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.
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.
-
100 years of the photobooth, the essential piece of party paraphernalia beloved by Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and BeyoncéOn the centenary of the photobooth, Will Hosie looks back on a hundred years of self-portraits.
-
The dream home that never was for one of Britain's greatest film stars, back on the market for the first time in half a centuryAnna White takes a look at the beautiful Wallers Mead, in the Buckinghamshire village full of links to Hollywood movies from James Bond to Star Wars.
-
Mastiffs: Gentle giants revered by Shakespeare, feared by thieves, adored by familiesThe mastiff is England’s gentle giant.
-
‘People would rather buy 20 synthetic jumpers than a woollen one that would last them a lifetime’: The British wool trade todaySheep shearing was king in the middle ages, writes Lotte Brundle, but the rise of synthetic fibres put the industry in a woolly position. How is it faring now?
-
Bedlington terriers: The rare dog breed that conquered the coal mines and made it to CruftsThe Bedlington terrier originated in the mining towns of Northumberland, and while it might look like a lamb, it’s got the heart of a lion.
-
'A world within a world… a community with an identity, a smoothly turning cog in the wheel of royal life': A look behind the stable doors of the Royal MewsHome to carriages, coachmen and craftspeople, Buckingham Palace’s Royal Mews is a village in the heart of London. It celebrates its 200th anniversary this year.
-
‘We couldn’t go around digging holes in existing graveyards for fear of exhuming a real body’: The man who brought The Thursday Murder Club to the big screenLotte Brundle caught up with James Merifield, the production designer behind the new Netflix film adaptation of the Richard Osman novel, to chat about the murder mystery.
-
What everyone is talking about this week: The great porpoise panicWeek in, week out, Will Hosie rounds up the hottest topics on everyone's lips, in London and beyond.
-
The otterhound — the story behind Britain's rarest breed of dogBred for centuries to hunt otters in icy rivers, these shaggy, web-footed hounds were once favoured by royalty. Today, fewer than 1,000 survive worldwide.
-
One by one: The lone wolves of the animal kingdomMankind may be tribal and sociable by nature, yet the ‘bliss of solitude’ — a state previously reserved for hermits — is the key to achieving inner peace, says Laura Parker
