Caithness misses out in Scottish Beach Award list
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EIGHT Sutherland beaches – but none in Caithness – have been given Scottish Beach Award status by the environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful.
It announced that 61 beaches across Scotland had achieved the status for 2019, with 12 of these in the Highland region. The accolade recognises “the high standards provided across the country to beach users”.
The charity says its awards recognise the best beaches across the country and act as the benchmark for local environmental quality all along Scotland’s coastline.
Highland has the second-highest number of awards across 11 regions.
The eight in Sutherland – Achmelvich, Dornoch, Brora, Embo, Golspie, Melvich, Sango Sands and Strathy – are joined on the list by Loch Morlich, Nairn Central, Portmahomack and Shandwick Bay.
The convener of Highland Council, Councillor Bill Lobban, said: “The stunning scenery and clean environment are important reasons why people visit the Highlands and our beaches play a huge part in this, as well as being important assets for local communities and their economies.
“Included in the list is Loch Morlich in the Cairngorms National Park, which is the highest award beach in the UK, and the only freshwater sandy beach with an award in Scotland.
“I am absolutely delighted that the successful coast management and excellent quality of these Highland beaches has once again been nationally recognised.”
Derek Robertson, chief executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “With the country set to mark 2020 as Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, it is only right that we celebrate the achievements of communities, organisations and local authorities across the country in making sure that our beaches provide visitors with the fantastic shoreline experience that they deserve.
“Scotland’s coastlines and waters attract thousands of visitors every year. These beach users can be assured that where they see the Scottish Beach Award flag they will have the experience they are looking for – a clean beach, excellent amenities and signposting about the local area, as well as information about water quality.”
For a beach to be successful in achieving an award, it has to meet a range of criteria, including beach safety, access and facilities, and cleanliness.
Focusing on local environmental quality, the award is designed to complement the work currently undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on bathing water quality.
