South Scotland beaches

The beach guide has 131 beaches listed in South Scotland.

South Scotland is more populated and accessible than the wild north, although much of its coastline remains beautifully unspoilt.

The area north of Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, is easily explored via the Fife Coastal Path, which meets the Southern Upland Way at Pease Bay, a sweeping sandy beach and well-known surfing destination. St Andrew's is home to the third oldest university in the English-speaking world and a world-famous golf course.

Captain Scott's RRS Discovery is permanently moored in the historic port town of Dundee, which sits on the banks of the River Tay, while Broughty Ferry, a Victorian seaside resort, offers excellent views over the Tay estuary.

The fishing port of Arbroath is famous for 'Arbroath Smokie', smoked haddock made exclusively in the town, while the small seaside resorts of Montrose and Stonehaven are busy making their fortunes providing marine services to the offshore oil and gas industry.

With the exception of the area around Glasgow, the UK's fourth-largest city, and one with a rich shipbuilding heritage, Scotland's south-west coast is largely wilderness. Stranraer, in the very south, is a resort port with the shortest crossing to Ireland in the country and a truly spectacular beach at Luce Sands, five miles south of the town.

Ayr is a popular seaside resort with regular ferry crossings to the island of Arran, which offers great opportunities for cycling and walking.
Oban, a busy port and resort town, is known as the 'gateway to the Hebrides', with regular ferries leaving for Mull, Coll, Tiree (said to be the sunniest place in the British Isles), Barra, South Uist, Colonsay, Lismore and Islay.