To the Scottish beaches with friends, family and dogs

Edinburgh (TAN): With Scotland experiencing a hot Easter, it’s time you went to the beach with your family, friends and your dog(s).

From the family-friendly beaches at East Lothian and Dumfries and Galloway to a dog’s dream of running up and down Luss beach in Loch Lomond or the Portobello seafront in Edinburgh, to lazy picnics on the shores in Shetland or Shandwick Bay in the Highlands, there are no end of options.

Here’s some help with choosing where you could go:

For families

Kippford Beach in Dumfries and Galloway is the perfect seaside retreat for families located at the friendly town of Kippford, near to Castle Douglas, on the Solway Coast. It is certainly unique as the beach is made up almost entirely of cockle shells. The coastal walk from Rockcliffe to Kippford is also a great addition to any trip.

[ALSO READ: Boeing clarifies stand on ‘deactivated’ disagree alert on 737 MAX]

North Berwick Beach in East Lothian has long been a favourite seaside escape for families, located only 25 miles from the Edinburgh City Centre. With plenty of shops, cafes and the Scottish Seabird Centre close by, a trip to the beach at North Berwick is the perfect day out. In addition, it is just a short drive to Yellowcraig Beach at Dirleton which offers a nature trail, a barbeque site and views to the lighthouse on the island of Fidra, built in 1885. 

It is said Robert Louis Stevenson based his map of Treasure Island on Fidra.

If you have more time

Anyone looking to spend more time snoozing than building sandcastles can visit the picturesque Shandwick Bay, located between the villages of Shandwick and Balintore in Scotland’s Highlands. Head to the harbour in Balintore to the north and spot the town’s Mermaid of the North statue.

[ALSO READ: Antarctica is a wilderness like nowhere else]

More lazy days can be spent lying on a deck chair at Spiggie beach at Scousburgh in Shetland. Perhaps not as well as well-known as some other Scottish beaches, it is still a popular spot for taking scenic pictures, with views to Rerwick bay.

In the past, Spiggie beach was famous for being lined with Yoals – salted fish was an essential part of the Shetland diet.

Dog-friendly

Pups will have great fun splashing around on the beach at Luss in Loch Lomond, with their owners having plenty of dog-friendly cafes close by to choose from.

[ALSO READ: Guess how many tourists Game of Thrones brought to Northern Ireland in 2018?]

All the savvy dogs in Edinburgh know to head to the city’s Portobello Beach for a great run about, with two miles of sand to sniff and explore. With spectacular views off towards Fife, and plenty of restaurants and bars to visit, human friends will also be kept happy.

It might be a favourite beauty spot for humans, but Luskentyre beach is also the perfect spot for four-legged friends with beautiful sands that stretch for miles, and clear blue sea for getting paws wet.

Time to surf

Surfers’ favourite Tiree is the most westerly island in the Inner Hebrides. Lovingly referred to as the ‘Hawaii of the north’, Tiree is perfectly placed to catch the swell from the North Atlantic, with year-round, consistent waves to catch. The island’s many white sandy beaches face every direction, so even if the waves aren’t quite right for surfing on one bay, they’re likely to be ideal on another. There are also plenty of local surfing schools to cater for all levels.

[ALSO READ: Here’s what Virgin Trains is proposing for long-distance travel]

Thurso in Caithness is also an ideal place to hit the waves, as the northerly tip of the Scottish mainland is known for providing the most consistent and best quality waves.

Related posts:

ScotRail adds 20,000 more daily seats on its network Tourist threatens Balinese locals to leave the beach so his wife would not see men in boxers Norwegian to raise frequencies between London and multiple US destinations in summer 2020 Lufthansa offers two new summer destinations in Greece