The best beach in Scotland has been crowned – and it’s just one hour from Edinburgh

Scotland may not get quite as much heat and sunshine as much of the rest of the UK, but the nation’s beaches are so spectacular they don’t even need the weather to cooperate. But which Scottish beach is the best? 

The Times and the Sunday Times recently revealed its top 50 beaches in the UK, with each region having its own individual winner. The overall winner was in Northern Ireland, which you can read about here, but a few stunning beaches in Scotland also got their dues.

Seacliff in East Lothian was named Scotland’s regional winner, commended for its ‘sheer cinematic drama’. According to the Times, the £5 entrance fee for drivers is well worth it, giving you access to sandy shores, the smallest harbour in Britain, ‘the burnt-out shell of Seacliff House’ in nearby woods, the ruins of a 17th century castle, and a huge colony of gannets. Basically, there’s a lot to explore in Seacliff if you’re up for it.

The beach is about an hour’s drive from Edinburgh, so it’s not massively remote – though it is quite difficult to get to by public transport. The up side of that is that it never gets too busy, even on hot days. The water quality is ‘excellent’, and there’s toilets nearby. All in all, Seacliff boasts the perfect set up for a brilliant beach day.

In total, eight of the Times’ top 50 beaches were in Scotland, and with the exception of Seacliff, they’re all in the north. It’s no secret that the Highlands are full of stunning scenery, but you might not have realised they’re also jam packed full of gorgeous sandy bays and hidden coves. For instance, Rhu Point in the Highlands has blue waters and glittering sands, without many visitors to bother you. Meanwhile Cullen Bay, a 90-minute drive from Inverness, is right next to a cute little town, and can be viewed from a nearby viaduct.

The best beaches in Scotland, according to the Times 

Here are the eight best beaches in Scotland according to the Times and Sunday Times, in no particular order.

• Seacliff, East Lothian (Regional winner)
• Rhu Point, Highland
• Vesteys Beach, Highland
• Achininver, Highland
• Melvich, Highland
• Spey Bay, Moray
• Cullen Bay, Moray
• St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire

You can find the Times’ full list of the best beaches in the UK here.

Looking for some cracking beaches?

Home or away, we’ve got you covered at Time Out. Here’s our roundup of the best beaches in the UK, and our list of the best beaches in the world if you're looking for sandier shores. We’ve also got a guide for places in the UK that don’t look like the UK, if you want excitement on a budget.