Spiritual shores

Lynne McNeil reflects on the attractions of Scotland’s beaches this summer.

ONE of my favourite hymns is Lord, you have come to the seashore.

The gentle rhythm of the popular hymn is almost an echo of the shores visited by Jesus and its imagery is a powerful reminder of his mission which took in many seashores.

I don’t think I am the only person who feels the presence of God on our beaches, with the rhythm of the tide providing a constant reminder of the gifts of creation.

In Scotland in summer, our thoughts turn to the seashore – and we are blessed with a range of beautiful beaches, each offering their own unique possibilities.

From Eyemouth in the south east to North Berwick at the mouth of the Firth of Forth, with even Edinburgh having its own sandy shoreline at Portobello, Scotland is blessed with an overabundance of beautiful sandy beaches. From Edinburgh, the coast snakes around Fife (where visitors can visit a different beach every day) and north to the coastal fishing ports and beaches such as Portlethen and Aberdeen, with the Highland coastline north and west of Inverness offering their own beauty.

Scotland’s western isles boast some of the most beautiful beaches in the country and snaking down the west coast there are stretches of sands from Oban to Girvan, via the Ayrshire coastline. The southwest offers a wealth of hidden treasures, from Portpatrick to Luce Bay along the Solway coastline (offering views on a clear day of the five ‘kingdoms’ – Scotland, England, Ireland, the Isle of Man and God’s kingdom in heaven).

Many of the sandy shorelines are accessible by bus and train and amply served by a wealth of cafes, restaurants and ice cream retailers – from Nardini’s in the west to Luca’s and Jannetta’s in the east, all offering a range of cooling sundaes on sunny days.

VisitScotland lists 11 of Scotland’s best beaches as: St Ninian’s Isle, Shetland; Tolsta Beach, Lewis; East Beach, Lossiemouth; Aberdeen; Rockcliffe (in Dumfries and Galloway); Coldingham (near St Abbs); the West Sands in St Andrews (where iconic scenes from the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire were filmed); Calgary Bay on Mull, Ayr and Sanna Bay near Fort William and Lochaber.

Of course, visits to the beach are weather dependent within the Scottish climate, but on warm days the temperatures (and sunshine) can rival Mediterranean cousins in their warmth, power and beauty (although the sea may be a little cooler!)

With a rich coastline offering every type of beach (from sandy to rocky, from tourist trap to splendid isolation over miles of sand), Scotland has a wealth of seductive shorelines set to attract tens of thousands of visitors this summer.

Volunteers are also on permanent standby at RNLI lifeboat stations around the Scottish shores to help anyone who may get into unexpected difficulty, whether swimming, stranded by tides or on a pleasure craft.

The beauty of our landscape in summer offers a reminder of the refrain of the hymn which inspired this piece:

O, Lord, with your eyes set upon me, gently smiling, you have spoken my name; all I longed for I have found by the water, at your side, I will seek other shores.