UK travellers have stumbled upon a hidden gem reminiscent of the Great Barrier Reef along the British coastline.
Reef Beach, or Traigh na Beirghe as its locally termed, boasts stunning stretches of sand and mesmerisingly clear waters.
The breathtaking site lies on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, and has recently garnered attention due to footage shared by British explorer Tom Wheaton.
The azure waters and scenic islets surrounding the beach were showcased in a video he uploaded to his Instagram account, known as @brit_abroad.
For those not in the know, the Isle of Lewis forms the northern part of Lewis and Harris, which is the largest island in the Scottish archipelago.
An idyllic destination especially during the summer months, many are familiar with its principal town Stornoway famed for its quaint harbour and array of pubs catering to tourists‘ needs, reports the Mirror.
Tom captioned his April Instagram post with astonishment: “CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS IS IN SCOTLAND. Reef Beach, Isle Of Lewis, Scotland.”
The visuals from Toms videography gripped social media users, showcasing just how stunning Reef Beach truly is. Among the comments, we saw Lady Garnet Rose exclaim, “Wow, just wow!”
Expressions of surprise continued with Robyn’s dry humor, “That water must be lovely and warm,” and Wildersome added their thoughts, stating, “Beautiful! Defo up there on my must travel list.”
The enchantment was unified with Bertygir1’s remark, who recalled her first visit: “The first time to visit this amazing place was last year. I was blown away with its beauty, absolutely stunning.”
The beach has received glowing reviews from previous visitors, earning a coveted five-star rating on Tripadvisor.
Travellers have lavished praise on the stunning white sands and picturesque scenery of the area, with one user named Hercules saying: “There is plenty of parking. There is a reasonably short walk down to the beach. It is dog friendly. There is white sand and turquoise seas.
“The views are amazing, a photographer’s paradise. There was some mist on one day we visited and it was ethereal. There is a peaceful cemetery nearby, what a wonderful site.”
Another beach-goer, Sarah, commented: “Absolutely stunning white sands with barely a person in sight. So peaceful for a walk on the beach. Make sure you drive the full loop around this part of the island it takes about 20 minutes.
“It passes kneep, and reef beach and there are some amazing views and hidden treasures.”
Echoing these sentiments, PThomas added: “This is another of the glorious white sand beaches on the Valtos peninsula. You might think, once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, but that isn’t true. They each have their own character.
“In my opinion, Reef Beach is the closest you might find to something in the Maldives. Sheltered, peaceful and low lying islands. There’s a couple of car parks, one with toilets, and you’ll probably find you have the beach to yourself. Possibly the highlight of my trip to Lewis and Harris.”
Finally, Jen weighed in: “A spectacular beach! Beautiful white sands and stunningly blue water. Perfect for a swim and a picnic. I would travel for miles to visit this beach!”