Beach award highlights benefits of keeping our beaches, forests and land beautiful

With the start of the summer holidays, Loch Morlich is once more celebrating being named as one of Scotland’s most clean, well-managed and sustainable beaches.

The popular Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) site has recently received a 2024 Beach Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful and is again the only fresh water beach to be recognised in the annual awards.

Organised by the Keep Scotland Beautiful charity, the awards assess beaches against criteria that look at information provision, water quality, beach safety and management, facilities, access and cleanliness.

FLS Inverness and Strathspey Area Visitor Services Manager, Carol MacKintosh, said:

“As we gear up for a busy summer this award is a great testament to all the hard work that our staff put in to looking after the site. It also highlights the fact most of our visitors care for the place as much as we do and are careful to leave the beach as clean and tidy as they found it.

“Their conscientious approach makes our jobs that much easier – and was certainly a factor in Loch Morlich winning this award.

“It is a hugely popular site and can be quite challenging to manage during peak periods. We hope with the beach being recognised with this accolade, people will continue to support us in keeping this place one of Scotland’s most beautiful spots.

“Visitors can do this by putting litter in the bin, clearing up after their dogs, using on-site toilets to help us to maintain high water standards and ensuring clean water for all.”

Every beach considered for an award is visited by a trained assessor to ensure that the beach meets the award criteria.

The Keep Scotland Beautiful Beach Award shows the majority of visitors to all of FLS forests display responsible and considerate behaviour. They treat the forests, staff and other visitors with respect – being courteous and considerate, causing no damage, taking their litter home and leaving no trace.

Ms MacKintosh added:

“We’d like to say a big thank you, in advance of the busiest time of the year, to all the people who, by behaving responsibly, will help us to keep our forests looking beautiful and ensure that they continue to be amazing places to visit.

“In addition to asking that visitors use the bins provided or take their litter home for proper disposal or recycling, we advise people to use portable camping stoves instead of lighting fires and to leave trees intact.”

Notes to editors

1. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land. Home - Forestry and Land Scotland.
   
   
2. Media enquiries to media@forestryandland.gov.scot