Scotland's Beach Awards Criteria

To gain an award, beaches must meet standards across three areas of Scotland's Beach Awards. These are: Access, Facilities and Safety, Local Environmental Quality, and Communities and Heritage.

Individual criteria points are categorised as ‘major’, ‘minor’ or ‘best practice’. To gain and maintain an award, beaches must:

Fulfil the requirements of all Major criteria
Have no more than three counts of non-compliance to minor criteria
Demonstrate ongoing commitment to improving best practice

Click the boxes below to find out more about the criteria in each area of the award.

Access, Facilities and Safety

Includes criteria which relate to the infrastructure management of the site including toilets, parking, amenities, noticeboards and safety equipment.

Local Environmental Quality

Includes criteria which relate to management of conflicting beach uses. Criteria relate to biodiversity, cleanliness, water quality and pollution.

Community and Heritage

Includes criteria which relate to community ownership, promotion of heritage and engaging visitors with the beach environment.

Beaches are assessed by a desk assessment and site visit by a trained assesor. We visit sites annually between 1st June – 15th September. Any new entrants to the scheme will receive an additional site visit prior to an award being given.

Are you a local authority, land manager or community group that would like to see your beach recognised with Scotland's Beach Award? Find how to get awarded here.

Scotland's Beach Awards Criteria

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