People gobsmacked that beautiful holiday spot that 'looks like Caribbean' is in Scotland
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Scotland boasts a hidden gem that rivals the Caribbean, with its crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches, but without the hefty price tag.
We're all familiar with the need for a break, whether it's work stress, personal issues, or a jam-packed social calendar leaving us drained. Yet, with soaring bills and the high cost of living, a luxurious overseas holiday often seems unattainable.
While jetting off would be lovely, Scotland offers an abundance of beauty right on our doorstep - including a 'Caribbean-like' beach in the north. This spot is none other than Luskentyre sands on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
As one of Harris's largest and most stunning beaches, it has been recognised as one of the UK's top beaches in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards. Here, you will discover miles of sand dunes, turquoise waters, a plethora of water sports, and ample opportunities for hill walking and cycling. The location also gained fame as the setting for BBC's Castaway.
(Image: Getty Images)
After a recent visit, Cara shared a video on TikTok from her @caramowbrayxoxox account, which has since garnered over a million views. She labelled it "paradise" and posed the question, "Scotland, or the Caribbean?". In another clip, she exclaimed she had "never seen water so clear".
One commenter enthused: "Love Luskentyre beach it's gorgeous." While another added: "I love Scotland it's such a beautiful part of the world." One visitor, utterly astonished by the clarity of the waters, exclaimed: "Scotland! I live in Scotland and me and family went there at one point! Gorgeous place!".
Another commented on the lack of awareness about the country's natural beauty: "The amount of people who don't know how beautiful our country/beaches and waters are is scary. But the less people who explore the quieter it will stay for us who do.
"I've been here and the water is honestly not that cold," remarked another individual. The prime time to visit this location is during the summer months when the weather conditions are most favourable, and the daylight hours are longest.
Getting there
To reach this idyllic beach spot, the simplest method is to fly to Stornoway Airport. Daily flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh take just over an hour, with prices starting at £120, as per Rome2Rio.
Upon arrival, driving to the beach takes approximately one hour and 19 minutes, which is the most cost-effective option. Alternatively, you can take a train for under three hours, hop on a bus, or hail a taxi.
Direct train routes to Luskentyre are unavailable. Rome2Rio suggests: "However, you can take the bus to Uig Pier, walk to Uig Skye Ferry Terminal, take the ferry to Tarbert, walk to Car Park, then take the bus to Turning Point.
"Alternatively, you can take a train from Glasgow Queen Street Low Level to Township via Spean Bridge, Spean Crescent, Uig Pier, Uig Skye Ferry Terminal, Tarbert, and Car Park in around 12 hours and 13 minutes."
Have you visited this spot? Share your experience in the comments below.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The UK train station with a brand new rooftop bar this summer
Plus, the world's deepest bar is set to open in London, as part of a huge new £120million attraction SKY HIGH The UK train station with a brand new rooftop bar this summer A NEW rooftop bar has opened up on top of a historic UK train station. Located eight floors above Holborn station in London, La-Yam is a bar with panoramic views of the city, serving up expertly-crafted cocktails. 4 A new rooftop bar has opened up on top of a historic UK train station Credit: instagram/@la_yam.london 4 Located eight floors above Holborn station, La-Yam is a bar with panoramic views of the city, serving up expertly-crafted cocktails Credit: instagram/@la_yam.london 4 The bar features a "coastal-inspired" design with a Greek-style menu Credit: instagram/@la_yam.london The bar features a "coastal-inspired" design with a Greek-style menu that include a Sunday roast, slow-cooked ribs and fresh fish dishes. The Beach Roast is on every Sunday from 11am to 3pm and a bottomless BBQ is also available from 11:20am to 1:30pm for £42 per person. Visitors can also get a mezze platter with six small dishes for £25, with options including hummus, roasted cauliflower, pickles and olives, baba ganoush, tzatziki and lahanosalata (coleslaw). All the dishes have been created by chef Eran Shachaf and have Ottolenghi-inspired presentation. Drinks include a range of classic cocktails and wines, as well as soft drinks. Also each week, La-Yam also hosts 'Fridays Above' from 6pm to 11pm featuring golden hour views and music by local artists. At other times there will also be DJ sets and rooftop yoga sessions. La-Yam is also dog friendly and available for private hire. The rooftop bar is open Monday to Friday from 11am to 11pm and from 11am to 3:30pm on Sundays. A new cultural destination with a Vegas-like dome is also coming to the Holborn area in London. The 5 best rooftop bars in london The Holborn Dome will be home to office spaces, a cultural space and a 300-person auditorium in central London. The venue will be located next to Chancery Lane tube station and will also feature a number of retail shops on the ground floor. One of the main parts of the project includes an auditorium with a double-height domed ceiling. The auditorium will be used for exhibitions and provide an immersive experience. Plus, the world's deepest bar is set to open in London, as part of a huge new £120million attraction.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Martin Lewis shares the currency you should use on card payments abroad
