A “‘breathtakingly beautiful” Scottish beach has been named one of the best in the UK. If there is one thing Scotland is not short of, it is picturesque sandy bays.
From city beaches in Edinburgh and Aberdeen to remote spots in the Hebrides, no matter where you are in the country you are unlikely to be too far from a spectacular beach.
American lifestyle and home magazine Country Living recently published a list of “Britain’s best winter beaches for a bracingly beautiful break”. Coming in at number 10 on the list of 11, and the only Scottish destination to feature, is Machir Bay on Islay.
A small beach on the west coast of the Inner Hebrides island, Machir Bay features two miles of soft sand at its centre. Meanwhile, both ends of the bay are rockier and good places to go rockpooling.
A notable aspect of the beach is that it has seen various shipwrecks over the years. Among the most notable were the Italian vessel Stella and the Norwegian barque La Plata, which ran aground in 1835 and 1888 respectively.
Country Living wrote: “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.”
For those looking for a place to stay in the area, the magazine recommended The Machrie Hotel and Golf Links. It praised the four-star hotel as “a great blend of country-contemporary and cosy accommodation”.
Machir Bay has also earned acclaim amongst the general public. It currently has a perfect five-out-of-five rating on Tripadvisor based on 62 reviews.
One visitor wrote: “The closest beach to our accommodation on Islay is also one of it’s most spectacular. Don’t expect beach huts, tacky gifts, seaside rock, fish and chips and cafes. Do expect incredible views, big waves and nothing between you and Canada.”
A second shared: “Cycled here as part of a 30 mile route and stopped here for our lunch. What a glorious beach, so peaceful with golden sand. Lovely sand dune meadows too.”