Your pictures of Scotland's award-winning beaches
- Published
This shot of West Sands at St Andrews - Chariots of Fire style - was taken by John Pow.
The number of beaches meeting the criteria for a Scottish beach award has risen this year.
Prestwick in South Ayrshire and Yellowcraig in East Lothian join a list of 61 beaches from across Scotland.
Dougie and Javier made the most of the bank holiday weather at Troon. Pic by Maribel Leiva.
Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful assesses beaches on accessibility, cleanliness and signage, but not water quality.
Fife has 15 award-winning beaches - the most in the county. The Highlands is second with 12.
We've gathered together the pictures you've sent us from some the beaches that made the list.
Keep Scotland Beautiful said the annual Scottish Beach Awards celebrated some of the "best-managed beaches in the country".
John Wilson sent this of Ozzie, the Scottie, gathering a souvenir on Kingsbarns Beach on a day out.
Yellowcraig returns to the list after not qualifying last year.
Gullane Bents in East Lothian and St Andrews West Sands in Fife have qualified for the award every year for the last 26 years.
And Aberdour Silver Sands, Fife, and Nairn Central in the Highlands have been recognised by the charity for 25 consecutive years.
Fiona McGregor says Yellowcraig was looking calm but this surfer was heading for some big waves.
Labradoodle Betty is also a fan of Yellowcraig beach. Pic sent in by Claire McVicar
Derek Robertson, chief executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: "Now in their 26th year, the Scottish Beach Awards help to set the standard for our stunning coastlines and inland shores - making sure that they provide visitors with litter-free sand, excellent amenities and helpful information about water quality.
"Organisations from all across Scotland have been working hard to ensure that the beach continues to provide a great day out for all the family alongside benefitting people's health, wellbeing and local economies."
A silhouette at sunset of Beth Cairns, taken at Carnoustie beach by Mary Cairns.
Although beaches are not assessed on their water quality, they must provide information about it as part of the award criteria.
R McLean sent us this shot of a surfer giving the golf a miss at Cruden Bay.
A snowy scene this time looking over the shore at Embo in Sutherland, taken by Michelle Bonthrone.
Amy Galbraith sent us this picture of Cooper enjoying the beach at Prestwick.
The view over Maidens on the west coast was captured by Jim Edgar.
This "ice ray" in the pebbles was taken by Audrey Doherty on a visit to a chilly Lunan Bay.
Not all the action takes place on the shore, or indeed the water. Neill Cooper says these kite surfers at Pettycur Bay spent more time in the air.
A high tide and a deserted Coldingham Bay captured from above by Chris Spowart.
You can send us your beach pictures - or any other great shots from around Scotland - for our weekly gallery here.