Scotland may be known for its mountains and greenery but it’s also a fantastic destination for people who love beautiful beaches.
If you are visiting some of the islands and wondering what are the best beaches on Arran, this is for you!
Arran is a beautiful island located off the west coast of Scotland. It was nicknamed ‘Scotland in miniature’ since it boasts rolling hills, tranquil lochs, and a stunning coastline.
Arran also has some of the best beaches in Scotland and some of them will make you think you’ve been transported to the Caribbeans.
Here are ten of the best beaches on Arran!
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Silver Sands
Located in Kildonan, in the southern part of Arran, Silver Sands is by far the most beautiful beach on Arran.
It’s quite an underrated place since you won’t find many famous tourist attractions in the south of Arran and for this reason, a lot of visitors skip it altogether.
This is a mistake you won’t be making!
Silver Sands truly is a beautiful gem. As the name suggests, the sand here is a beautiful silver colour and it’s also very fine and soft.
To find the beach, you will need to drive on the main coastal road up Kildonan where you will turn. You will then find a carpark on your right and a set of stairs on your left.
You can leave your vehicle and head down the stairs to the beach.
As soon as you reach the stairs, you will be able to enjoy the views over the beach as well as Pladda island, its lighthouse and the unique Ailsa Craig island.
Once you get to the beach, you can simply enjoy the views, and have a picnic or a walk. The water is crystal clear which is particularly beautiful so if you are brave enough, go for a swim!
PRO TIP: Even if you are visiting in summer, the water will be quite cold so it’s highly recommended to wear a wet suit.
Please note that there are no facilities here so make sure to use the toilet beforehand and take some food and water.
If you are travelling with kids, there is a swing right before where the sand starts.
If you’re looking for a beach with crystal clear water, look no further than Silver Sands Beach!
Brodick Bay Beach
Brodick Bay Beach is one of the most popular beaches on Arran and for good reasons.
The beach is located in Brodick, which is the main town on Arran and also where the ferry arrives from mainland Scotland.
The beach is a great place to relax after exploring Brodick Castle or go for a walk along Brodick pier.
The sand here is golden and the water is clean.
One of the best things about Brodick Bay Beach is that it’s very family-friendly with a playground right next to it as well as a toilet block.
It’s also important to note that this is a dog-friendly beach so your furry friend can run around!
There is a carpark between the co-op and the beach so you can leave your vehicle there.
If it’s nice and sunny, make sure to cross the road to go to the parlour. They sell the delicious Arran ice cream and what’s better than ice cream on the beach!
You will also find a food truck in the carpark called ‘The Shack’. They sell delicious dishes with local seafood.
Whiting Bay Beach
Whiting Bay is a village located on the east coast of Arran, opposite the Holy Isle.
The beach here is one of the locals’ favourites on Arran as it’s close to all the main attractions.
The beach is made of sand as well as some rocks and goes around the entire bay.
The water is pretty shallow which makes it the perfect place for families with kids.
It’s also an excellent place for paddleboarding and kayaking. If that’s something you are interested in, you can check out the Arran Outdoor Centre. They offer various SUP and kayaking tours in the area.
Finally, since the beach is just across the road, you can easily go for a meal or get an ice cream in one of the local restaurants.
Blackwaterfoot Beach
This is one of the hidden gems on Arran. Blackwaterfroot Beach is located in the South West of the island, near the King’s Cave walk.
It’s a great place to visit if you are heading to the Machrie Moor Stone Circle or King’s Cave.
Unlike Brodick and Whiting Bay, Blackwaterfoot is a lesser-known village and most of the people you will see there are locals.
So if you are looking for a quieter and less crowded beach on Arran, this will be the perfect place.
It’s a sandy beach which is particularly convenient for walks and swimming.
Coire-Fhionn Lochan
This is a bit of an unusual beach on Arran since it’s not actually located on the coast but inland!
Coire-Fhionn Lochan is a small loch located in the northern part of Arran. It’s a popular spot for wild swimming as well as picnics.
It’s one of the most beautiful places on Arran and the perfect spot to enjoy the beach as well as the mountains and coastal views.
