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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Sean Murphy

The award-winning beaches an hour's drive from Edinburgh you need to visit

The annual Keep Scotland Beautiful beach awards have revealed the beaches around Scotland that have qualified for their prestigious flag.

The environmental charity's awards celebrate the achievements of the well-managed beaches across Scotland and provide a shortlist of beaches visitors and locals alike know will offer them 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 close to Edinburgh have been listed.

READ MORE: The golden beach near Edinburgh dubbed the 'finest in South of Scotland'

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

In total, 13 beaches within an hour's drive of the capital made it onto the list, with East Lothian favourites along the coast such as Dunbar, Yellowcraig and Longniddry Bents all appearing.

However, if you want to find the best beaches then apparently you should head north to Fife, which retains its title as the region with the most awards, boasting 14 winning beaches including Aberdour Silver Sands and Black Sands which are both just under an hour away and the pretty beach at Kinghorn (Pettycur).

Just a little further out, but rewarding for the extra time travelling lie the beaches at Elie, St Andrews and Anstruther, which all secured an award.

Awards Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, Jamie Ormiston, 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."

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

Scotland’s Beach Awards 2023 - full list of winners (those within an hour of Edinburgh in bold)

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

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