The money saving guru has settle the debate on what currency you should pay in when you're overseas - and it appears that many people have been making a costly mistake Martin Lewis has finally weighed in on the age-old holiday conundrum, revealing whether it's wiser to pay in pounds or local currency on your credit card abroad. Sharing his expert advice with BBC audiences, he unravelled the mystery, advising on the best payment method to save money while jetting off. Martin advised: "When you go abroad and you pay on plastic [card] and the overseas cash machine or shop asks you: 'Do you want to pay in pounds or euros?' What do you do? Well, the correct answer is you should always pay in euros or whatever the local currency is. That means it's your plastic that's doing the exchange rate conversion, not the overseas shop or ATM." He emphasised that this holds true globally. Social media users chimed in with their tips and personal experiences too. One user suggested: "Just get Revolut or Monzo." Another declared: "I use Starling Bank it has no fees abroad and recommends paying in the local currency instead of pounds. Something I saw online about dynamic exchange rate and it can cost you more otherwise." A third added: "Revolut has always been the best on doing this, can exchange right in the app a swell, and when withdrawing it'll just take it straight from that, half the time the only fee is the cash fee by the machine you use." Meanwhile, a recent traveller shared their experience: "Just back from Spain and not a single ATM did free cash withdrawals either, thankfully that's all I was charged with my Chase account." One savvy traveller remarked: "I just get euros before I go anywhere save all the hassle, and if I'm really stuck for cash go into an actual bank on holiday and withdraw money on my card." This tip follows the advice from a money-saving guru who emphasised the urgency to secure travel insurance 'ASAB'. While speaking on This Morning, the financial expert shared, "My travel insurance rule is get it ASAB (as soon as you book). People do get a little confused about this, so let's break it down." He went on to instruct: "If you're getting a single trip policy, so that is a policy to cover just one holiday, then what you do is as soon as you book, you go on one of the travel insurer's website, you tell it your holiday dates and you buy the policy then." Martin Lewis explained that if your holiday is in August and you've booked in January, securing your insurance in January is equally important. "That means you have the travel insurance in place to covers that holiday," he said, adding: "You don't need to [cover yourself] for extra dates [in case there's a delay at the airport] because you have your return date. "If something delays you, so you weren't back, that would still be covered because that delay is all part of the travel insurance."
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
Tourists warned as France has just enforced major law change with £113 fine
Tourists warned as France has just enforced major law change with £113 fine It could catch a few people out - both tourists and locals - as the new rules come into effect Tourists visiting France this summer will need to be aware of the new rules - or risk fines (Image: Getty ) People are being reminded that France will now enforce a new law that could see people - including tourists. Anyone could be fined over £100 for making an innocent mistake after the rules were brought into effect earlier than originally planned. It was previously reported that the major smoking ban would include a range of public places including popular spots for tourists such as beaches, parks and public gardens. The rules also extend to cover outside schools, bus stops and at sports venues too. The rules should have officially become law on Tuesday, July 1, but officials brought forward the start of this proposed law to Sunday, June 29. The measure was approved in order to help limit the damage that smoking has on young children. This ban builds on the existing laws in France that prohibit smoking in certain places. Since 2008, it has been against the law to smoke in restaurants and nightclubs, with more places included to protect children from the harms of passive smoking. Anyone caught breaking the ban will be fined €135 (which works out to £113). The country's minister for children, health and family, Catherine Vautrin, said the police would enforce the ban, but added that the public would be given the chance to "self-regulate." The ban is already in effect - having been brought forward from July 1, 2025 (Image: Dazeley via Getty ) Article continues below In France, cafe and bar terraces have been excluded from the ban - meaning people may still smoke cigarettes there. The decree does not mention anything specific about electronic cigarettes. A HuffPost France poll showed that 68% of French people who responded are for tighter restrictions on smoking in public. Some are even calling for bans to continue extending and to eventually include outdoor cafés and restaurants. People in Britain might struggle to remember the rule, as the UK's own smoking rules currently only apply indoors. Since July 2007, it has been illegal to smoke in enclosed public places and workplaces in the UK. People caught ignoring the rules face a fine (Image: Sasha Fox Walters via Getty Images ) It was reported in 2024 by the BBC that the UK Government is considering similar action by extending legislation in England to outdoor areas like playgrounds and hospital grounds to "protect children and the most vulnerable from the harms of second-hand smoke". The UK is moving towards creating a "smoke-free generation" through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to prevent the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. This means that those who were aged 15 or younger in 2024 will never legally be able to purchase tobacco products. Article continues below The bill makes it an offence to sell tobacco products - including cigarettes, hand-rolled tobacco and cigars - to anyone who falls under this age demographic. As well as tobacco, it also includes measures to curb the appeal of vaping to children, such as restricting flavours, packaging, and advertising.
