Delight as National Awards for Highland beaches announced
The Convenor of The Highland Council has expressed her delight that 12 Highland beaches have been recognised as amongst the best managed beaches in the country.
The Highland beaches have, for the first time ever, received the prestigious Scotland’s Beach Award - a newly launched accreditation for beach management in Scotland run by the Environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful
The beaches from the Highlands that have been recognised in this year’s awards are:
- Achmelvich Bay
- Brora Beach
- Dornoch Beach
- Durness, Sango Bay
- Embo Beach
- Golspie
- Loch Morlich
- Melvich
- Nairn Central
- Portmahomack
- Shandwick Bay
- Strathy Bay
They are amongst the 60 Scottish beaches that, for the first time ever, received the newly launched beach awards. From litter free sand, to information provision and toilet provision to maintaining beautiful promenades and secluded bays, all the recognised beaches focus on improving and enhancing local environmental quality. The award is designed to complement the work currently undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on bathing water quality and the RNLI on beach safety.
Convenor, Councillor Isobel McCallum said: “I am absolutely delighted that these Highland beaches have received this highest level of Award as it is evidence of the quality and experience that they offer to visitors and locals alike. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to our staff and thank them for all that they do to help to keep them clean for visitors and local alike.
“Our natural environment is an important reason as to why people visit the Highlands and our beaches play a large part in this as well as being important assets for our local communities.
“To receive these new national beach awards is a great achievement for everyone involved and I would encourage everyone, whatever the weather, to get out and enjoy exploring all the fantastic Highland beaches we are lucky to have.”
Four of the award winning beaches are in the Council’s North, West and Central Sutherland Ward so local members are especially pleased. Speaking on their behalf, Councillor George Farlow said: “Congratulations to all the beaches, especially our local ones for receiving recognition for their successful coast management and excellent water quality. The North West Highlands boasts some wonderful golden beaches and with the growing popularity of the North Coast 500 route, we hope more people take the opportunity to stop and explore for themselves our terrific beaches and coastline areas.”
All the award winning beaches are featured on an on-line map that Keep Scotland Beautiful have produced along with directions and details of the facilities available