Find the nearest Beaches in Ayrshire
Planning a trip to the Ayrshire coast and looking for where the nearest beach is, our beach lists will help you discover the nearest beach to me. Then for each beach, we will answer questions around location, rural or town, sandy or pebble, rockpools, tide times, weather forecast, dog restrictions, bathing water quality, closest beach cafes and provide general information on the beach and its facilities.
When on a beach page use our tools to search nearby Ayrshire seaside towns and the surrounding coast for things to see and do or places to stay and eat.
If you are looking for an award-winning beach then you can browse our Blue Flag lists or Seaside Award lists.
Finding the right beach in Ayrshire is easy – simply explore the beach links below, to find the closest hit the jump to my location compass or use the search bar to plan where your next Ayrshire beach visit should be.
- Stevenston beach is a Local Nature Reserve that has a dynamic and continually changing dune system.
- 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.
- Blackwaterfoot is small village with a harbour overlooking Drumadoon Bay. The beach is a large flat sandy beach and is popular for horse riding.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 archaeology, costume, transport, culture and country life with a reconstructed traditional Ayrshire cottage interior. After the turn of the twentieth century and the decline of salt panning in the town, Saltcoats became increasingly popular as a holiday destination.
- Pencil beach is a sandy beach named after the monument that commemorates the Battle of Largs 1263. The beach is more popular with sailing and has a club and marina. Good launching facilities.
- 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.
- Fairlie beach is on the eastern shore of the Firth of Clyde and looks across to the Isle of Arran and the Cumbraes. The beach here is a mix of sand, shingle and rocks.
- Newtown beach at Millport on Cumbrae Island is a beach of sand in a sheltered bay harbour and old pier.
- 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.
