There’s nothing better than a trip to the beach and here in the UK we don’t have to travel very far to see some really beautiful ones. Even though the weather may not always be the best for sunbathing, Britain has plenty of gorgeous beaches that are well worth a visit during spring and summer. 

And there’s one in particular that has been described as a ‘little slice of heaven’ with gorgeous turquoise seas and breathtaking white sands. Luskentyre beach on the Isle of Harris in Scotland was previously recognised as the best beach in the whole of the UK by TripAdvisor. And it’s definitely not hard to see why. 

Luskentyre is the largest and arguably the most spectacular beach on the Isle of Harris. Located on the west coast of the island in the Outer Hebrides, the gorgeous beach was the highest rated on TripAdvisor in 2024, meaning it nabbed the top spot in the Travellers’ Choice Awards. 

It currently boasts an impressive score of 4.9 stars out of five based on 1,148 reviews. And people have been raving about its natural beauty, even comparing it to the Maldives. 

Raving about the popular spot, one person said: “Words do not do this beach justice! If it was 80 degrees and sunny, I would never know I was in Scotland in the Outer Hebrides. What an amazingly gorgeous beach. The sand is in its purest form and the water as blue as can be.”

Another said: “Luskentyre Bay is a little slice of Maldives on the coast of the Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides – honestly worth the drive.”

And don’t let the unpredictable Scottish weather put you off, as one visitor said: “The day we were at the beach was heavy rain and gale force winds. Our ferry was the only one to run that day. None of this took anything away from the vastness and purity of the beauty of this place. The sand went for miles. It was epic.”

The distinctive blue-green waters surrounding Luskentyre beach make the whole experience so much more breathtaking, especially as it contrasts perfectly with the soft white sands. There are also dramatic sand dunes dotted throughout the bay and on a clear day you’ll be able to see all the way across to Taransay. 

The experts at Hidden Scotland say that late spring and summer are the best times to pay a visit to Luskentyre beach, not only for the weather but also for the landscape as the ‘lingering light’ creates beautiful views that are hard to beat. 

And there’s plenty to do nearby, from the Seallam Visitor Centre where you can learn about the history of the island to the popular Waterside Cafe which serves up delicious homemade treats using locally sourced produce.