By Neil Johnstone
Seacliff in East Lothian was named Scotland鈥檚 beach of the year in the 17th edition of the annual guide which was published online today and will appear in print on July 13. Stay on track with all of Edinburgh鈥檚 biggest and latest stories with the Edinburgh Evening News daily newsletter. Award-winning Sunday Times chief travel writer, Chris Haslam, said: 鈥淪eacliff is the beach you wish you鈥檇 found when you were ten: a Scottish stageset where you can be a medieval knight, a Victorian explorer, a ghostbuster or even James Bond. 鈥淗idden at the west end is the smallest harbour in the British Isles. About the size of a hotel pool, it鈥檚 a steampunk fantasy cut out of the sandstone using a steam engine and a compressor in 1890 by laird of the manor Andrew Laidlay.鈥 It was one of eight Scottish beaches to make the list and the only beach within the central belt to feature in the guide. Criteria includes water quality, cleanliness, accessibility, car-parking facilities, lifeguard presence, hygiene levels at restrooms and showers, and dog-friendliness. Other Scottish beaches to make the comprehensive list were: The annual guide lists the UK鈥檚 top 50 beaches from a total of 756. Each beach was visited by Chris Haslam during a month-long campervan tour of the British and Northern Irish coasts.