Scotland is absolutely blessed with seaside views and stunning beaches, giving plenty of people the opportunity to live by the sea, with some places appearing like the Caribbean. As a result, there are plenty of stunning seaside towns, and the best in Scotland has been officially crowned, also taking second place in the UK.
Holiday Cars curated a list of the best seaside towns in the UK, taking into account everything each town has to offer, including museums and acclaimed restaurants, as well as arcades and ice cream parlours.
New Quay in Ceredigion, Wales, was named the best seaside town in the UK, while our wee North Berwick, just under two hours from Glasgow, took the second spot on the list, making it the best seaside town in Scotland.
Beating famous locations like Ullapool, Tobermory and Oban, North Berwick is famous for its quaint way of life, with plenty of independent businesses to check out, such as wee shops, restaurants and cafes. What is more, locals and visitors alike can enjoy its stunning beaches spanning over the coastline, overlooking the Bass Rock.
For a lovely walk, head to either West Beach or East Beach, or go golfing at the nearby Renaissance Club, or try some fresh seafood at the harbour.
Guests can also visit the Scottish Seabird Centre, with lots of boat trips available to book, including the Isle of May tour, which is famous for its massive puffin colony. And, let’s face it: anywhere with puffins is worthy of being named the best on ANY list.
The inclusion stated: “Just a 30-minute train journey from Edinburgh, North Berwick is a wonderful coastal retreat. A gannet colony calls the famous Bass Rock home, the high street is buzzing with independent shops and artisanal cafes, the seafood is ultra-fresh, and the natural beauty is in spades. It feels like an extension of artsy, culture-rich Edinburgh, only by the sea.
North Berwick even hosts The Fringe by the Sea, in conjunction with the famous comedy Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. But really, the town’s wide-stretching, vast, and windswept beaches are worth the visit anytime.”
The best seaside towns in the UK
- New Quay, Ceredigion, Wales
- North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
- Looe, Cornwall, England
- Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire, England
- Barmouth, Gwynedd, Wales
- Lyme Regis, Dorset, England
- Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland
- Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales
- Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland
- Weymouth, Dorset, England
- Cullen, Moray, Scotland
- Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- Broadstairs, Kent, England
- Bamburgh, Northumberland, England
- Staithes, Yorkshire, England
- Rye, East Sussex, England
- Trearddur Bay, Anglesey, Wales
- Dartmouth, Devon, England
- St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
