The West Sands has gained world fame from the movie "Chariots of Fire". In the opening scene, as the British Olympic team is training, they run along the West Sands. Sadly the movie wrongly credits the scene to Broadstairs, Kent.

The West Sands beach is one of the top rated beaches in Scotland. At its northern end lies the estuary of the river Eden, which was at one time a shipping port. At the southern end lies the town. It was allegedly while walking between town and port along the links ("linking" town to port) that golf developed. Behind the sand dunes lie the main golf courses.