Ayrshire many miles of scenic coastline steeped in history

Ayrshire is in the South West of Scotland and has many miles of scenic coastline steeped in history and home to some famous Open Championship golf courses!

This is the Clyde Coast and it offers travellers superb food, great accommodation and a vast array of outdoor activities topped with ancient castles, busy market towns and rugged countryside. It's ancient history dates back to the Bronze Age.

Tour Dumfries House for an idea of what a stately home in Scotland looks like!

Visitors are attracted by the majestic mountains, the Firth of Clyde and the historic stones. In the Firth of Clyde lies the Isle of Arran better known by locals as 'Mini Scotland' because of its lochs, mountains, hills and stunning coast. Here you'll find lots of places to visit like the local distillery, museums, craft and food markets and castles. Sports are popular here with paragliding or orienteering on offer and Celtic myths and legends to enjoy back in the warmth of your hotel or bed and breakfast.


Why not check beaches nearby as we have 26 beaches in Ayrshire. You can even take a look at our list of Ayrshire dog friendly beaches or even our United Kingdom Blue Flag beach list.

Ayrshire Coast Map

Ayrshire Coast Search Bar

Where would you like to go? Use our search bar to search across all our local listings, ideal for finding that nearest spot to visit:

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Want some ideas on where to visit?

Every favourite location must be visited for the first time. Want some ideas, why not check out the below small selection of coastal locations, including beaches, activities, things to see and do, and places to stay and eat:

Beach

Saltcoats Beach

Saltcoats sandy beach is popular along with local walks and cycle-paths. Saltcoats name is derived from the town’s earliest industry when salt was harvested from the sea water. The harbour built in 1680 ensured the town developed as a port trading in salt, fish and coal. The North Ayrshire Museum displays relics of the towns nautical past and on the Read more…
Landscape and Nature

Ailsa Craig

Ailsa Craig is an island of 219.69 acres in the outer Firth of Clyde where blue hone granite was quarried to make curling stones. The now uninhabited island is 2 miles (3 km) in circumference and rising to 1,110 feet (340 m), the island consists entirely of the volcanic plug of an extinct volcano. Read more…
Things to see and do

Isle of Arran Heritage Museum

The Isle of Arran Heritage Museum is a museum dedicated to the social history and geology of Arran, situated north of Brodick. Opened to the public in 1979, the museum was once the site of a village school and now comprises a collection of several buildings where the exhibits are displayed. On-site there are also gardens to stroll around or Read more…
Craig-Tara-beach

Craig Tara Beach

Craig Tara beach is a long sandy with rocks and the beach is backed by a holiday park. Car parking. Read more…
Girvan-beach

Girvan Beach

Girvan beach is a mile long wide sandy beach backed by large grass areas, with the beach stretching away from the harbour pier and it is just a short stroll into the town. The is one of the most popular beaches in Ayrshire and has the facilities you would expect in and around Girvan itself. There are options to park at Read more…
History and heritage

Arran Heritage Museum

The Heritage Museum has exhibits reflecting the social history, archaeology and geology of the island of Arran. Read more…
Things to see and do

Machrie Moor

Machrie Moor is an ancient site of no less than six Bronze Age stone circles near the village of Machrie on the Isle of Arran in western Scotland. The most well-known Neolithic structures are the Standing Stones, which date back to 2,500 years ago. Machrie is also where you can find the Kings Cave which Robert the Bruce was supposed Read more…
Things to see and do

Scottish Maritime Museum

The Scottish Maritime Museum is a museum to Scotland’s seafaring heritage and is based on two sites. One is the Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank in Dumbarton and the second site is in the Linthouse Building on the harbourside of Irvine in North Ayrshire. In Irvine, visitors can explore exhibitions and ship models, the Linthouse Engine Shop as well as Read more…
Boydston-beach

Boydston Beach

Boydston beach, also known as Ardrossan North Shore is a sandy beach with a view across to Arran. Ardrossan has a harbour, shops and multiple options to eat something. Read more…
Cathedral-of-the-Isles

Cathedral of the Isles

The Cathedral of the Isles is a Scottish Episcopal Church in Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae, North Ayrshire. Built in the mid 19th century, the cathedral was designed by William Butterfield and opened in 1851. It is the tallest building on Great Cumbrae and is surrounded by formal gardens and woodland. It is also known as the smallest cathedral Read more…
History and heritage

Alloway Kirk

The Alloway Auld Kirk, which dates back to the 16th Century, is now a ruin but celebrated as the scene of the witches’ dance in the poem Tam o’ Shanter by Robert Burns. William Burnes, father of the poet, is buried in the graveyard. Read more…
Beach

Seamill Beach

Seamill beach a small sandy beach with some rocks backed by a grassy area. Read more…
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