide at the foot of the huge eroded rocks and admire these dramatic stone cathedrals from another planet.

 How to get there: Book your flights to Inverness (direct flights or via Edinburgh) and join Durness (2h30 by car - 5h by public transport) and relax on one of Scotland's Most Spectacular Beaches.  

 Where to stay: "The Annex at Borlum House" is highly rated by couples travelling to Scotland. 

6. Ceannabeinne Beach 

Durness - Highlands

This is one of Scotland Most Beautiful Sand Beaches. In the far North of Scotland, a short drive from the village of Rispond, Ceannabeinne Beach is one of the Most Beautiful Beaches in Scotland.

Ceannabeinne Beach is a beautiful sandy beach, perfect for travellers who want to escape from the crowds and heatwave summers.

The outside temperature, even in summer is rarely more than 15 degrees and the water temperature is perfect for salmon. If it is not one of the Best Beaches in Scotland for Swimming it is at least one of the Cleanest Beaches in Scotland.

During your stay in the North of Scotland do not miss to visit the Smoo Cave, one of the best hidden gems in Scotland. Smoo Cave is located just a 5- minute drive from this beautiful beach.

 How to get there: Book your flights to Inverness and join Rispond by car (2h30) or by public transport (5h). 

 Where to stay: The "Bettyhill Hotel" offers stunning views over the bay and the sea.

7. Mangurstadh Beach

Uig - Isle of Lewis - Outer Hebrides

Also known as "Traigh Mhangurstadh", this beach ranked among the Best Beaches in Scotland Every Visitors Should See, is located on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

This beach facing the Atlantic brings a pure and invigorating air. It is not really a beach for lounging and sunbathing but rather a beach made for those who long to clear their minds by the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. It's a perfect place to relax, away from crowds, away from the hustle and bustle of cities, away from stress, one of the Best Secret Beaches in Scotland. 

Book your flights to Inverness as well as your accommodation at the best price on the Isle of Lewis and your tours and activities in Scotland, such as a "Lewis, Harris and Outer Hebrides Tour from Inverness”.  

 How to get there: Book your flights to Inverness and drive to Ullapool (1h30) where you will take the ferry to Stornoway (2h45 min) on the Isle of Lewis. 

 Where to stay: "Cuckoos Rock". Couples particularly like the location. 

8. St Andrews Fife Beach

St Andrews

At the foot of St Andrews Castle lies one of the Best & Most Beautiful Beaches in Scotland.

Park in the parking lot of the castle and join this small beach on foot. At high tide the beach can be very narrow or non-existent and at low tide the sea can be a bit far.

Watch the tide schedule before you go or let chance decide for you. Do not miss out on West Sands and East Sands beaches on both sides of St Andrews Castle, they could also be ranked among Scotland's Best Beaches.

 How to get there: Book your flights to Dundee (30 min by car) or Edinburgh (1h30).

 Where to stay:  "Kinnettles Hotel" is just a 10 minutes' walk from the beaches.

9. Sandwood beach

Kinlochbervie - Sutherland - Highlands

Miles of golden sand await you. Some might say that there is nothing to do in Kinlochbervie but to watch the spectacle of nature, crashing waves, the wind shaking the courageous plants anchored in the sand, is to marvel at the beauty of the world. Sandwood beach is really one of the Most Beautiful Sandy Beaches in Scotland.

If this kind of holiday tempts you, book your flights to Inverness and your accommodation at the best price and discover one of the Top-Rated Beaches in Scotland. 

 How to get there: Book your flights to Inverness (2h30 by car) or Edinburgh (5h) and drive to Kinlochbervie.  

 Where to stay:  "Mountain view, Lairg" is just 5 minutes from Sandwood beach and boasts a garden and amazing mountain views.  

10. Redpoint beach

South Erradale - Highlands

If your dream is to walk on a beach, at the end of the world, rocked by the gentle sound of wind and waves, away from the crowd, far from the city, away from stress, Redpoint beach is what you need.

It is fairly easy to reach one of Scotland's Most Spectacular Beaches as it takes only 2 hours by car from Inverness to South Erradale, a small hamlet in Ross Shire County

This beach is beautiful for a stroll at the end of the day, to watch the sunset with a loved one, alone or with family; the spectacle of nature is both refreshing and very soothing. 

Book your flights to Inverness and your accommodation at the best price.

 How to get there:  Book your flights to Inverness and drive to South Erradale (2h).

 Where to stay: the "Shieldaig Lodge Hotel" is a beautiful 19th century lodge serving hearty Scottish breakfasts.

11. Saint Ninian's Isle Beaches

Bigton - Shetland

Are you ready to discover the most beautiful beaches of Shetland? The answer has to be yes.

With their fine sand, crystal clear waters, they are among Scotland's Most Magical White Sand Beaches as well as among the Cleanest Beaches in Scotland. 

The question is rather: are you ready to ride 5 hours and take two ferries (2 x 2h) to discover one of the Most Beautiful Beaches in Scotland? If the answer is yes  again, you will not regret this exceptional trip that will allow you to discover landscapes of rare beauty.

 How to get there:  If you are in a hurry, you can take a direct flight Edinburgh-Sumburgh. St Ninian's Isle is only 20 minutes from Sumburgh Airport. 

 Where to stay: "Scalloway Hotel" located 9km from St Ninian's Isle beaches.