A beach on a tiny Scottish island in the Western Isles has been named third in a list of the top 20 to visit in Europe, by a leading travel guide.
West Beach on the isle of Berneray had the wow factor, swaying Lonely Planet's writers to name it ahead of the other incredible beaches in the Outer Hebrides.
The travel guide described the unspoiled beach on the tiny island as "divine", as it announced its European top 20 for this year.
Posting on their website, the travel experts wrote: "No matter your taste in beach, Europe obliges.
"From the wild, wind-lashed shores of the Atlantic coast to mountain-fringed Arctic bays where whales raise their tails, and the sunlit, snuggled-away coves of Italy and Greece, we bring you the cream of the European coast with these top 20 beaches."
The only Scottish entry, West Beach joined Barafundle Bay in Wales as the only offerings from the UK.
Both were named alongside stunning beaches in Sicily, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Norway on the list.
Speaking about West Beach, the LP's writers wrote: "Out on a limb in the wild North Atlantic, the Outer Hebrides stash away some of Europe’s remotest beaches. Singling one out is tough, but West Beach on the wee isle of Berneray is divine.
"Through dunes and wind-bent machair grasses, you reach this ravishing three-mile expanse of white sand, sliding gently into a turquoise sea. It’s often empty but for seabirds trilling overhead and the occasional porpoise or otter."
It's not the first time Scottish beaches have been named on such prestigious lists, recently Luskentyre beach on the Isle of Harris was voted one of the top 25 in the world by travellers based on TripAdvisor reviews and ratings.
While Mellon Udrigle Beach in the Highlands and Machir Bay on Islay were named in a UK top 10 taken from reviews on Google.
All this just means we have a lot of Scottish beaches to rediscover when it is safe to travel again.
