6 of the best beaches in the North-East to explore this weekend
How many of these have you visited?
Last updated 24th Apr 2019
Here is the North-East of Scotland we are blessed some amazing beaches, and you don't have to drive too long to get to them. The beautiful St. Cyrus, is less than hour from Aberdeen’s city centre, where you can spend time whale and dolphins spotting, and Stonehaven, is just 30 minutes from Aberdeen, but feels like it is in the middle of nowhere.
Balmedie Beach
It is easy to see why Balmedie Beach is such a hit with local residents as well as visitors to the area.
The sandy beach is flat, long and wide, so it is perfect for children, walking dogs, well anyone really! It is convenient to get to, being only five miles from Aberdeen and has a car park nearby.
One of its greatest attractions is the collection of sand dunes on the beach. The dunes stretch to an amazing 14 miles along the coast, making it the fifth largest sand dune system in Britain and an area of scientific interest.
The well-maintained beach area is a great place for walks, and there are good amenities with shops and a ranger centre. There are plenty of picnic tables and a large children's park, so everything you need for a good day out.
Aberdeen City Beach
With two miles of beautiful coast, this award-winning beach is a real favourite with everyone in the area, and visitors too. A lovely stretch of golden sand, it is a well-maintained beach. It is clean, family-friendly and a real gem for relaxation and play. It is easy to get to from Aberdeen city centre, being only a short 15-minute walk and there are plenty of places to eat and play in the surrounding area. The beach spans the area from Footdee fishing village to the mouth of the River Don.
Whether you want to amble, run, fly a kite or a spot of windsurfing in your lunch break, this beach is the perfect spot.
Cruden Bay
Cruden Bay is a lovely beach with bundles of character! The ruins of Slains castle tower over the sea, and this along with the quaint historic feel of the village itself is nicely contrasted with the uber-modern electronic water quality equipment in place! During the summer, this equipment measures the quality of the water and displays it on a sign to inform the public.
The beach itself is a lovely gentle stretch of gold sand, just under two miles, dotted with sand dunes.
It is a particular attraction for those who enjoy water sports and can get particularly busy in the warmer weather.
If you prefer to stay on dry land, there is a golf course, harbour and village nearby to explore.
Stonehaven
Stonehaven's coastal area is conveniently situated approximately 30 minutes from Aberdeen but feels like it is in the middle of nowhere. This is in part due to the impressive cliffs, which are some of the biggest in the country. These cliffs host some incredible wildlife and their residents include a variety of seabirds, so the area is controlled by the RSPB.
The beach itself is a combination of shingle and sand. If you are looking for a sandy beach, head to the southern end.
This is another proud area which boasts electronic signage displaying the water quality, and the water is a huge attraction for those who love water sports.
There are attractive metal sculptures to admire, and lovely spots to stop for a picnic.
Newburgh Beach
Commonly named Newburgh Seals Beach, this area has the massive attraction of beautiful grey seals. The colony is made up of 400 seals and people flock to this area from all around to catch a glimpse of them.
The beach is only 20 minutes from Aberdeen, however, is a 'wild' option compared to other sites on this list. The area is largely untouched and boasts the largest population of eider ducks in the UK.
The beach itself is sandy, wide and long and there are amazing dunes throughout.
The Forvie National Nature Reserve is only one mile from the beach and has a lot to offer. There are diving terns and oyster catchers waiting if you make the trip.
St. Cyrus
St. Cyrus is another top hit if you appreciate nature and wildlife. It is set in a National Nature Reserve, yet it is less than hour from Aberdeen's city centre.
The sights are absolutely stunning with a particularly breath-taking view from the top of the steep volcanic cliffs. The warmer weather brings beautiful birds and flowers to enjoy, plus 300 different species of plants.
You can spot whales and dolphins in the water, and seals nearer the shore.
Whether you are seeking a beautiful beach to meander along, a perfect surf for water sports, a large space for the family to enjoy or some incredible wildlife and nature to experience, one of Aberdeenshire’s beaches is just perfect for you. Try one this weekend!
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