Perhaps the most famous of these are the White Sands of Morar on the Road to the Isles. However, travelling north around the coast there are plenty more, with the Gairloch area another noted location. Then there is a further choice north of Ullapool at places like Achmelvich (Gold Flag award), Clashnessie and Clachtoll, as well as Sandwood Bay (which even manages to be haunted as well!)

The north coast has some very special places: small enclosed bays with dazzling white sands, sometimes completely deserted - around Durness or Melvich for example. Further east Dunnet Bay, near Thurso is a two mile (three km) stretch of golden sand well-known to surfing enthusiasts.

The east coast, facing into the Moray Firth, also has some excellent and extensive stretches, particularly south of Brora. (Dornoch Beach, for instance, is a Blue/Gold Flag commended beach.) There are also sandy beaches on the Black Isle easily accessible from Inverness, as are the extensive sandy shores around the Moray Firth resort of Nairn to the east.