Children on donkeys at St Andrews Beach in July 1961.placeholder image
Children on donkeys at St Andrews Beach in July 1961. | TSPL

Scotland Beach Heritage in Pictures: Here are 27 amazing photos of Scottish beach life in the 1950s and 1960s

You don’t get crowds like this on Scottish beaches these days.

When you think of perfect white sands and turquoise waves lapping the shore, Scotland may not be the first place that comes to mind.

But we have an almost endless supply of beautiful beaches – including many which could easily be mistaken for a spot in the Caribbean (although the water temperature should soon bring you back to your senses).

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From island sands to city beaches, and coral bays to famous filming locations, the Scottish coastline really does have it all.

Before cheap overseas package holidays became commonplace in the 1950s and 1960s Scots were far more limited as to where to go on summer holidays.

It means that over half a century ago far more people opted to stay at home and enjoy day trips on sunny days, with train travel opening up much of the country before the Beeching cuts were to take their toll.

Even those who went away for a holiday tended to stick closer to home, with the beaches of Fife, Edinburgh and Scotland's west coast particularly popular for a family break.

It meant that large crowds on Scottish beaches were a common occurance, with tourists battling to get their perfect spot.

Here are 27 pictures of those bygone days.

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