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Sophie Buchan

Award-winning beaches an hour's drive from Glasgow you need to visit this summer

This year's Keep Scotland Beautiful beach awards have been revealed with the environmental charity picking some top beaches not too far from Glasgow to receive the prestigious flag.

The award celebrates the achievements of well-managed beaches across Scotland allowing visitors and locals alike to select destinations they know will be nothing short of a fantastic day out.

The well-kept beaches are looked after for the people visiting as well as the environment - and some located just an hour away from Glasgow have been listed.

READ MORE: Glasgow cheap eats under £10 you need to add to your 'must visit' list

A total of 52 beaches have received the award this year - with some just a short distance away from Glasgow, it's well worth the trip out there - even if it's just for a memorable afternoon away.

Five beaches, Ayr, Prestwick, Troon (South Beach), Irvine and Barassie beach have been highlighted, all of which are less than an hour's drive from the city, on the shortlist with the latter being named for the first time this year.

While others such as Maidens and Girvan are also not too far from the city at just over an hour's drive making them viable options for a wee beach trip.

Maidens has a total of six awards in the area meanwhile Ayr Beach has two, Prestwick has six, Girvan has three and Troon has the highest sitting at eight awards.

The beaches themselves have a lot to offer with newcomer Barassie being known for its long, wide and mostly flat, sandy beach - perfect to soak up the sun on a week when the weather is glorious.

And with views out onto the Firth of Clyde, it's a great place to stop and have a picnic.

Another popular beach often visited by Glaswegians is Ayr. On the west coastline, the predominantly sandy beach is another one not to miss this summer with it also boasting views of Ailsa Craig, the Isle of Arran and on a clear day - Pladda.

Fife retains its title as the region with the most awards, boasting 14 winning beaches with Aberdeenshire and East Lothian following their lead with eight beaches receiving the award.

Jamie Ormiston, Awards Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful said, “Scotland's Beach Awards are the benchmark for quality, celebrating clean, well-managed and sustainable beaches.

"Our award-winning beaches demonstrate excellent beach management and we hope that all who visit this year play their part in keeping them beautiful. I’d like to thank all those who do so much to protect, maintain and enhance our beaches, protecting the sand and sea for us all to enjoy."

Scotland’s Beach Awards 2023 - full list of winners

Keep Scotland Beautiful has presented 52 beaches with Scotland’s Beach Award recognising quality beaches which are well-managed and enjoyed by people across Scotland.

Beach name

Applicant

Awards in the area

Consecutive years awarded

Aberdeen Ballroom Beach

Aberdeen City Council

1

17

Balmedie

Aberdeenshire Council

8

18

Collieston

Aberdeenshire Council

16

Stonehaven

Aberdeenshire Council

17

Fraserburgh Waters of Philorth

Aberdeenshire Council

16

Peterhead Lido

Aberdeenshire Council

16

Cruden Bay

Aberdeenshire Council

14

Fraserburgh Tigerhill

Aberdeenshire Council

16

Inverboyndie

Aberdeenshire Council

17

Lunan Bay

Angus Council

6

7

Montrose Seafront

Angus Council

20

Arbroath

Angus Council

14

Carnoustie

Angus Council

18

Monifieth

Angus Council

13

East Haven

East Haven Together

8

Broughty Ferry

Dundee City Council

1

20

Dunbar East Beach

Dunbar Community Council & East Lothian Council

8

3

Gullane Bents

East Lothian Council

31

Belhaven Bay, Dunbar

East Lothian Council

19

Longniddry Bents, Gosford

East Lothian Council

20

North Berwick Milsey Bay

East Lothian Council

25

North Berwick West Beach

East Lothian Council

23

Yellowcraig

East Lothian Council

6

Longniddry Bents

East Lothian Council

20

Elie Harbour Beach

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

14

12

St Andrews West Sands

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

31

Leven

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

16

Burntisland

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

23

St Andrews East Sands

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

23

Aberdour Silver Sands

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

30

Aberdour Black Sands

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

15

Crail Roome Bay

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

25

Kingsbarns

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

21

Elie Ruby Bay

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

25

Billowness, Anstruther

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

12

Kinghorn (Pettycur)

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

23

Kirkcaldy Seafield

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

16

Kirkcaldy Pathhead Sands

Fife Coast & Countryside Trust

8

Loch Morlich

Forestry and Land Scotland / Highland

5

15

Brora Beach

Brora Community Council

22

Sango Sands

Durness Community Council

21

Dornoch Beach

Dornoch Community Council

29

Nairn Central

High Life Highlands

30

Irvine Beach

Irvine Clean Up Crew/North Ayrshire Council

1

2

Coldingham

Scottish Borders Council

1

17

West Sandwick

Yell Community Council / Shetland

1

13

Maidens

South Ayrshire Council

6

10

Ayr Beach

South Ayrshire Council

2

Prestwick

South Ayrshire Council

6

Girvan

South Ayrshire Council

3

Troon (South Beach)

South Ayrshire Council

8

Barassie Beach

South Ayrshire Council

New for 2023

A map showing all the award-winning beaches with directions, facilities and images can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/beach - you can also check out the criteria here.

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