A BREATHTAKING Scottish beach with incredible dunes and gorgeous sunsets has been named among the best to visit across the UK during the winter.
There are several wonderful beaches across Scotland that are famed for their crystal clear waters and white Caribbean sands.
One Scottish beach was named among the best 11 in Britain to visit during the winter[/caption]
So it’s no wonder that many receive nationwide attention for their beauty.
And now a recent study has revealed that one has been ranked among the top eleven coastal locations across Britain during the colder months.
Many of us still love to visit locations where there is beautiful scenery even when it’s cold outside.
And a trip to the beach can be mesmerising in the winter when it’s quieter and the sun sets earlier.
So in a bid to help, experts at Country Living compiled the list by considering locations with silky soft sand, stunning landscapes and crashing waves.
They also looked at where has the best places to stay nearby for a weekend break.
The UK’s beaches boast another level of stirring beauty in winter… the off-season months are a great opportunity to get coast all to yourself
Experts at Country Living
The travel experts say: “The UK’s beaches boast another level of stirring beauty in winter – not to mention the fact the off-season months are a great opportunity to get the wild and wind-beaten coast all to yourself.
“But where are Britain’s best winter beaches for a wave-crashingly scenic escape?
“Turn your collars up to the wind, wrap up warm and explore silky sands, rugged coastlines, clifftop views, wildlife-rich rock pools and picturesque coastal paths – all with the added drama and atmospheric beauty of unpredictable weather.
“There’s also nothing like the promise of a post-walk local ale or warming hot chocolate at a cosy old pub to enhance the trip.”
And coming in at number ten on the rankings is Machir Bay in Islay, near the small community at Kilchoman.
It is a stunning two-mile stretch of soft sand surrounded by dunes that is popular with tourists and locals alike for its gorgeous sunsets.
Describing the beach, Country Living says: “Head to Scotland’s whisky island for a winter-warming break with a difference.
“Islay boasts no less than nine distilleries to warm your cockles after a stroll on the breathtakingly beautiful beach at Machir Bay.
“Enjoy windswept walks on the dune-backed fine sand and clifftop nature reserves before thawing out with a wee dram in front of a roaring fire. Ferries run from Oban or Kennacraig.”
For a place nearby to stay for a weekend break, the experts suggest visiting Machrie Hotel & Golf Links.
They said that the hotel is “a great blend of country-contemporary and cosy accommodation.”
It’s not the first time that Machir Bay has been singled out for being among the best beaches in the UK.
Full list of Britain’s best winter beaches
HERE is the full list of the top 11 best winter beaches across the UK.
- Durdle Door – Lulworth, Dorset
- Robin Hood’s Bay – North Yorkshire
- Bamburgh Beach – Northumberland
- Looe Beach – Cornwall
- Holkham Beach, Norfolk
- Rhossili Bay – Gower Peninsula, Wales
- Gyllyngvase Beach – Falmouth, Cornwall
- Southwold – Suffolk
- Camber Sands – East Sussex
- Machir Bay – Isle of Islay, Scotland
- Harbour Cove – Padstow, Cornwall
Experts at Condé Nast Traveler hailed it for being among the 56 best coastal spots in Britain in a recent study.
They looked at the best sandy spots as well as where there was the clearest water to compile their list.
Condé Nast Traveler experts said: “Islay, known as ‘Queen of the Hebrides,’ is famous for its single malt whisky (there are eight distilleries on the tiny isle); but it’s also outlined by 130 miles of rambling coastline.
“Take a walk along the green, boggy flatlands, pass the iconic stone Celtic Cross of Kilchoman and you’ll come to Machir, one of the fairest stretches of sand of them all.
“It’s got a simple but perennially pleasing beauty: more than a mile of white-sand shoreline and a well-deserved reputation for stunning sunsets.
“Hike down to the south end and you’ll also come across a crumbling Iron Age fort hidden amongst the coastal crags.”
Machir Bay, on the Isle of Islay, impressed the experts[/caption]
