Ruby Bay by Elie is the only beach in Scotland to win coveted Blue Flag status this year.
Keep Scotland Beautiful announced the country’s best beaches, with 60 of the cleanest and best-managed earning Seaside Awards.
Only Ruby Bay was deemed good enough to earn Blue Flag status, an internationally recognised standard of quality given to only the best beaches.
Several other beaches in Fife earned Seaside Awards, including Anstruther and St Andrews’ East and West Sands.
Broughty Ferry, Carnoustie, Monifieth, Arbroath and Montrose also won Seaside Awards.
Fife depute provost Kay Morrison said: “To have so many coastal awards is a fantastic achievement for all concerned, and reflects the hard work and commitment of the council, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust and communities throughout Fife.
“There are some really innovative pieces of work happening along Fife’s coast that all contribute to delivering an award winning coastline year after year.”
Yesterday was the start of Scotland’s official bathing water season, and also marked the introduction of a new method of measuring water quality.
Under the EU Bathing Water Directive, water quality will be judged over a rolling four-year period, rather than simply based on samples taken during a single day.
Electronic messaging signs will warn bathers if entering the water is not advised, while the Sepa (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) website will carry details of the levels of bacteria such as E coli found in the water.
Calum McPhail, unit manager in environmental quality with Sepa, who will be responsible for collecting water samples, said: “Of course we’re hoping for good weather this summer, not just so we can get out and enjoy our beaches but also because heavy rain is always the biggest threat to water quality.
“Microbial source tracking techniques are available to us in-house to help identify pollution sources, so that they can be traced and tackled.”
Scottish Government Environment Minister Dr Aileen McLeod said: “We will continue to work to ensure our bathing waters are of good quality for the Scottish public and our many visitors to enjoy.”