The Caribbean may be out of your budget this year, but if you want a beach break that’s a little closer to home, you might want to consider this stunning UK destination
If you’re looking for a beach getaway on a budget, you might want to consider this UK destination that ‘looks like the Caribbean’ thanks to its white sand beaches and vibrant blue water.
Located on the Isle of Harris in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, Luskentyre Beach is hailed as one of Europe’s most beautiful shorelines. It is one of Harris’ largest stretches of coast and also one of the most jaw-dropping shorelines, even earning it a spot among the UK’s top beaches as per the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. People who live on this remote island are proud to call it home, especially when they can enjoy the beach year-round – often without crowds of tourists.
A woman named Caz took to TikTok to show off the beach’s beauty in a video, leaving viewers wondering if they’re looking at Scotland or a much sunnier destination.
“Scotland? Or the Caribbean?” Caz wrote on the video before sharing clips of her and her friends enjoying a day at the beach.
The video included shots of them all diving into the crystal-clear water and playing football on the shore.
The Isle of Harris has been basking in a spell of good weather, boasting sun-soaked days with warmer temperatures in the run-up to summer.
This welcome change has allowed residents to spend time on their beach ahead of the busy tourist season in the peak of summer.
The video capturing these sunny scenes garnered over 2.5million views in just three days, prompting some viewers to fantasise about enjoying the beach themselves.
However, some remained sceptical about the location of the beach, as they couldn’t quite believe it was right on their doorstep.
“This is not Scotland,” one person said, while another asked: “Where the hell are you finding beaches like this in Scotland.”
Nevertheless, the doubts were quickly put to rest by several people who had visited Luskentyre themselves. These visitors were quick to share their own experiences of the beautiful beach.
“Luv Luskentyre beach it’s gorgeous xx,” declared one fan, while another added: “Scotland! I live in Scotland and me and family went there at one point! Gorgeous place!”
“Just remember, that water is cold enough to send you into shock if you’re not careful,” said another. Meanwhile someone else chimed in with, “Might look like Caribbean but temp is far from it.”
According to Hidden Scotland, late spring and summer are the best times to pay a visit to Luskentyre beach. At this time of year you will get the warmest weather, vital for any successful beach day. The ‘lingering light’ at this time of year also creates beautiful views of the surrounding landscape that are hard to beat.