10 of Scotland’s most magical white sand beaches
What better day to celebrate some of Scotland's most stunning locations than St Andrew's Day? Here's our pick of 10 of the finest white sand beaches in the country.


When thinking of Scotland's exquisite natural beauty, we all tend to think of craggy mountains and sweeping forests – and they're justifiably famous.
But we often forget about the magnificent sandy beaches which dot the coastline, the equal of anything you'll find in the Seychelles or Maldives – and what they lack in temperature, they make up for in tranquility and unspoilt charm.
North Coast of Iona
The small island of Iona lies off the southwest coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. Just 1.5 miles wide and 3 miles long, it has a population of just 120 permanent residents who, in addition to enjoying the island's scattering of stunning beaches, also live alongside an array of incredible wildlife including seals, puffins, dolphins, whales and basking sharks.
Luskentyre sands, Isle of Harris
Located on the west coast of South Harris in the Outer Hebrides, Luskentyre is one of the largest and most spectacular beaches on Harris. Boasting miles of white sand and stunning green-blue water, this unique place was named as one of the UK’s best beaches in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.
Camusdarach beach, Morar
On the West coast of Scotland, north of Fort William and a few miles from Morar, you’ll find Camusdarach. Famous for its stunning silver sands and crystal clear turquoise water – and also the film Local Hero – the beach has shallow water to paddle in and views out to the Isle of Skye.
Langamull beach, Isle of Mull
This beach is one of Mull’s best kept secrets, treating visitors to an expanse of glistening white shell sand and hidden coves to explore. It’s a stunning secluded beach that requires a good 20 minute walk to get there, but the spectacular views out to Rum on a clear day make a trip well worth it.
Eoligarry Beach, Isle of Barra
This white shell sand beach can be found near the most northerly point on the Isle Of Barra. Magnificent sand is backed by dunes, and the sands connect the rocky northern part of Barra to the rocks of Ben Eoligarry Mór.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Traigh Iar, Isle of Harris
The expansive beach provides stunning views across to the Isle of Taransay and towards the Harris Hills. A great spot for bracing walks and at the north end of the beach, you will find the legendary standing stone of Clach MhicLeoid, up a short, steep slope, which is rumoured to have been erected around 5,000 years ago.
Bhatarsaigh Bay, Vatersay
Vatersay is the southernmost inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides, and this beach on its eastern side is absolutely beautiful. The island is just three miles by three, and indeed is almost two separate islands – it's deeply indented by the sea from the east and west, with only a narrow strip of sandy grassland and dunes at its narrowest point.
Mellon Udrigle, Wester Ross
Backed by dunes, Mellon Udrigle is an incredibly attractive piece of coastline in Wester Ross with unparalleled views of the Highlands. The mixture of clear, turquoise water, clean white sand and the distant mountain vista makes this a truly unique spot.
West Beach, Berneray
Stretching for a massive three miles, this expanse of white sand is ideal for walking – especially in summer, when it's a haven for wildlife. The grassland is also dotted with an assorted variety of wildflowers, including some rare orchids that make a visit well worth it.
The Monks, Iona
The full name of this incredibly striking landscape is Traigh Ban Nam Monach, Gaelic for ‘white strand of the monks’. Iona can get quite busy in the summer months, but this beautiful beach is generally peaceful regardless – a perfect retreat for a more tranquil experience.
This piece was inspired by an email we received from Premier Inn.
Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by HRH The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.
-
18 beautiful homes, from charming cottages to a Highland mansion with unbeatable views, as seen in Country Life
Our look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in the past week includes Georgian manor houses, charming commutable homes and the grandest home in Newcastle.
-
‘Going around that track, in that Ferrari, was ecstasy of the most legal kind’: How to embrace your inner race car driver
Goodwood’s ProDriver Experience is a chance for you to pull on a race suit and live out your childhood fantasies — no matter how tall you are.
-
Canine muses: David Hockney's chocolate dachshunds, Stanley and Boodgie — who he painted over 40 times
In the second edition of our limited series, we meet some more of the dogs who've inspired our greatest artists.
-
The golden eagle: One of the Great British public's favourite birds of prey — but devilishly tricky to identify
We are often so keen to encounter this animal that ambition overrides the accuracy of our observations, writes Mark Cocker.
-
‘There are moments of formal dressing where one is humbled by the rules of it all’: A New Yorker tackles Royal Ascot for the first time
A day at the races filled with Royal processions, fantastical picnics and top hats might not sound particularly odd to us, but to visitors from America it’s a spectacle that has to be seen to be believed. One New Yorker recounts what he saw — and what he thought about it all.
-
From turtles to pink sea fans: Why Mediterranean marine life is drifting into British waters
Both leatherback sea turtles and the soft corrals’ presence near our shores coincides with our warming seas, Lotte Brundle writes.
-
Critics be damned, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral gets Grade I status on advice from Historic England
Looking a bit like a large piece of moon-landing equipment on which you’d best not sit, with indoor lighting that wouldn’t look out of place in a nightclub, the building has ever divided opinions.
-
These rarely-seen images of Glastonbury in the 1980s capture the world’s most famous music festival in its rawest and most magical form
Long before the luxury yurts, pop-up spas, and Champagne bars, Glastonbury looked like something else altogether.
-
It's a cruel summer to be a bee with up to 80% of swarms dying if they cannot find a safe place to settle — but here is how you can help
Currently, swarms of bees are taking flight to search for new homes and up to 80% of these swarms will perish if they cannot find a safe place to settle, but we can all help, says the BBKA.
-
Canine muses: The English bull terrier who helped transform her owner from 'a photographer into an artist'
In the first edition of our new, limited series, we meet the dogs who've inspired some of our greatest artists.