Highland success in Scottish beach awards
Environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful, has announced that 5 of the Highland’s favourite beaches have been awarded the prestigious Scotland’s Beach Award 2023, recognising the high standards provided to users - from keeping beaches litter free to providing excellent information and accessible amenities.
Convener of The Highland Council, Cllr Bill Lobban said: “The natural environment and its beauty are an important reason why people visit the Highlands, and our beaches play a big part in this, as well as being important assets for local communities and their economies, which is why it is vital that our coastlines are maintained to the highest standards to allow visitors from near and far to enjoy for generations to come.
“I am absolutely delighted that the successful coast management and excellent quality of these Highland beaches has once again been nationally recognised. It is evidence of the quality and top experience that they offer and to do so well year after year is a great achievement for everyone involved. I would like to pay tribute to our staff and thank the wider community of volunteers who work tirelessly to help keep our beautiful natural assets clean, tidy and litter free for visitors and locals to enjoy and urge everyone visiting this year to play their part in keeping the area pristine for all to enjoy.”
Signalling the start of the traditional Scottish bathing season on 1st June, the annual Scottish Beach Awards celebrate some of the best managed beaches in the country and act as a benchmark for local environmental quality on Scotland’s coastline.
The 2023 Highland award winners include Nairn Central which is celebrating 30 continuous years as an award winner, with Dornoch at 29 years. Sango Sands near Durness and Brora Beach have been winners for more than 20 years while Scotland’s only freshwater beach – and the UK’s highest beach award winner Loch Morlich beach has won the award for 15 years.
In order to achieve Scotland’s Beach 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. The full criteria can be accessed here.
Awards Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, Jamie Ormiston 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 in the Highlands, particularly the Highland Council and the local community councils we work with, who do so much to protect, maintain and enhance our beaches, protecting the sand and sea for us all to enjoy.”
A map showing all the award-winning beaches with directions, facilities and images can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/beach.
Useful information whilst visiting the Highlands can be found on our tourism section of the website, where you will find public toilet maps, motorhome, and campervan guidance, walking routes and lots more. You can access the info here.