Scotland draws millions of tourists to its shores each year with a wealth of attractions. Its castles, lochs and natural landscapes attract visitors to the full length and breadth of the country – but one site in particular has gained international attention – because another country tried to claim its beach as its own.
Thailand is famously blessed with a number of gorgeous bays popular with travellers hoping for a relaxing beach getaway. But in promotional material dating from 2009, Thai tourism officials mistakenly identified a Berneray beach as their own. The Scottish island, measuring around 10km2, lies between North Uist and Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
Its West Beach was confused for Kai Bae Beach on Koh Chang island in the south of Thailand. In the background of the image, the hills of Harris are visible, a striking contrast with the beach in the foreground.
A VisitScotland spokesperson told BBC News in 2009: “Here in the Outer Hebrides we are fortunate to have some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, right on our doorstep. They do say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, so although the use of the photo of a beach on the Isle of Berneray to represent a Thai beach is somewhat misleading, I’m sure it is a compliment in disguise.”
Berneray is one of 15 inhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides, located in the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area.
There are 40 of these areas in Scotland which mark out areas of exceptional scenery and protect the locations from inappropriate development.
The island is reportedly littered with sacred sites dating from ancient times, as well as stone circles and signs of Viking life.
This evidence has led many to believe that inhabitants were living on the island from at least the Bronze Age, while its population was calculated at 138 residents in the 2011 census. It has even hosted a royal visit, with the now-monarch King Charles visiting as a prince in 1987.
That year, he appeared on the programme ‘A Prince Among Islands’ with the presenter Selina Scott to learn about crofting, a form of small-scale food production closely associated with the Scottish Highlands and islands.
During his trip to Berneray, the King planted potatoes, cut peat, helped dip sheep and planted trees
He returned in 1999, when he attended the official opening of the new causeway to North Uist.