Our Favourite Beaches of the Banffshire Coastline
The historic Banffshire coastline stretches over 30 miles with dozens of quaint coastal towns, hidden beaches and beautiful bays each with their own hidden secrets and ways to spend the perfect day by the sea. With so many to choose from, we narrowed it down to a few of our favourite spots.
1. Cullen Beach
Cullen Beach is one of the most popular sandy spots in the North East, with its golden sands sheltered by gentle cliffs and some excellent pop-up food vendors. The beach is the perfect base to explore the town, with several coastal walks, thriving boutiques and great restaurants. Don't forget to pop in by the famous Cullen Ice Cream Shop!
Cullen
2. Cullykhan Beach
Located between Pennan and Gardenstown, the crescent shaped Cullykhan Bay is relatively hidden from the world and lies between a cluster of small bays and a nearby RSPB bird sanctuary, with many hidden caves, carved rock faces and rock pools to explore. The clifftop was once the site of Fort Fiddes and dates back to the Bronze Age, and the neighbouring Millshore Beach hosts the Millshore Pottery, where you can browse their handcrafted ceramics or grab coffee and ice cream.
Cullykhan
3. Banff Links
One of the longest beach stretches in Banffshire, Banff Links is popular with dog walkers, sunbathers and even wild swimmers. We particularly love packing up a picnic, finding a good spot and hampering down for an afternoon of fun, games and happy memories. For a good leg stretch, there's a paved track along the fringes of the Moray Firth to the neighbouring fishing village of Whitehills, where you can stop off for a bite to eat in one of the brilliant Fish and Chip restaurants.
Banff Links
4. Sandend Beach
Further along the shore from Banff, the historic fishing village of Sandend hosts a peaceful sandy beach which is popular with families, dog walkers and surfers. Don't miss out on a breezy walk to the ruined Findlater Castle; why not check out the nearby Glenglassaugh distillery.
Sandend
5. Hopeman East
Slightly further north, Hopeman East features swathes of sandy beaches and fascinating rock pools to explore. Popular with keen walkers and surfers, the beach is also well known for dolphin spotting and the multi-coloured beach huts which line the shore. During Summer, the nearby Bootleggers Bothy offers rustic outdoor dining specialising in local seafood served from a vintage Citroen Campervan.
Hopeman