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 25 beaches in Ayrshire, or have a look at our list of Ayrshire dog friendly beaches, or even our United Kingdom Blue Flag beach list.
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:
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, places to stay and eat:
- Boydston beach, also known as Ardrossan beach, is a sandy beach with a view across to Arran.Ardrossan has a harbour, shops and multiple options to eat something.
- Turnberry beach is a sandy beach which runs north along the coast from the village of Turnberry and alongside Turnberry golf course and hotel to the Turnberry Point lighthouse. To access the beach, its southern end can be reached from the car park in the village of Turnberry, whilst the northern end there is a track across the golf course to the lighthouse and beach from a roadside parking area off the A719. Facilities at the beach include parking, toilets and post office at the southern Turnberry village end.
- Ayr South beach is a large sandy beach between the River Doon to the south and the River Ayr. Facilities include Parking, toilets and food outlets.
- The Salt Cot is a Wetherspoon pub in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire. Our pub offers a range of real ales, craft beers and freshly ground Lavazza coffee. Breakfast is served until noon, with our full food menu available until 11 pm.
- Culzean beach is a small sandy beach where access is on foot with parking, toilets and shop within the Culzean country park.
- Maidens Turnberry beach is thought to be named from The Maidens of Turnberry, a series of rocks in Maidenhead Bay which have became an extension to Maidens harbour wall. This is a sandy beach that curves in the bay northwards away from the harbour and village of Maidens.
- Brodick Castle was the ancient seat of the Dukes of Hamilton although a fortress has been on the site since at least the fifth century on account of its strategic position on the Firth of Clyde. The castle is open to the public during the summer, with Brodick Country Park open all year round, from the gardens you can enjoy spectacular views over Brodick Bay to the Ayrshire coast. The country park has over 10 miles of waymarked trails and abundant wildlife, and well-behaved dogs are welcome on leads in the gardens and country park, except the walled garden.
- At the Burns Cottage Museum, you will be able to see where Burns and his family lived along with their farm animals.
- Barassie beach is a sandy beach backed by grass areas to the north of Troon Harbour and has views of the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran. The beach is an extension to Troon North Sands. Barassie beach is a popular for watersports including kitesurfing, windsurfing and sailing. Facilities include parking, toilets and grassy areas.
- Dean Castle (also known as is Kilmarnock Castle) is a 14th-century castle situated in the Dean Castle Country Park in Kilmarnock with scenic paths and trails.
- Blackwaterfoot is small village with a harbour overlooking Drumadoon Bay. The beach is a large flat sandy beach and is popular for horse riding.
- Croy beach also known as Maybole shore,is a long sandy beach with plenty of room for everybody. Popular with windsurfers and land yachters. Car parking available by the beach.
