Irvine Sunset (Irvine Sunset by Caroline, Irvine)

Beaches and Harbours

Ayrshire is perfect if you are looking for a beach holiday. As with anywhere in Scotland we cannot guarantee the sunshine but when it arrives our beaches are filled with families enjoying a great day out on our sandy, rugged or pebbly beaches. Throughout the year, for the perfect escape, enjoy our coastal walks and unique coastlines whatever the weather.

Ayr beach is predominantly sand and is the perfect place for pic-nics, paddling, sandcastle building and all round family fun. Adjacent facilities include a putting green, crazy golf, children’s play area, indoor soft play and of course Ayr’s Low Green, a vast expanse of grass ideal for team games and family gatherings. Fishing and boat trips are available in and around the harbour area and The National Cycle Route runs along the seafront. There are a number of seating areas along Ayr shorefront, stop at the river Doon around dusk and you might be treated to the otters playing in the river or depending on the time of year, cygnets and ducklings out with their "mums". This particular area is always a popular location with birdwatchers with over 190 species having been spotted here.

Prestwick promenade celebrates it’s centenary this year and is one of the few coastal towns that has neither a harbour or a jetty. The beach area is mainly sand with an area of shingle to the south. There are points along the beach from which small sailing craft can be launched and windsurfing and fishing also takes place. Facilities include a children’s play area, indoor soft play and a putting green. A walk along Prestwick shorefront would take you past Old Prestwick Golf Course, home of the first Open Golf 150yrs ago as well as Prestwick Sailing Club.

Troon shorefront is divided into two beach areas. Barassie shore which is open and exposed to the north, and Troon shore which is curved into a bay shape and so more protected to the south. The two are divided by Troon Harbour, the port for the Seacat, to and from, Belfast. Troon is an excellent location for a great number of water sports. With its excellent marina it provides a good base for sailing in the Firth of Clyde and whenever the wind and tide allow, windsurfers can be seen enjoying the surf. The shorefront has a promenade with seating areas along its length; the lovely Italian Gardens situated to the north should not be missed. As you head south a play park and fun fair attract young children. Royal Troon golf course is at the southern end of the beach, and has been host to the British Open Golf Championships on a number of occasions.

Dunure shorefront has a lovely little harbour, popular with visitors to enjoy an ice-cream by the rocks. The beach is predominately rock and shingle and boasts Dunure Castle sitting upon a rocky outcrop and commanding a panoramic view of the Firth of Clyde. For families with children there is ample grass space to park and play next to the playpark area.

Maidens is a beautiful little coastal village with a lovely long sandy beach and grass foreshore. The harbour today is mainly used by those who sail for pleasure. To the north of the beach is Culzean Castle and Estate. To the south are Port Murray and Turnberry, famous for its golf courses. The village has two caravan parks, a landscaped picnic area and equipped play area. There is also a nearby riding school, which often takes classes down to the beach area. Maidens is an excellent site for ornithologists with the bay forming part of the R.S.P.B. designated Ornithological Site which runs from Girvan Harbour to Maidens.

Girvan harbour has adapted over the years and today boasts leisure fishing, with trips out to sea for visitors to try they're had at catching cod and haddock etc.. There are also boat trips for bird watchers, for those who wish to see Ailsa Craig and for Scuba Diving. Girvan's shorefront is a mixture of sand and shingle with a promenade along its length and large expanses of grassland adjacent. Starting from the northern end at the harbour, you can see an array of sea craft and if you are lucky seals that come in to "fish". During the summer season you can enjoy a boating pond; equipped children's play area and a putting green. Girvan also has Stair Park adjacent to the promenade, which makes the perfect venue for a picnic.

Ballantrae shorefront is a beautiful area to visit, with its mixture of tranquillity and ruggedness. Leisure sailing also takes place. The beach is a mixture of sand and shingle, with to the south an area that has been listed by Scottish Natural Heritage as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (S.S.S.I.). The area is noted for the shingle beach, which provides a habitat to a wide range of coastal plant material, and is home to a breeding colony of birds

Come back to Ayrshire for beaches and harbours.

Come back to Ayrshire.