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:
- Troon’s North Sands beach is a sandy beach with a large grass area behind.Popular kitesurfing and windsurfing beach along with Troon’s South beach.Facilities include car parking, shops, pub, cafe and toilets.
- Prestwick Holiday Park, KA9 1UH, is situated straddling the two blonde sandy beaches of Troon and Prestwick, both of which are about three miles long. The Park is well maintained and has new Willerby Holiday Homes for sale, with central heating and double glazing. We accommodate motor homes and touring caravans on flat grassy pitches. These have water, drainage and electrics and are £20 per night, per pitch. St. Andrew’s House is in the centre of the holiday park and has two apartments for rental. The South Wing of St. Andrew’s House sleeps 4 (1 double, 1 twin). The North Wing sleeps 6 (2 doubles, 1 twin). It is also possible to book the Double Suit on the ground floor as an extra bedroom, sleeps 2. We are adjacent to the Coastal Walking Route 7 and the National Cycling Route 7. Close to Prestwick International Airport, where the train departs to Glasgow Central every half hour. Our immediate neighbours are Royal Troon Golf Course and Old Prestwick, where The Open was established.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Blackwaterfoot is small village with a harbour overlooking Drumadoon Bay. The beach is a large flat sandy beach and is popular for horse riding.
- Craig Tara beach is a long sandy with rocks and the beach is backed by a holiday park. Car parking.
- The Pub on Prestwick Holiday Park is open from March to October, Monday to Friday from 4pm, all day Saturday and Sunday. Has a warm welcome and a roaring fire on a cold day. Serving breakfast at the weekend and on a Sunday, a Sunday Roast. What ever the weather there is something for all, be it cocktails, coffee, cold drinks, ice cream, or hot food to sit in or take way. Regular entertainment at the weekend, guest artists, Karaoke, Bingo and charity nights. Adjacent to the Coastal Walking Route 7, on the National Cycle Path Route 7. Set between Royal Troon Golf Course (The 9th Green) and Old Prestwick, where The Open was originally conceived.
- Troon’s South Sands beach is a long and wide sandy beach with a promenade and some grass areas behind. Popular kitesurfing and windsurfing beach along with Troon’s North beach. Facilities include car parking, shops, pub, cafe, toilets, and promenade. As you head south on the beach the houses end and you are backed by the Royal Troon Golf Club. Founded in 1878 with just 5 holes, and extended to become an 18 hole course in 1886, and it first held the Open Championship in 1923.
- Prestwick beach is a long sandy beach with views over to Isle of Arran. The beach extends out of Prestwick and is then backed by Prestwick Golf Club, birthplace of the Open Championship. If walking northwards along the beach it is possible to paddle across the Pow burn at low-tide to Troon South Sands.
- 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.
