IT IS one of Scotland’s most iconic beaches, made famous by the opening scene in the award-winning movie Chariots of Fire. But 19 years after becoming the first beach in Scotland to be awarded a Blue Flag, the West Sands at St Andrews has been stripped of the coveted status. The university town’s East Sands, which gained the award only last year, has also lost the prestigious designation.

The golden sands of Fife, however, continue to reign supreme in the contest to secure the right to fly the internationally- acclaimed Blue Flag with six of the record-equalling eight Scottish beaches awarded the coveted status sited in the kingdom. Leven Beach, Aberdour Silver Sands, Burntisland and Elie Ruby Bay have all retained their Blue Flag status, while Elie Harbour beach has re-entered the list with Kinghorn’s Pettycur Bay a new entry. Coldingham Bay, in the Borders, has gained a Blue Flag for the third year in succession and Broughty Ferry, on the banks of Tay estuary near Dundee, has been added to the list.

A total of 61 Scottish beaches – from Machrihanish, in Argyll, to St Ninian’s Isle on Shetland – have been granted Seaside Award status this year, in recognition of the high standards of their cleanliness, safety and water quality. The total is five more than last year and also a record-equalling total. The new list of resort awards, published by the charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, also includes an Edinburgh beach for the first time – Portobello.