Road to Luskentyre. Pic credit: Tom Jervis on Flickr Creative Commons
Travelling by campervan and motorhome offers a huge degree of flexibility. You can choose to drive hundreds of miles or just five. You can stop in a beautiful location for a week or find new hotspots every day. But it’s choosing where to go that can be the tricky part. Luckily, other people offer help with this by compiling “best of” lists.
The 2015 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards are based on users’ rankings, and, once again, Scottish beaches have scored highly. When searching for the best and most beautiful beach, Scotland scored six out of the top 25 in the UK.
In addition, it was revealed recently that and people who walk at the coast are more likely to be calm and have a better night’s sleep. New research by the National Trust has discovered that walking the shoreline gives people a better quality of sleep than walking inland.
So now there is all the more reason to seek out a one of our many beautiful Scottish beaches, park up for a while, take a stroll and then sit with a dram of whisky and watch the sun setting.
Six top Scottish beaches
Luskentyre, Harris, Outer Hebrides
Stunning Luskentyre. Pic credit: Jenni Douglas on Flickr Creative Commons
In eighth position and jumping up six places from last year, Luskentyre is famous for its miles of white sands, blue-green waters and sweeping views of Taransay. Go out of season and you may be lucky enough to have the beach all to yourself.
Nairn, Highlands
Nairn beach. Pic credit: Dave Conner on Flickr Creative Commons
Overlooking the Moray Firth, Nairn’s beach is a long and open stretch of golden sands. There are dunes and a promenade for extra interest, and cafes, golf courses and play parks near by. Nairn beach came in 13th out of 25 top beaches in the UK.
Durness, Sutherland
Durness beach. Pic credit: Clark Hamilton on Flickr Creative Commons
A gorgeous golden sandy beach with lots of amazing rocks and clear waters, Durness is 19th in the top 25. Keep an eye out for birdlife and visit the atmospheric Smoo Cave that boasts an impressive 20m waterfall.
Calgary Bay, Isle of Mull
Calgary Bay. Pic credit: Emma Jane Hogbin Westby on Flickr Creative Commons
Next up is Calgary Bay. Much more of a best-kept Scottish secret you’ll need to travel to the wonderful island of Mull, from Oban on the mainland. It’s also lined by a fabulous wide stretch of machair (grassy sandy land with hundreds of wild flowers in spring and summer).
Camusdarach, Arisaig in north-west Scotland
Camusdarach beach. Pic credit: Ian Robertson on Flickr Creative Commons
At 24, the seemingly endless white sands of Camusdarach are a real treat for visitors. The beach was used as a setting for the famous 1983 film, Local Hero. You can also take in stunning views of the islands of Rum and Skye from here.
Kiloran Bay, Isle of Colonsay
Kiloran Bay. Pic credit: Nige Brown on Flickr Creative Commons
The Scottish islands boast so many lovely beaches and in 25th place is Kiloran Bay. It’s popular with surfers when the winds are favourable and also a beautiful place to walk or simply sit and take in the views, such as across to the Isle of Jura when the skies are clear.