Recognition for Aberdeenshire's beaches at the 2022 Scotland's Beach Awards
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ABERDEENSHIRE boasts some of Scotland's best beaches, according to this year Beach Awards.
Eight Aberdeenshire beaches have been hailed as well managed by the 2022 Scotland's Beach Awards, with Formartine and Buchan beaches doing particularly well.
This year's results make Balmedie Beach a 16-time award-winner and, along with Collieston, one of a pair of Formartine beaches featured.
Banff and Buchan also won big this year, with Cruden Bay, Peterhead Lido, Fraserburgh's Waters of Philorth and Tigerhill beaches, and Inverboyndie being praised.
To achieving a Scotland’s Beach Award, a beach must 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 undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on bathing water quality.
Further south, Stonehaven Beach retained their award winning status to make it the eight Aberdeenshire beach to do so.
Scotland's Beach Awards are operated by tourism organisation Keep Scotland Beautiful, which looks after visual amenity and environmental issues on Scotland’s 11,800km of coastline.
Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “It is wonderful to see 53 sites win Scotland’s Beach Award status this year and we are delighted to celebrate with all those employees and volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure award standards are maintained.
“As the only accreditation for beach management of its kind in Scotland, we aim to drive up environmental standards along the coastline of our country for residents and visitors alike.
“Scotland’s coastlines and waters attract thousands of visitors every year and I’d encourage everyone to #RespectProtectEnjoy these beaches this summer.”
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “Scotland’s diverse coastal scenery ranging from dramatic cliffs to gleaming white beaches, rolling nature reserves to island escapes are a vital part of Scotland’s tourism offer, attracting visitors from within Scotland, the UK and overseas.
“Over the last two years interest in coastal destinations has remained high as people have sought outdoor locations and activities with our own research showing the positive benefits being near the water can have on wellbeing.
“Scotland’s Beach Awards winners are a sign of the high-quality visitors can experience. Congratulations to 53 beaches awarded status this year and to Keep Scotland Beautiful on the 30th anniversary of the scheme.
“Valued by communities and visitors alike, to ensure our beaches are protected for the enjoyment of all, we ask everyone to be respectful and responsible when visiting, looking after our natural landscape and leaving no trace of their visit.”
To see all Scotland's Beach Award winners, click here.
