If it is a vast stretch of golden sand you’re looking for then Saltcoats Beach 
is for you (map) (streetview). We went for a wild & windy dog walk on Saltcoats Beach, nr Ardrossan, Strathclyde back in September 2016. We got blown inside out and returned to the car with hair like Rod Stewart, bright eyes and sand blasted cheeks.
Saltcoats is a small town on the west coast of North Ayrshire, with reasonably good facilities, but it was the sandy bay that attracted me and Hoover whilst we were staying with Cousin Mavis in Kilwinning for few days. This is a dog friendly beach where our four-legged friends are welcome year-round. There is ample parking on the roadside or in the free car park, which is located right on the prom.
The bay is shallow and it is said that you can walk out into the sea as far as 100m, which suited Hooves as he’d rather frolic in the surf like Bo Derek (showing my age there!) than swim in the sea.
Other beaches in the area where dogs are permitted are:
- 1. Barassie
- 2. Ganavan
- 3. Gourock West Bay
- 4. Heads of Ayr
- 5. Machrihanish
- 6. Millport. Cumbrae
- 7. Prestwick
- 8. Seamill
