Summer is a great time of year for a snorkel adventure.
Scotland’s best snorkelling spots have been named(Image: richard johnson / Getty Images)
The “best places to go snorkelling” in Scotland have been revealed. Swimming spots in Argyll, Aberdeenshire, and East Lothian were all singled out.
With July almost over and the end of summer in sight, it is important to make the most of the season while we can. For those looking for a unique activity, Scotland is home to many beauty spots that are perfectly suited for a snorkel.
On Tuesday, July 22, The Times published a list of the top destinations around Scotland for snorkelling. A total of five scenic spots for a snorkel are featured on the roundup.
The best snorkelling spot in Scotland according to The Times is Loch Craignish. The attractive sea loch is found on the mid-Argyll coast, between Oban and the Crinan Canal.
Loch Craignish is a gateway to the Isle of Jura sound, and is known for featuring in the 1963 James Bond movie From Russia With Love. The loch is described as a “great site for beginners” by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, with plenty for swimmers to discover in the seagrass bed close to the shore.
According to The Times, the loch is bursting with “colour and life”. It also praised the Seawilding rewilding project, which is the first community-based native oyster and seagrass restoration project in the UK.
Scotland, Ardfern, Loch Craignish. Sailboats at anchor near the marina.(Image: Emily_M_Wilson / Getty Images)
The newspaper wrote: “Twenty-five miles south of Oban, Loch Craignish is home to seagrass and native oyster restoration projects by the Seawilding rewilding project, a community-led initiative. Now packed with colour and life, shoals of two-spot gobies dart about.
“If you look closely, you will almost certainly spy a sea slug or two. Access directly opposite the village hall.”
Loch Craignish has also been praised by day trippers, with the beauty spot having an overall rating of 4.7 out of five on Google based on 11 reviews. Previous visitors have described it as “breathtaking” and “spectacular”.
Meanwhile, following behind in second place on The Times’ roundup is High Shore Beach. The pebble beach is found near the Macduff Marine Aquarium in the Aberdeenshire town of Macduff.
According to the Scottish Wildlife Trust, High Shore Beach offers a wide selection of tide pools to investigate. Snorkellers may be able to spot a variety of interesting species—with octopuses found there in the past.
The newspaper stated: “Rocky fingers project out to sea, hosting a maze of kelp-filled gullies that are part of the Moray Firth Snorkel Trail. Look for the red eyes of a nimble velvet swimming crab, or slow-moving starfish between the rocks.”
The waters around the Scottish Seabird Centre were named the third best spot for snorkelling in Scotland(Image: Photo © Richard Sutcliffe (cc-by-sa/2.0))
Coming in at number three on The Times’ list is the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick. As stated by the newspaper, the attraction is one of five sites situated along the East Lothian Snorkel Trail.
The Scottish Seabird Centre was praised for being suited to both beginner snorkellers and those with more experience.
According to The Times, less advanced swimmers can investigate the sizeable shallow tidal pool beneath the attraction and those looking for more of a challenge can try the rocky gullies on the headland.
The full list of Scotland’s “best places to go snorkelling” can be found on The Times website.