Locations from Ullapool to St Andrews and Nairn to Portpatrick have featured in the list, which is compiled annually by consumer magazine Which?.
Each place is rated by holidaymakers on a number of features, including scenery, its seafront or pier, beaches, peace and quiet, tourist attractions, shopping, food and drink, parking and value for money.
Scotland’s top-rated coastal destination is described as “wonderfully scenic”, gaining five stars in the seafront, beaches, scenery and tourist attractions categories and four stars for shopping and food and drink.
To give you a clue, this historical university town has roots stretching back to medieval times, is known as the ‘home of golf’, boasts the ruins of an ancient castle and cathedral and is blessed with the sort of golden sandy beaches you find in the tropics.
Best in Scotland
As well as the best in Scotland, the east-coast beauty spot clinched runner up across the whole of the UK.
Nationwide, it wasn’t just the most famous seaside destinations which gained the highest overall scores from the judges.
The poll saw many lesser-known destinations beating more popular tourist hotspots to the top of the league.
Coastal gems from all four nations were featured in the survey, with Bamburgh in Northumberland crowned outright winner with a score of 86 per cent.
Portmeirion in the Gwynedd region of Wales came in at second place with 83 per cent, followed by the historical Fife town of St Andrew in third with 82 per cent.
Portstewart in Derry, the favourite in Northern Ireland, came in at 17th place in the chart with 76 per cent.
Something for everyone
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “From wild, unspoilt stretches of remote coastline to charming traditional bucket-and-spade resorts, the UK’s seaside towns offer something for everyone.
“While you may have your own favourite coastal spot, this year’s survey shows that it’s worth looking beyond the most famous resorts this summer, to the lesser-visited hidden gems in every corner of the UK.”
More than 4,700 people took part in the latest Which? survey, reporting their experiences of UK seaside towns in the last year.
5. Pittenweem, Fife
Pittenweem, a picturesque Scottish fishing village, was popular with visitors, with a rating of 72% and five stars for scenery Photo: Rose Tabberer
6. Oban, Argyll and Bute
Oban received high ratings from visitors, with a total score of 71% and five stars for scenery - it was marked down for parking Photo: Elaine Livingstone
7. Portpatrick, Dumfries and Galloway
Portpatrick is a pretty coastal town on the western shore of the Rhins of Galloway peninsula - with pastel-coloured houses set around a small bay and cliffs as a backdrop, visitors gave it four stars for scenery and a total score of 71% Photo: Cameron Murray
8. Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
Stonehaven, with its picturesque harbour, scored 71% in the chart - visitors gave it four stars in a range of categories, including value for money Photo: Abzee