Not St Andrews nor Portree – Scotland's best seaside town crowned

A “wonderful coastal retreat” has been named the best seaside town in Scotland, beating other favourites such as Ullapool, Tobermory and Oban to the crown in a recent rankings

A picturesque town on the coast of Scotland has been crowned the best in the country.

When thoughts drift to the Scottish coastline, many will conjure up fond childhood recollections of fish and chips in Oban, the vibrant colours of Tobermory or days spent crabbing in the picturesque fishing village of Ullapool.

As magnificent as these coastal gems undoubtedly are, one lesser-known spot has just been hailed as the absolute cream of the crop. In a comprehensive rundown of the UK’s finest seaside towns, North Berwick claimed the top spot.

“Just a 30-minute train journey from Edinburgh, North Berwick is a wonderful coastal retreat. A gannet colony calls the famous Bass Rock home, the high street is buzzing with independent shops and artisanal cafes, the seafood is ultra-fresh, and the natural beauty is in spades. It feels like an extension of artsy, culture-rich Edinburgh, only by the sea. North Berwick even hosts The Fringe by the Sea, in conjunction with the famous comedy Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. But really, the town’s wide-stretching, vast, and windswept beaches are worth the visit anytime, the rankings from Holiday Cars enthuse.

There are plenty of reasons why a visit to North Berwick is a good idea, at least once the grim start to the summer sorts itself out.

The town’s most distinctive landmark is the Bass Rock, which sits just offshore and hosts one of the world’s largest gannet colonies — over 150,000 birds. The Scottish Seabird Centre in town is excellent, with live cameras on the rock and boat trips out to see it up close.

North Berwick has two lovely sandy beaches right in town — West Beach and East Beach — which are surprisingly clean and scenic, with views of the volcanic Law hill behind. If golf is more your thing, then the Renaissance Club nearby hosts the Scottish Open. There are several links courses within easy reach, including Muirfield.

The high street has a great independent feel. It is full of good cafés, a proper fishmonger, ice cream shops, and some lovely pubs. The harbour is picturesque and usually has fresh seafood on offer.

Tantallon Castle, a dramatic clifftop fortress, is just a few miles away. As is Edinburgh. It’s a straightforward train ride from Edinburgh Waverley, making it one of the best and most accessible day trips from the capital.

The top 20 best seaside towns in the UK

1. New Quay, Ceredigion, Wales – Victorian terraced houses tumble down to a sandy bay dotted with kayaks and sailboats, with dolphin-spotting boat trips and spectacular sunsets from the harbour.
2. North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland – A 30-minute train from Edinburgh, this artsy coastal retreat boasts vast windswept beaches, ultra-fresh seafood, independent shops, and even its own Fringe festival.
3. Looe, Cornwall, England – A picturesque working harbour, sun-soaked sandy beach, lively promenade, watersports, fresh seafood, and independent boutiques make this a firm Cornish favourite.
4. Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire, England – A classic old English fishing village of steep narrow streets, honey-coloured cottages, brooding cliffs, and excellent pubs tumbling down to a sheltered bay.
5. Barmouth, Gwynedd, Wales – A lively seaside town backed by soaring limestone hills, offering hiking trails, estuary views, and the unique spectacle of a mountain visible from the beach.
6. Lyme Regis, Dorset, England – Pastel beach huts, fish and chips, and fossil hunting along the stunning Jurassic Coast, with a nature reserve and prehistoric museum to boot.
7. Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland – Skye’s surprisingly cosmopolitan main town features a colourful harbour, artisan bakeries, handicraft shops, and easy access to iconic landscapes like the Old Man of Storr.
8. Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales – Technicolour cottages, a working harbour, maze-like streets, top restaurants, and three Blue Flag beaches make this Wales’s most beloved seaside town.
9. Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland – A deep sandy beach, world-class golf, Dunluce Castle, a fun park, and the Giant’s Causeway just 15 minutes away make this Northern Ireland’s coastal gem.
10. Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland – A colourful waterfront town with a whisky distillery, fresh seafood, an arts centre, a lighthouse walk, and sailboat trips to spot sharks and whales.
11. Weymouth, Dorset, England – Golden sands lined with colourful beach huts, Georgian architecture, a pretty harbour, and easy access to Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove on the Jurassic Coast.
12. Cullen, Moray, Scotland – A quiet, crescent-beached town on the least-visited stretch of Scottish coast, with clifftop walks, dolphin spotting, and blissfully uncrowded beaches.
13. Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland – On Ireland’s northeastern tip, this charming harbour town offers windswept beach walks, fresh fish and chips, and boat trips to puffin-filled Rathlin Island.
14. Broadstairs, Kent, England – A Victorian beach town with seven golden bays, chalk cliff backdrops, surfing, dog-friendly beaches, and classic seaside arcades and fish and chip shops.
15. Bamburgh, Northumberland, England – A sweeping flat beach, an 11th-century castle rising from basalt rock, seal colonies, and boat trips to the Farne Islands define this stunning Northumberland village.
16. Staithes, Yorkshire, England – A peaceful fishing village of narrow alleyways, cosy pubs, art galleries, and coastal paths, just 10 miles from Whitby and steeped in Captain Cook history.
17. Rye, East Sussex, England – A medieval hilltop town with ancient pubs, 14th-century monasteries, and the stunning soft-sand dunes of Camber Sands just a short drive or riverside walk away.
18. Trearddur Bay, Anglesey, Wales – A quiet, off-the-beaten-path Welsh village with a beautiful beach, a sheltered yacht cove, and a dramatic lighthouse walk at South Stack Island.
19. Dartmouth, Devon, England – A refined waterfront town on the River Dart with exquisite seafood, historic pubs, fishing boat views, and the South West Coast Path on the doorstep.
20. St Andrews, Fife, Scotland – A mini-Edinburgh on the Fife coast, blending gothic architecture, galleries, student life, historic sights, and world-famous coastal golf courses.