Girvan Beach

Girvan is one of Ayrshire’s most popular beaches, and the town offers a variety of traditional seaside activities.  The beach is mostly sandy, although heading southwards down the coast, away from the harbour, it turns to a mixture of pebbles at the top of the beach and sand closer to the water.

Immediately opposite the beach the spectacular granite rockface of Ailsa Craig, now a bird reserve,  looms out of the water. There are also excellent views out over the Firth of Clyde, as far as the Isle of Arran and beyond that, the Mull of Kintyre Peninsula is sometimes visible on a clear day. From the beach there are also good views of the mountains to the south of Girvan. Seals can occasionally be spotted bobbing up and down in the waters close to the harbour.

At the northern end of the beach, where the pretty working harbour is found, there is a small boating lake. From here, a bench-lined promenade runs southwards alongside the beach, which is backed by plenty of green spaces, including stair park.  There are plenty of suitable spots for a picnic.

Roadside parking is available alongside much of the beach, which can be accessed via stairs or a slipway. Facilities such as toilets and cafes can be found at the northern end in the Quay Zone, which also contains a swimming pool, gym, and children’s play area. There are quite a few shops and places to eat in the town centre of Girvan, not far from the harbour.

Girvan railway station, about half a mile from the beach, offers direct rail services to Glasgow.