Monifieth Beach

Two miles of sand and shingle that face the Tay Estuary - Monifieth Beach is the kind of place you stumble upon rather than deliberately visit, which is precisely why it works so well. The shoreline here has real character: rock pools at low tide, patches of mussel beds, and wide open views across to Broughty Ferry on the Fife side. It's a proper working beach too, with fishermen launching boats and locals actually using it rather than just photographing it.

Walkers get the most from Monifieth. The coastal path is excellent, and you can easily combine this with exploring Tayport just across the water. Families with young kids might find it a touch industrial in places - there's a boatyard and some light industrial units nearby - but the actual beach itself is fine, and the rockpool hunting keeps under-tens occupied for a good hour. The sand can be muddy depending on tides, so pack a change of shoes.

It's completely free and open year-round, though winter storms can be dramatic here. Allow a couple of hours if you're combining it with nearby walks. The Tay Coast has real appeal as a quieter alternative to the busier Fife beaches, and it sits perfectly between Tayport Links Caravan Park and Larick Campsite - both top-rated locally. If you're based at either, this is an easy fifteen-minute walk. Worth going out of your way for? Only if coastal walks appeal. But if they do, you'll find it far less crowded than Tentsmuir down the coast.