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, places to stay and eat:

Things to see and do

Dunure Castle

Dunure Castle is located in the village of Dunure on the west coast of Scotland, in South Ayrshire. Dunure Castle is in ruins and sits on a rocky promontory overlooking the small Dunure harbour. The castle consisted of two sections; an irregular shaped keep on the top of a precipitous rock and other buildings at a lower level. A castle Read more…
Culzean-beach

Culzean Beach

Culzean beach is a small sandy beach where access is on foot with parking, toilets and shop within the Culzean country park. Read more…
Troon-North-Sands-beach

Troon North Sands Beach

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. Read more…
Things to see and do

Goat Fell

Goat Fell is the highest peak on the Isle of Arran, Aryshire, Scotland. The peak is at 874 metres (2,866 ft), and is one of the four Corbetts (mountains in Scotland between 2500 and 3000 feet high) on the island. Goatfell is a very popular peak and there are a choice of ascent routes, with the most common and easy Read more…
Landscape and Nature

Kelburn Castle and Estate

Kelburn Castle dates from the 13th century and the Kelburn Estate covers an area of over 3,500 acres, starting at the edge of the sea and rising to a height of 1,300ft.  Some 2000 acres is rough moorland, and 1500 acres of the better land is contained within a 7ft wall that encircles the heart of the estate. The estate 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…
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…
Sports

Ayr Racecourse

Ayr Racecourse is Scotland’s premier course for horseracing and is situated at Whitletts Road in Ayr, Scotland. The course was opened in 1907 and hosts high quality race meetings all year round, both for flat and National Hunt racing. The track is left-handed, oval in shape and thirteen furlongs in circumference. Every Sunday, except on race days, you’ll also find Read more…
Troon-South-Sands-beach

Troon South Sands Beach

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 Read more…
Prestwick-beach

Prestwick Beach

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. Read more…
Dunure-beach

Dunure Beach

Dunure beach is a shingle beach on a rocky shoreline, located in the village of Dunure near Maybole on the coast of the Firth of Clyde. Although Dunure beach is mainly shingle, Dunure also has a lovely small harbour and Dunure Castle and park. Facilities include toilets, picnic site, harbour, pub, shop and post office in Dunure. Car parking options Read more…
Dean-Castle

Dean Castle

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. Read more…
View all

Some more seaside locations in Ayrshire

Alloway Ardrossan Ayr Cumbrae Firth of Clyde Girvan Irvine Isle of Arran Isle of Cumbrae Kilmarnock Largs Maybole New Cumnock Prestwick Saltcoats Troon West Kilbride