Scotland's 8 best autumn beaches named by GO Outdoors

Travel experts at GO Outdoors have named Scotland's best beaches for an autumn walk, with eight picturesque bays across the country singled out. While a trip to the beach is often considered a summer activity, the autumn months offer fewer crowds and equally stunning views.

Google searches for "beach walks in Scotland" have increased by 5,000 per cent compared to this time last year, according to GO Outdoors. The outdoor experts analysed factors such as rainfall, sunshine hours, and temperatures to put together a list of the best in Scotland for an autumn visit.

Elie Beach tops the list

Topping the outdoor experts' list of the best autumn beaches in Scotland is Elie Beach in Fife, which received an overall 'autumn beach score' of 7.88 out of 10. Elie and Earlsferry is a scenic coastal town and former royal burgh located within the famous East Neuk of Fife, with its beach offering a mile of uninterrupted golden sands.

Elie Beach boasts an average of 5.4 hours of daily sunshine over the autumn, and only 75.7 millimetres of rainfall per month. The beach also experiences an average autumn temperature of 9.9 degrees Celsius according to GO Outdoors, offering pleasantly mild conditions for visitors looking to enjoy the coast.

One Tripadvisor review of Elie Beach reads: "Absolutely beautiful beach, perfect for water leisure pursuits of all sorts. Lovely village as well; we stayed here for a week and explored all the local villages. Nowhere had anything on Elie for beaches, especially, but also food, nearby attractions."

Coldingham Bay and Aberdeen Beach follow

Following behind in second place on the experts' roundup of Scotland's top autumn beaches is Coldingham Bay in the Scottish Borders, which earned a score of 7.72 out of 10. Coldingham Bay is an inlet in the North Sea coast near the town of Eyemouth, and features dozens of huts overlooking the beach.

Coldingham Bay enjoys the highest average daily autumn sunshine of the top three beaches on the list. The beach also records an average autumn temperature of 10.3 degrees Celsius and receives 86 millimetres of rainfall per month, as well as a 4.7 out of five on Google.

One TripAdvisor review describes Coldingham Bay as a "must-see" with "incredible views and beautiful sands, with a lifeguard on duty during the peak season, well worth a trip with a lovely little surf shack nearby".

Coming in at number three on GO Outdoors' list of Scotland's top beaches during the autumn months is the beach in the city of Aberdeen, with an autumn beach score of 7.11 out of 10. Aberdeen Beach is situated only a short distance from the city centre, and offers easy access to various sporting and recreational facilities.

Aberdeen Beach receives an average of 5.7 hours of daily autumn sunshine and 91.3 millimetres of rainfall per month, while temperatures average 10 degrees Celsius. Despite having the highest average autumn rainfall of the top three beaches on the roundup, Aberdeen Beach boasts a 4.5 out of five on Google and Scotland's Beach Award status.

Top five and the full list

Rounding out the top five autumn beaches in Scotland according to GO Outdoors are Dunnet Beach in the Highlands and Lossiemouth East Beach in Moray. The former earned an autumn beach score of 6.47 out of 10, while the latter received an overall score of 5.75.

Author and outdoor enthusiast at GO Outdoors Natalie Wolfenden commented: "Scotland is home to some stunning beaches that are at their most peaceful during the autumn months. While the weather is still relatively mild, it's the perfect time to enjoy long coastal walks away from the summer crowds."

"When planning a beach trip, it's important to be prepared for changeable conditions. Investing in the right walking shoes, waterproof trousers and an insulated jacket is essential for exploring the shoreline and nearby trails safely, whilst keeping you warm and dry."

See below for the full list of the eight best autumn beaches in Scotland according to GO Outdoors.