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SANDS GREAT

White sand beach in the UK so beautiful that it gets mistaken for Thailand

Plus, the other pretty beaches nearby
An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows White sand beach with turquoise water and green grass under a blue sky, Image 2 shows Red fishing boat off Berneray island

A BEAUTIFUL beach in the UK is often mistaken for being in Thailand - just because it is that pretty.

Back in 2009, a picture of West Beach on the Isle of Berneray was mistaken for Kai Bae beach in Thailand, after it was included in a tourist campaign.

White sand beach with turquoise water and dunes.
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The Berneray Beach is about three miles longCredit: Alamy
Kai Bae beach in Koh Chang, Thailand.
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Kai Bae Beach, pictured above, also features white sandCredit: Alamy

The Hebridean beach features white sands, pristine waters and mountains in the distance - which lead to the confusion that it was in Thailand.

At the time of the incident, the image was thought to have been taken off the internet to save someone travelling to Kai Bae for the campaign.

Even though the beach misses out on coconut groves, its beauty makes visitors feel as if they are in Thailand.

In 2022, Lonely Planet also shortlisted the beach on their top 20 beaches in Europe list.

Read more on beaches

In their description of the beach, Lonely Planet wrote: "West Beach on the wee isle of Berneray is divine. Through dunes and wind-bent machair grasses, you reach this ravishing three-mile expanse of white sand, sliding gently into a turquoise sea."

Located on the Isle of Berneray, the beach's white sands are made up from broken shells, that have over time been ground down.

Machair, which is low-lying grassland, can be found running parallel to the beach and is the ideal spot for walking.

Whilst swimming is possible, the beach does experience large waves making it more of a surfing spot.

To get to the beach, there is a car park by the island's village hall.

From here, visitors should see a small hill that is usually covered in wild flowers.

W Edinburgh Crowned Scotland's Hotel of the Year 2025

This leads down to sand dunes that boast amazing views of the expansive beach.

However, from here it is a steep climb down to the beach.

The whole island of Berneray is only 10 square kilometres, meaning it is possible to walk around the entire island within a few hours.

A gander around the island will also take in East beach, as well as Queen's beach.

There are a number of other things visitors can do on the island including seal spotting in Blackhill village.

In addition, there is a causeway that connects Berneray to North Uist making it possible to the island.

There is also a ferry to Leverburgh, which leaves two to three times a day in the winter and between three and five times a day in the summer.

Read More on The Sun

The World's 50 Best Beaches

The World's Best Beaches consulted more than 750 judges including travel journalists, influencers, and beach ambassadors to rank the beaches.

  1. Lucky Bay, Australia
  2. Source D'Argent, Seychelles
  3. Hidden, Philippines
  4. Whitehaven, Australia
  5. One Foot, Cook Islands
  6. Trunk, US Virgin Islands
  7. Honopu, Hawaii
  8. Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland
  9. Navagio Beach, Greece
  10. Balandra, Mexico
  11. Cala Goloritze, Italy
  12. Pipe Creek, Bahamas
  13. Pink, Indonesia
  14. Grace, Turks & Caicos
  15. Gardner, Ecuador
  16. Mcway, California
  17. Turquoise, Australia
  18. Le Morne, Mauritius
  19. Sancho, Brazil
  20. Seven Mile, Cayman Islands
  21. Lanikai, Hawaii
  22. Maya, Thailand
  23. Moro, Spain
  24. Kelingking, Indonesia
  25. Meads, Anguilla
  26. Flamenco, Puerto Rico
  27. Arena, Dominican Republic
  28. Little Hellfire, Australia
  29. Lazio, Seychelles
  30. Vaeroy, Norway
  31. Horseshoe, Bermuda
  32. Myrtos, Greece
  33. Hidden, Mexico
  34. Grand Anse, Grenada
  35. Xpu Ha, Mexico
  36. San Josef, Canada
  37. Matira, French Polynesia
  38. Capriccioli, Italy
  39. Pasjaca, Croatia
  40. Boulders, South Africa
  41. Salines, Martinique
  42. Champagne, Vanuatu
  43. Marinha, Portugal
  44. Balos, Greece
  45. Achmelvich, Scotland
  46. Kaputas, Turkey
  47. Radhangar, India
  48. Varadero, Cuba
  49. Piha, New Zealand
  50. Pink Sand, Bahamas 

These are the best beaches in Scotland according to The Sun's readers.

Plus, Scotland's most underrated islands featuring shipwrecks, whale-watching opportunities and Caribbean-like sand.

White sand beach with turquoise water and green grass under a blue sky.
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There is a car park near to Berneray BeachCredit: Alamy
Aerial view of Kai Bae Beach in Koh Chang, Thailand.
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A tourism board promoting Kai Bae beach, pictured above, in Thailand mistook the Hebridean beach for the Thai destinationCredit: Alamy
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