MORE than 50 spots in Scotland have been named in a list of the country’s best beaches.

The winners in Scotland’s Beach Award stretch from the sands of Shetland to the Scottish Borders, with a total of 52 scooping up prizes.

Fife retains the title as the region with the most awards, with 14 winning beaches. However, Aberdeenshire and East Lothian follow close behind with 8 beaches apiece.

Jamie Ormiston, awards officer for Keep Scotland Beautiful, 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 who do so much to protect, maintain and enhance our beaches, protecting the sand and sea for us all to enjoy."

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.

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Those looking to visit the beaches can find their nearest beach at https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/community-and-place/scotlands-beach-awards/beach-map/

Here’s a full list of the beaches named in this year’s award.

  • Aberdeen Ballroom Beach, Aberdeen City
  • Balmedie Beach, Aberdeenshire
  • Collieston, Aberdeenshire
  • Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire
  • Fraserburgh Tigerhill, Aberdeenshire
  • Fraserburgh Waters of Philorth, Aberdeenshire
  • Inverboyndie Beach, Aberdeenshire
  • Peterhead Lido, Aberdeenshire
  • Stonehaven Beach, Aberdeenshire
  • Montrose Seafront, Angus
  • Carnoustie, Angus
  • Arbroath, Angus
  • Lunan Bay, Angus
  • Monifieth, Angus
  • East Haven, Angus
  • Broughty Ferry, Dundee City
  • Belhaven Bay, East Lothian
  • Dunbar East, East Lothian
  • Gullane Bents, East Lothian
  • Longniddry Bents, Gosford, East Lothian
  • North Berwick Milsey Bay, East Lothian
  • North Berwick West Beach, East Lothian
  • Longniddry Bents, East Lothian
  • Yellowcraig, East Lothian
  • Aberdour Silversands, Fife
  • Anstruther Billowness, Fife
  • Burntisland Beach, Fife
  • Crail Roome Bay, Fife
  • Elie Harbour, Fife
  • Elie Ruby Bay, Fife
  • Kingsbarns Beach, Fife
  • Kinghorn and Pettycur Bay, Fife
  • Kirkcaldy Seafield, Fife
  • Leven East, Fife
  • St Andrews East Sands, Fife
  • St Andrews West Sands, Fife
  • Aberdour Black Sands, Fife
  • Kirkcaldy Pathhead Sands, Fife
  • Brora Beach, Highland
  • Dornoch Beach, Highland
  • Sango Sands, Highland
  • Nairn Central, Highland
  • Loch Morlich, Highland
  • Irvine, North Ayrshire
  • Coldingham, Scottish Borders
  • West Sandwick, Shetland
  • Ayr South, South Ayrshire
  • Troon, South Ayrshire
  • Maidens, South Ayrshire
  • Prestwick, South Ayrshire
  • Girvan, South Ayrshire
  • Barassie Shore, South Ayrshire