The world-famous online travel guide, Tripadvisor, has selected the ancient Scottish fishing port of Nairn and the Dorset seaside town of Weymouth as two of its Top 10 ‘emerging destinations.’ It means that the attractive British seaside destinations are being recommended in the same breath as the exclusive luxury resort of Porto Cervo in Italy and sun-soaked Todos Santos on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

First on the list is the resort of Garmish-Patenkirchen which offers "gorgeous glacier-top skiing" on Germany’s highest mountain, second comes the snorkelling paradise of Dangriga in the Central American country of Belize, with its azure blue waters and third is the bustling city of Rosario in Argentina.

Weymouth comes fourth in the list of hotspots singled out by Tripadvisor editors on the basis of increased internet searches.

"Visit Weymouth’s beautiful beaches before the 2012 Summer Olympic arrive," the company says in an e-mail to its 47 million subscriber members. "Shoppers flock to Hope Square and Brewers Quay".

Tripadvisor said the town, which boasts a picturesque 17th century harbour and World Heritage coastline has seen a dramatic increase in popularity. Nairn, ranked ninth in the top ten, is, says the guide: "Sunnier than towns just a few miles away, Nairn boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses, plus jazz and film festivals."

It goes on to highlight the most alluring features of the town, once described as ‘The Brighton of Scotland,"  including Nairn Beach with its attractive promenade, Cawdor Castle, perhaps the most romantic castle in the Highlands and home since the 14th century of the Thanes of Cawdor who included Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Culloden Battlefield, the site of the final confrontation of the Bonnie Prince Charlie’s uprising in 1745.

Patricia Yates, Strategy and Communications Director for VisitBritain said: “It’s wonderful to see travellers appreciating Nairn’s historic connections along with Weymouth’s beautiful beach and old-fashioned English hospitality. What’s more, Weymouth will soon secure its place on the global stage when it hosts the sailing events for the 2012 Olympic Games when VisitBritain will be promoting the town worldwide."