WITH many Scots already enjoying the good weather, beaches up and down the country are likely to begin getting busier.
From secluded bays to larger beaches popular with day-trippers, we’ve rounded up six of Scotland’s best beaches which are easily accessible by train.
Troon
This huge white, sandy beach is the perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon. With lots of spaces to build sandcastles, it’s a popular spot for families.
There’s also a children’s playpark next to the beach and it’s only a short walk from the town if you fancy a bite to eat.
Conveniently, ScotRail says that it is only a five-minute walk from Troon train station. Troon is an ideal day-trip for those coming from Glasgow with the journey taking around 40 minutes via train.
Kinghorn
Moving to the opposite coast now, Fife’s coastline has plenty of beaches for everyone to enjoy.
Among these is the Kinghorn Harbour Beach – again a popular spot with families given its proximity to the town.
It’s also a great spot to see the boats coming into the harbour while the surrounding cliffs have paths through them to give walkers the chance to enjoy the stunning views.
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Much like Troon, its closest station, Kinghorn, is just a five minute walk from the beach. It is around a 40 minute journey for those traveling from Edinburgh Waverley.
St Andrews
Although St Andrews doesn’t have a train station of its own, it is easily accessible via bus from Leuchars which usually takes around an hour to reach from Edinburgh.
Once in the town, people are able to take in one of three beaches. West Sands is by far the biggest with plenty of space for everyone to enjoy.
There’s also East Sands located at the other end of the town which is slightly smaller although is located right next to a children’s playpark.
And finally there’s also Castle Stands, the smallest of the three, which is located beneath the cliffs next to St Andrews Castle.
Aberdeen
This beach was a winner in the Scotland Beach Awards back in 2021 and remains a popular spot.
It’s located around a 20-minute walk from Aberdeen train station. People often enjoy the two-mile esplanade and stopping off for ice cream.
Although it’s easy enough to spend the day there depending on where you’re travelling, ScotRail recommends you spend a couple of days in the city to “make the most of it”.
Arbroath
The beachfront in Arbroath is particularly popular with families as not only is it home to a beach but there is also a funfair at Pleasureland.
Next to the beach, there’s also West Links Park with play areas for kids of all ages.
Again, it’s easily accessible via train with the beach located just a 15-minute walk from the town’s train station.
Ayr
Located around an hour or so from Glasgow, Ayr is loved by visitors and locals alike and is always busy on a hot summer’s day.
There’s also a large expanse of grass behind the beach which is perfect for picnics and ball games.
The beach isn’t as close to the train station as some of the others mentioned here however – it’s around a 20 minute walk.
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