More than two dozen beaches across the north and north-east have been named winners of the Scottish Seaside Awards.
The accolades, presented by Keep Scotland Beautiful, reward the efforts of beach managers and communities for maintaining high standards throughout the year.
Nearly half of the 60 beaches that received the prestigious award are in the north and north-east, including West Sandwick in Shetland, Aberdeen, Peterhead Lido, Balmedie and Brora.
The beach at Nairn Leisure Resort received the accolade for the 22nd consecutive year, and Dornoch also kept up its impressive record of 21 wins.
Judges assess a range of factors, including safety, environmental management and good water quality when drawing up their final list of winners.
Keep Scotland Beautiful’s chief executive Derek Robertson said: “Beaches are an important asset to communities and their economies. It is vital that our coastlines are maintained to the highest standards to continue to attract visitors from near and far. Keep Scotland Beautiful will continue its work to ensure that Scotland’s beaches offer a great day out.
“From bustling promenades to secluded bays, our beaches have something for everyone to enjoy. It is greatly encouraging that such high standards are being kept throughout Scotland.”
Aberdeen City Council’s communities, housing and infrastructure committee convener Neil Cooney said he was delighted the city beach had impressed judges for the eighth year in a row.
He said: “We are lucky in Aberdeen to have such a long, gorgeous sandy beach right on our doorstep and only a short walk from the city centre.
“It’s fantastic that Keep Scotland Beautiful has recognised the hard work Aberdeen City Council does to keep the area looking beautiful, for the use of residents and tourists alike.”
To see the list of beaches which made the cut this year www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/beachawards