British Beaches

Visitor information for every beach in the UK

"I'm in love with a creature from the sea, she brings out the crustacean in me"

Whitesands

(Whitesands Bay)

East Lothian, Scotland


Rate this beach!
Approximate Location Map

Use two fingers to pan or zoom the map

Whitesands is a secluded beach located on the Scottish coast, approximately 2 miles down the coast from Dunbar.

Whitesands is an attractive compact beach with fine golden sand bounded by a rocky shore and backed by low coastal grassland spotted with picnic tables. The beach is an ideal place for an early-morning swim, and there are pleasant views to be had along the coast.

The beach is situated just over 2 miles down the coast from Dunbar, accessible via a single track road off the A1087. This rural location contributes to the beach's seclusion and tranquility.

The beach boasts a stretch of fine, clean sand that curves gently round the bay, backed by grasslands. The bay faces east, making it an attractive spot for early morning swims due to the soft sand and gentle slope into the water. Additionally, conditions here can be suitable for surfing. The beach is flanked by rocky areas and low-rise cliffs, providing some shelter to the bay. At low tide, visitors can explore interesting rockpools.

The area is rich in limestone, which has been mined locally for hundreds of years. The grassy areas behind the beach provide ideal conditions for wild flowers to flourish, such as autumn gentian and yellow-horned poppy, which thrive in the alkaline soil.

The beach was gifted to the local council by the Portland Cement Company for use as a recreational area. There is a grassy car parking area behind the beach, and a geology trail starts in the car park. Footpaths from the car park lead to the old lime quarry areas and former limekilns. The beach is usually fairly quiet, making it a good destination for those seeking solitude.

Sand

Weather and tides for Tuesday 8 July

Tonight
Chance of rain 4%
Min temp. 15°C
(feels like 13°C)
Wind 13mph
Tomorrow (Wednesday)
Chance of rain 4%
Max temp. 23°C
(feels like 19°C)
Wind 13mph
Max UV Index

The tide at Whitesands is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 7:56 PM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 2:21 AM tomorrow.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   13.4°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Popular Activities

    Bird watching Sunbathing Swimming Walking
  • Features

    Golf
  • Parking

    Ample space on grassland.

  • Beach Cleaning

    Beach cleaned weekly during the summer.

  • Lifeguard

    No lifeguard cover at this beach

  • Awards

    Marine Conservation Society Recommended

  • Water Quality

    Good water quality

    Good water quality

Recommended holiday cottages near Whitesands

Things to do and see in the area

Dunbar Golf Club (1.5 miles)
Coast to Coast Surf School (2 miles)
Victoria Harbour (2.3 miles)
John Muir's Birthplace (2.3 miles)
Dunbar Leisure Pool (2.3 miles)
Belhaven Brewery (2.9 miles)
Belhaven Fruit Farm (3.7 miles)
East Links Family Park (3.9 miles)
Foxlake Adventures (4.8 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Broxburn

Location type: Village

Nearest town: Dunbar

OS Grid: NT711773

Country: Scotland

Local Authority: East Lothian

Nearest postcode: EH42 1SL

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Stuff you might want for the beach!

(Or après-beach. Or pre-beach. Or, just because you might want stuff)

Visitor information for Whitesands, East Lothian, Scotland. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

British Beaches is a Good Stuff website.

18.97.9.173 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:29:02 +0100