No matter where you are plans are going to take you on your motorhome roadtrip adventure with Stravaig Motorhome Rental & Camper Van hire , if its in Scotland it would be hard to miss some of the finest beaches in Europe.
You can be sure you will be tasting the salt in the wind, hearing the seabirds call to each other over the crashing sounds of the waves, and see the pure sands stretching for miles before your bare feet. When your senses are this alive, there is nowhere quite as wonderful as the beach. And there are few beaches as special as those in Scotland. Stroll along strands of pristine white sand on the west coast, feel golden sands through your toes in the east, or hear the roar of the surf as it ebbs and flows over a pebbled beach. It’s time to discover some of the best beaches in Scotland.
The beaches below have all been named by Lonely Planet in 2022 as some of the best beaches in Scotland, and what better way to enjoy them than on a motorhome or camper van road trip .
Dunnet Bay, Dunnet Head
Eight miles east of Thurso a minor road leads to dramatic Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on the British mainland. There are majestic cliffs dropping into the turbulent Pentland Firth, inspiring views of Orkney, basking seals and nesting seabirds below, and a lighthouse built by Robert Louis Stevenson’s grandad. Just south, the excellent curving strand of Dunnet Bay is one of Scotland’s finest beaches, backed by high dunes and a campsite.
West Sands Beach, St Andrews
St Andrews, home of golf, is a lovely place to visiteven if you’ve no interest in the game. There are a couple of beautiful sandy beaches nearby, but the best is the magnificent West Sands beach, made famous by the film Chariots of Fire (1981).
Luskentyre, South Harris, Outer Hebrides
The blinding white sands and turquoise waters of Luskentyre and Scarasta on South Harris’ west coast would be major holiday resorts if they were transported to somewhere with a warm climate; as it is, they’re usually deserted. Luskentyre is one of the biggest and most beautiful beaches in Scotland, famed for its acres of low-tide white sands and turquoise waters. A minor road leads along the northern side of the bay to a parking area beside an ancient graveyard; from here you can walk west along the beach or through the grassy dunes with gorgeous views across the sea to the island of Taransay.
Traigh Mor, Barra, Outer Hebrides
With its beautiful beaches, wildflower-clad dunes rugged little hills and strong sense of community, diminutive Barra – just 14 miles in circumference – is the Outer Hebrides in miniature. The vast expanse of firm golden sand at Traigh Mor (“Big Strand”) serves as Barra’s airport (a mile across at low tide, and big enough for three “runways”), the only beach airport in the world that handles scheduled flights. Watching the little Twin Otter aircraft come and go is a popular spectator sport. In between flights, locals gather cockles, a local seafood speciality, from the sands.
Arisaig and Morar, West Highlands
The 5 miles of coast between the tiny villages of Arisaig and Morar is full of rocky islets, inlets and gorgeous silver-sand beaches backed by dunes and machair, with stunning sunset views across the sea to the silhouetted peaks of Eigg and Rum. The Silver Sands of Morar, as they are known, draw crowds in July and August, when the many campsites scattered along the coast are filled to overflowing. Fans of the movie Local Hero still make pilgrimages to Camusdarach Beach, just south of Morar, which starred in the film as Ben’s beach.
Coral Beaches, Dunvegan, Skye
Dunvegan, an unremarkable village on the western side of Skye, is famous for its historic namesake castle that has links to Sir Walter Scott and Bonnie Prince Charlie. From the end of the minor road beyond Dunvegan Castle entrance, an easy 1-mile walk leads to the Coral Beaches – a pair of blindingly white beaches composed of the bleached exoskeletons of coralline algae known as maerl.
Calgary Beach, Mull
Mull’s best (and busiest) silver-sand beach, flanked by cliffs and with views out to Coll and Tiree, is about 12 miles west of Tobermory. This is the place from which Canada’s more famous Calgary takes its name.
Elie and Earlsferry, East Neuk
These two attractive villages mark the southwestern end of the East Neuk. There are great sandy beaches, two golf courses and good walks along the coast – seek out the Chain Walk, an adventurous scramble along the rocky shoreline at Kincraig Point, west of Earlsferry, using chains and steel rungs cemented into the rock (allow two hours, and ask local advice about tides before setting off). On a more relaxing note, there’s nothing better than a lazy summer Sunday in Elie, watching the local team play cricket on the beach.
Beaches of North Berwick
North Berwick is an attractive Victorian seaside resort with long sandy beaches and a small harbor. Five miles east, the golden crescent of Gullane Bents has epic views over the Firth of Forth. Its shaggy fringe of dunes and sea buckthorn also shelters a wealth of wildlife, including seabirds and roe deer. Seacliff Beach is a pristine sweep of sand with views of bird-thronged Bass Rock and majestic Tantallon Castle. The latter is visible at low tide from its western reaches, where there’s also a tiny rock-hewn harbor. A broad sandy cove fringed by dunes, meadows and woodland, Yellowcraig looks out to the island of Fidra and its Victorian lighthouse (the inspiration for RL Stevenson’s Treasure Island). Follow the short path to Yellow Craig, an ancient volcanic vent, for the best sea views.
