One of Moray’s most popular beaches has retained its ‘clean water’ status from the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).
Lossiemouth’s East Beach has been described in the Society’s latest Good Beach Guide ratings as being “prized for its unspoiled golden sands” that continues to be popular in particular with surfers and walkers.
The Moray attraction is one of 54 sites in Scotland that has been praised in the MCS annual report after undergoing a series of tests last year.
Overall the report has given recommended status to more beaches in Scotland than it has been able to do for 27 years.
MCS Scotland’s programme manager Calum Duncan said: “It is great news that in Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup year we are able to recommend more beaches than ever, showing just how good water quality at Scotland’s beaches can be.
“The main challenge now is maintaining these standards, whatever the weather.
“Most people do not realise what a big impact the weather can have on bathing water quality, but this has really been highlighted in the last few years.”
A spokesman for the Lossiemouth Community Council welcomed the findings of the report for the local beach that was designated as a bathing water in 2008.
He said: “We are delighted that the East Beach has retained its rating this year. As a community Lossiemouth is very proud of our beach and that was shown when so many volunteers turned out to clear it up after the exceptional storms at the end of 2012.
“The report underlines the fact that Lossiemouth remains very much the ‘Jewel of the Moray Firth'”