Splash into Summer at an award winning Highland beach
Issued by Keep Scotland Beautiful
Five well managed beaches recognised for keeping Scotland beautiful
Ahead of the late May bank holiday environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful has announced that five Highland beaches have become prestigious Scotland’s Beach Award winners.
With thousands of people across the country planning to spend summer holidays at home, rediscovering what they have on their doorstep, the good news is that around Scotland’s iconic coastline, from Shetland to the Scottish Borders, there are 52 award beaches to suit everyone.
It is fitting that during the Year of Coasts & Waters 20/21 these beautiful beaches have been recognised with Scotland’s Beach Award – the only national benchmark for local environmental quality celebrating clean, well-managed and sustainable beaches. All award-winning beaches are assessed annually and must demonstrate excellent beach management and environmental best practice.
The beach awards in numbers:
- Five winning beaches in the Highlands
- Managed by Forestry Land Scotland, Loch Morlich is Scotland’s only fresh-water winner and the highest award beach in the UK
- Nairn Beach, managed by High Life Highland has been an award winner since 1994 closely followed by Dornoch which joined the scheme in 1995.
A full regional list and breakdown of award winners is attached.
Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said, “As summer approaches we know that people want to reconnect with our country’s beautiful beaches. Scotland’s Beach Award is the only accreditation for beach management of its kind in Scotland - recognising our fabulous beaches and driving up environmental standards for residents and visitors alike.
“Last year we weren’t able to celebrate the success and hard work of the beach managers, many of whom worked extra-long hours to ensure that their beaches were well managed despite local lockdowns. But, it’s thanks to the incredible work of those in the Highlands that we are able to experience these clean beaches with excellent amenities and information about water quality.
“I personally would like to say a massive thank you to them for keeping Scotland’s beaches beautiful and remind everyone who enjoys them to leave only footprints and take their litter home.
Maree Morrison, Recreation Ranger for Forestry and Land Scotland, said: “Nestled among stunning views of the mountains and forests, Loch Morlich’s beach – the highest in the UK - is quite unique.
“As a designated bathing water it’s a top spot for visitors looking to enjoy water based activities….and when the weather improves we expect we’ll be welcoming lots of people back!
“It’s also an area designated for environmental protection so it’s quite a privilege – and a challenge - for us and our Ranger colleagues at Cairngorm National Park to be responsible for managing this amazing site.
“The Beach Award recognises our combined efforts, and we are very pleased to have been awarded this great accolade.”
Convener of The Highland Council, Cllr Bill Lobban said: “Our scenic natural environment is one of the reasons why people visit the Highlands and the wide array of beaches on both the west and the east coast are a big draw as well as being important assets for their local communities.
“I am absolutely delighted that the successful coast management and excellent quality of these Highland beaches has been nationally recognised. It is a great achievement for everyone who has worked hard to making sure they continue to provide a great day out for all the family alongside benefitting people’s health, wellbeing and our local economies.”
“I encourage everyone, whatever the weather, to get out and enjoy exploring these award-winning beaches and all the other fantastic ones we are lucky to have.”
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “Scotland’s diverse coastal scenery, ranging from dramatic cliffs to gleaming white beaches, offers an unparalleled range of experiences, from water sports to whale watching.
“As we celebrate the Year of Coasts and Waters, we reflect on these vital elements of our landscape which are greatly valued by communities and visitors alike. Consumer research shows that now, more than ever, visitors are being drawn to our coastline to improve their wellbeing because of the pandemic.
“Scotland’s Beach Award winners are a sign of the high-quality visitors can experience. To ensure our wonderful beaches are protected for the enjoyment of all, we’d ask everyone to be respectful and responsible when visiting, looking after our natural landscape and leaving no trace of their visit.”
Focusing on local environmental quality, the award is designed to complement the work currently undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on bathing water quality. The full criteria can be accessed here.
A map showing all the award-winning beaches with directions, facilities and images can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/beach