The beach itself is made of sand however, it’s not very thin so you may want to wear some shoes.
The water of the loch is so clear and it’s such a nice spot to go swimming.
To get there, you will need to go on a bit of a hike. It takes a couple of hours (return) and is about 2 miles (one way).
This hike is classed as moderate and can be a bit steep but it’s well worth it.
Thundergay Beach
This is another underrated beach on Arran. Thundergay is a small village located on the western side of Arran.
It’s not actually accessible by car unless you have a house there however, you will find several parking spots on the side of the main road since that’s the start of the Coire-Fhionn Lochan hike.
The beach is a bit small but well worth a visit. The sand is golden and thin and there are some beautiful and large rocks. It’s a great place to stop for a picnic or a quick swim.
If you are travelling with a dog, it’s also an excellent place to play ball.
Sannox Bay
Sannox Bay is located on the north-eastern side of Arran and is not as popular as some other beaches mentioned above but still, well worth a visit.
It boasts some of the best views of the Scottish mainland and is a tranquil and quiet place where you can go for a walk and enjoy a picnic.
It’s also a good spot for bird watching!
To get there, you simply need to park your car at one of the roadside carparks. There aren’t too many spots but again, this is not the busiest of places so you should be fine.
It’s also worth noting that you can go on the Glen Sannox walk nearby. This is an easy 1-hour walk with dramatic landscapes. Perfect for people who want to hit two birds with one stone.
Pirnmill
Pirnmill is a small village located in the western part of Arran.
The beach is just across the road and it’s a great spot for a walk. The first part of the beach is with pebbles but if you are visiting during low tide, the sea will uncover a golden sandy beach as well.
It’s a great sunset spot as well.
Lamlash Beach
Lamlash is one of the largest villages on Arran as well as a popular tourist spot.
The beach is located in on the other side of the road and it’s a great place to take a walk, go swimming or just relax.
It’s a great alternative to Whiting Bay Beach and boasts beautiful views of Holy Isle.
Catacol Beach
Catacol Beach is another beach located on the western side of Arran.
Like most beaches in this area, it is a pebble beach but it’s very pretty and quite wide as well.
It has crystal clear water and on a sunny day, you can really see the beautiful turquoise colour.
You will also get to enjoy the views of The Twelve Apostles, a row of beautiful 19th-century cottages.
Finally, it’s also one of the best sunset spots on Arran.
Cleat’s Shore
Located in the southern part of the island, Cleat’s Shore beach is the only nudist Arran beach. It’s very quiet location, most of the time you will be on your own.
If you want to get there, you need to go to Lagg Distillery. There, you will find a small road that goes all the way down to the beach.
The beach is sandy and quite wide which means you can walk around and even work on your tan on a nice and sunny day.
Whether you are interested or not in nudism, this is still one the best beaches in Arran in terms of scenery.
FUN FACT: Cleat’s Shore was featured in the book ‘Bare Britain’
Lochranza Beach
This one is a bit different to the others but the perfect location for people looking for the best beach on Arran for a picnic.
Lochranza is a small village in the northern part of the island, famous for its castle.
It’s a beautiful location and one of the best places to take photos and stop for lunch.
If you stop on the car park near the Castle (on Newton road) during the low tide, you will discover a cute little beach.
It’s a bit rocky and there aren’t really any amenities since it’s only really visible during the low tide, but it is by far one of the best picnic spots on Arran.
You get an incredible view of the Loch and the castle.
PRO TIP: If you want to get a wonderful lunch, head to The Sandwich Station. It’s 2 minutes up the road and one of the best places to get food on Arran.
Isle of Arran Beaches: Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any sandy beaches on Arran?
Yes, of course! It is true that a lot of beaches on Arran are rocky but there are also a lot of sandy beaches on Arran such as Silver Sands, Brodick Bay Beach and Blackwaterfoot beach.
Most of the sandy beaches can be found in the southern part of the island.
Which beach is best for kids in Arran?
Brodick Bay Beach is ideal for kids because there are a lot of amenities around. The carpark is located right by the beach. There are toilets, a wooden promenade and the shops and ice cream parlours are within walking distance.
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