by Rose Conrad

Created on: July 31, 2010

For most people, beaches will not be the first thing that comes to mind when they think of Scotland. However, the country and it's surrounding Islands can boast some of the UK's most beautiful and unspoilt stretches of coastline, so if you are looking for somewhere slightly different to spend your holiday, then why not try Scotland? 

 One of the most famous beaches in Scotland is Troon beach in Ayrshire, which has long been a popular holiday and weekend break destination for the citizens of the nearby large cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Troon has a long, sweeping sandy beach, with many facilities for children such as a funfair, stalls, and ice-cream vendors.  Bathing is safe, and the resort is very family-orientated. There is a wide esplanade and the town has plenty of good shops and restaurants. Nearby you will find Troon Yaht Haven which is popular with local and visiting yachting aficionados.

 If you want to combine a beach holiday with all the facilities of a large city, and if you can stand the admittedly chilly east wind, then Aberdeen Beach may be your best option for a Scottish Beach. Famous for it's golden sand, Aberdeen Beach is a long curved beach stretching from the city's Harbour to the mouth of the River Don, and is a haven for windsurfers and kite flyers. At one end of the beach there is a popular amusement area with restaurants, cinemas and an amusement park for the children. Aberdeen itself is a large and thriving city, with varied nightlife and entertainment venues, live music shows, theatres, jazz clubs, sporting facilities excellent shopping. So if the weather turns wet and windy, which it most possibly will, then there is always plenty to see and do here.  

 For those who like their Scotland steeped in mountains, Highland folklore, whiskey and heather, look no further than Camusdarach Beach in Arisaig, Morayshire, Looking out across the water to the stunning Cullin Hills on the Isle of Skye, Camusdarach is the beach featured in the movie "Local Hero", and is reputedly a favourite vacation spot for Scottish actor Ewan McGregor.  Because of it's fairly remote location, and lack of family amenities, it may not be the best place to bring young children or enjoy a family holiday, but for a couple looking for a romantic getaway, walking along this beautiful beach watching the sun set over the mountains, is a sight not to miss.

 If you're an adventurous sort, and looking for wide stretches of clean, white sand off the beaten track, then look no further than the stunning Luskentyre Beach on the southern side of the Isle of Harris in the Hebrides. Against a backdrop of the North Harris mountains, the beach stretches for miles, and the sea is a stunningly clear turquoise colour. This is not a beach for the holiday maker who likes the usual British seaside past-times. There is no pier here, no stalls selling rock and candyfloss, no donkey rides, and not even a convenient Hotel. It is just deserted, with a few crofts and small farmhouses nearby. The weather can be harsh too - as can everywhere in Scotland if the truth be told. But if you come to Luskentyre on a sunny day, the sheer peace and quiet, the vastness of the endless white sands, and the scenery around it, is guaranteed to take you breath away.

 It would be grossly misleading to say that a beach holiday in Scotland will bring you sunshine and water warm enough to bathe in - it almost certainly will not. But if you like your beaches clean, unspoilt and uncrowded, and are prepared to travel a little further afield, then Scotland has much to offer and you will not be disappointed. 

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