A guide to
Scotland’s coast.
Where in Scotland?
Choose a part of Scotland for its coast.
Achmelvich, Oldshoremore and Sandwood Bay: white sand at the end of single-track roads.
The East Neuk’s fishing villages, Elie to Crail, along the Fife Coastal Path.
Duncansby’s sea stacks, and Dunnet Head, the top of the mainland.
Pennan, Crovie and Gardenstown, tucked under the cliffs.
Luskentyre, and the machair beaches of the Uists.
Bow Fiddle Rock, Cullen, and the dolphins off Spey Bay.
Coves and harbours from Portpatrick round to Kippford.
North Berwick’s beaches and the Bass Rock white with gannets.
The Black Isle, and the dolphins at Chanonry Point.
Applecross, Gairloch and the beaches north to Gruinard.
The coast, in two minutes.
Count the islands and Scotland has more than ten thousand miles of coast. The west is sea lochs, islands and white shell sand; the north is cliffs and empty bays; the east is long beaches, fishing villages and links golf.
The famous beaches, Luskentyre, Sandwood Bay and Achmelvich, are a long way from anywhere, which is why they are empty. The East Neuk of Fife and the Moray coast give harbours, fish suppers and a beach within reach of a city.
Where to start.
The beaches and harbours everyone asks about, each with what to know before going.
Sandwood Bay.
A remote sweep of pale sand near Cape Wrath, guarded by the sea stack Am Buachaille and reached only by a four-mile path across the moor.
Assynt
Achmelvich Bay.
On Scotland’s stunning north west coast, Achmelvich Bay could easily be mistaken for a tropical far-flung holiday destination – just a little on the chillier side. But the jaw-dropping scenery on offer more than makes up for the temperature.
Sutherland
Duncansby Head.
The true north-east corner of mainland Scotland, beyond John o' Groats, with a lighthouse, a great cleft full of seabirds and the Stacks of Duncansby to the south.
Caithness
Bow Fiddle Rock.
A great arch of pale quartzite standing in the sea off Portknockie, shaped like the tip of a fiddler's bow and busy with seabirds.
Morayshire
Crail.
The most easterly village of the East Neuk of Fife, an ancient royal burgh with a tiny stone harbour, a Dutch-style tolbooth and fresh lobster in season.
Fife
Calgary Bay.
The largest and most accessible beach in north Mull, a long sweep of white shell sand backed by flowering machair, west of Dervaig.
Isle of Mull
Three things to know.
Check the tide.
Causeways, sea caves and some beaches only exist at low water. Look up the tide table for the day and be off before it turns.
The water is cold.
Even in August the sea is rarely above 14 degrees. Swim near others, go in slowly, and bring something warm for after.
Single-track roads.
Much of the west and north coast is reached on single-track roads. Use the passing places, let faster traffic by, and allow twice the time.
Dumfries and GallowayMossyard Beach
AberdeenshireWhitehills Harbour
AberdeenshireCatterline Bay
AberdeenshireNew Aberdour Beach
SutherlandMelvich Beach
Outer HebridesVatersay Beaches
FifeBurntisland Beach
SutherlandPolin BeachWhere to go.
Places of ours, each with what to know before you go.
See more on Explore
Lower Largo to Elie coast walk by Kincraig Point
Aberdour to Burntisland coast walk by Silver Sands
Sanaigmore Bay walk on Islay's north-west coast
Findlater Castle, Sunnyside Beach and lunch in Cullen
A walk from Canna over the bridge to Sanday's white beach
Round Kettla Ness from Minn beach on West Burra
Crail to Anstruther on the coastal path and fish and chips
St Cyrus beach and cliffs walkDays worked out.
Each with its stops in order, the drive between and somewhere to eat.
See every day out
To readIsland Adventures On The West Coast
To readFrom Angus to Iona: A Busy Month on Both Coasts
To read10 of Scotland’s Most Peaceful Beaches
To readMeditating on Nature - Argyll's Secret Coast
To readBeaches of Scotland
To readMeet Tori Gray Illustrator and owner of Harbour Lane
To readThe Coastal Villages of Fife
To readTouring the southern Coast of ScotlandFrom the magazine and the Journal.
The people and the stories.
The Library
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