Yellowcraig Beach
Thought to have inspired parts of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, this east-coast beach boasts a beautiful view of Fidra and its 19th-century lighthouse. Just 45 minutes out of Edinburgh, this is a designated bathing water site with plenty of scenic walking routes, barbecue spots and an RSPB-recognised nesting spot for puffins.
Visit East Lothian.

Culzean Castle Beach
Just over an hour’s drive from Glasgow, this beach looks out over the Firth Of Clyde to Arran, Kintyre and Ailsa Craig from its rockier, westerly coastline. Up on a nearby cliff edge, Culzean Castle overlooks the shore, where visitors can search rock pools for sea urchins, starfish and precious stones.
National Trust For Scotland.

St Cyrus Beach
Slightly further afield, on Scotland’s north-east coast, the beach at St Cyrus is home to a huge range of wildlife and sprawling trails around volcanic cliffs. Spot dolphins, porpoises and whales as well as a range of bird species as you wander its large dunes and white sand-swept shorelines.
Visit Aberdeen.