Press release -

Isle of Harris' Luskentyre named in UK's top ten beaches in Travellers' Choice Awards

Six Sottish beaches were today named as some of the best rated beaches in the UK in this year’s TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards for Beaches.

“In its third year, these awards recognise the best beaches in the UK and worldwide, based on the reviews and ratings from travellers around the globe,” commented James Kay, TripAdvisor spokesperson, “What we may lack in all year round sun, the UK more than makes up for in gorgeous coastline scenery. The glowing reviews that all six winning Scottish beaches have received on TripAdvisor this year are further proof of that.”

The most notable winner for Scotland this year is the Isle of Harris’ Luskentyre, which was revealed as the eighth best rated beach in the UK.

One TripAdvisor reviewer who recently visited said, “The beach at Luskentyre is one of the best ever. The sand is white and glorious and the sea is a stunning colour. You'll virtually have the beach to yourselves and even if there are others on it, you can be as far away from them as you wish. It's fair to say that it's a special place.”

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said: 

“This is another superb accolade for Luskentyre Beach, but its inclusion on the list of best UK beaches is not surprising. Its white sands, coupled with spectacular scenery, make it hugely popular among visitors and locals alike. The Outer Hebrides is a beautiful part of the world and VisitScotland, in partnership with the local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, recently launched a brand new marketing campaign to promote the region. This Travellers’ Choice Beaches Award will help to further raise the profile of Luskentyre and of Harris, encouraging even more people to visit.

Nairn Beach took thirteenth place while Durness Beach and Calgary Bay off the Isle of Mull came 19th and 20th respectively. Arisaig’s Camusdarach Beach and Kiloran Beach off the Isle of Colonsay placed 24th and 25th respectively.

Woolacombe Beach in Devon took the title of number one beach in the UK and was also named fourth best rated beach in Europe and thirteenth best rated in the world. Weymouth Beach in Dorset was named second best rated beach in the UK and Wales’ Rhossili Bay took third place.

Brazil celebrates world win

For the second year running, Baia do Sancho in Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha, an archipelago with UNESCO world heritage status, has been crowned the number one beach in the world. A bay of crystalline water and soft white sand, the beach is surrounded by towering cliffs covered by vegetation that attracts a multitude of exotic wildlife.

Travellers’ Choice Beaches Award-winners were determined based on the quality and quantity of traveller reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor gathered over a 12-month period.

For the complete 2015 Travellers’ Choice Beaches Awards winners and more reviews, opinions and candid traveller photographs, go tohttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravellersChoice-Beaches. (Please note this link will be live with 2014 results on Wednesday 18th February).

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For more information please contact Hayley Coleman: 077 398 27951 / hcoleman@tripadvisor.com

TripAdvisor’s Traveller Choice Beaches Awards winners:

Top 10 beaches in the UK

  1. Woolacombe Beach, Woolacombe, Devon
  2. Weymouth Beach, Weymouth, Dorset
  3. Rhossili Bay, Rhossili, Swansea
  4. St. Brelade's Bay Beach, St. Brelade, Jersey
  5. Porthminster Beach, St Ives, Cornwall
  6. Perranporth Beach, Perranporth, Cornwall
  7. Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall
  8. Luskentyre, Isle of Harris
  9. Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth, Dorset
  10. Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset

Topics

  • Tourism

Categories

  • corporate communications
  • awards

Regions

  • Scotland

Notes to Editors

  • Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
  • VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
  • The organisation has three key roles:
    1. To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
    2. To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
    3. To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
  • VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
  • The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
  • According to a recent Deloitte study, the tourism economy supports 270,000 jobs in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the tourism economy contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
  • For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
  • Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
  • For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
  • For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com

Year of Food and Drink 2015

  • 2015 is the Year of Food and Drink, a celebration of Scotland’s natural larder and the role that food and drink plays in shaping our economic success.
  • Scotland generates over £2.5m per day through food and drink tourism.
  • A series of themed months will create an appetite for key areas of Scotland’s food and drink industries – from seafood and whisky to berries and high-quality meat
  • For more information, visit www.visitscotland.com/tastescotland

Contacts

Chelsea Charles

Press contact Scotland’s Themed Years Communications & Engagement Manager Contact for media enquiries on: Scotland’s Themed Years (i.e. 2018 Year of Young People; 2020 Year of Scotland's Coast and Waters; 2022 Year of Scotland's Stories) 0131 472 2067

Carrie MacWilliam

Press contact Senior Corporate Press Officer - National Contact for media enquiries on: Travel media (Scotland); Year of Young People; UK Marketing; Dundee; Fife; Angus; Perthshire 0131 472 2052

Amelia Whittaker

Press contact Senior Corporate Press Officer - Regional Contact for media enquiries on: South Region; Edinburgh and Lothians; Food and Drink; Scottish Thistle Awards 01750 723806