Region sweeps the board at beach awards

Fife has swept the boards yet again at the annual Scotland’s Beach Awards, with 14 of the kingdom’s coastlines receiving a mark of excellence.

Fife retained its title as the region with the most awards, followed by Aberdeenshire and East Lothian with eight beaches each receiving the award.

Angus earned five awards and Dundee received one.

Elie Harbour, St Andrews West Sands, Leven, Burntisland, St Andrews

East Sands, Aberdour Silver Sands, Aberdour Black Sands, Crail Roome Bay, Kingsbarns, Elie Ruby Bay, Billowness in Anstruther, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy Seafield, and Kirkcaldy Pathhead Sands were all recipients of the accolade.

It means Aberdour Silver Sands and St Andrews East Sands have now both received the award consistently for three decades.

The awards celebrate the achievements of wellmanaged beaches, meaning that visitors and locals can chose where they want to visit with the knowledge that the beach is being looked after for people and the environment.

They are organised by charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, which works to combat climate change, reduce litter and waste and protect natural habitats.

A total of 52 beaches received the award this year.

In Angus, Lunan Bay, Montrose Seafront, Arbroath, Carnoustie and Monifieth beaches received the accolade. Broughty Ferry Beach also made the list.

To achieve the award, a range of criteria must be met, including beach safety, access and facilities, and cleanliness.

Focusing on local environmental quality, the award is designed to complement the work undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on bathing water quality.

Jamie Ormiston, awards officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Scotland’s Beach Awards are the benchmark for quality, celebrating clean, well-managed and sustainable beaches.

“Our award-winning beaches demonstrate excellent beach management and we hope that all who visit this year play their part in keeping them beautiful.

“I’d like to thank all those who do so much to protect, maintain and enhance our beaches, protecting the sand and sea for us all to enjoy.”

ACCOLADE: Silver Sands in Aberdour is among the winners. Picture by Steve Brown.