Scotland the best
Beaches and bays Scotland’s coast offers many places to relax, swim or sunbathe, and all of them are beautiful
Machrihanish
Foot of the Kintyre peninsula six miles from Campbeltown. Walk north from Machrihanish village or golf course, or from the car park on A83 to Tayinloan and Tarbert at point where it hits/leaves the coast. A joyously long strand (five miles) of unspoiled orange-pink sand backed by dunes and facing the “steepe Atlantic Stream” all the way to Newfoundland. Great accom/eats at Machrihanish Dunes and Royal Hotel.
Oldshoremore
The beach you pass on the road to Balchrick, less than two miles from Kinlochbervie. It’s easy to reach and a beautiful spot: the water is clear and perfect for swimming, and there are rocky walks and quiet places. Polin 500m north, is a cove you might have to yourself.
Lunan Bay
Near Montrose, four miles from main A92 road to Aberdeen and three miles of deep red crescent beach under a wide northern sky. The But ’n’ Ben in Auchmithie is an excellent place to start or finish and good approach (from south), although Gordon’s restaurant at Inverkeilor is closer. You can climb up to the Red Castle. Lunan is often deserted. St Cyrus north of Montrose (a nature reserve) also a lovely littoral to wander. Walk 1.2 miles south of the village.
Gairloch
A beach I missed until one sunny July afternoon when lots of people, but not (and I imagine never) too many, were lying on this perfect curve of sand, a sheltered bay of Loch Gairloch and swimming in its shallow, shimmering, non-wavy water. There’s a tranquil old graveyard behind. Parking and toilets. The longer Big Sand is 2.4 miles west by the campsite. I must go back.
Peter Irvine is the author of the essential travel guide Scotland the Best published by Collins, priced £15.99