Dog-Friendly Holidays Ayrshire

Ardstinchar Mews is a lovely terraced cottage located in the charming coastal village of Ballantrae with fantastic views over the sea. This is the ideal base for not only families but small groups of friends to explore the delights of beautiful Ayrshire and this stunning coastline. The local town of Girvan has been voted the ‘Most Dog Friendly Town in the UK’ and Ardstinchar Mews welcomes your four-legged friends.
The property looks across the mouth of Loch Ryan towards Corsewall Point and Northern Ireland, and Ballantrae itself is a pretty village overlooked by the ruins of Ardstinchar Castle. Guests will find plenty of opportunities for fishing nearby, and during the summer months the village hosts a variety of events. There is a visitor information point to help you plan your days and being situated on the Ayrshire Coastal Path (a fantastic 100 mile walking route), this coastline is steeped in history. Teeming with wildlife, including red squirrels, deer, otters and seals it is also a haven for bird watchers.
Heading north, the seaside town of Girvan with its harbour and leisure centre with a swimming pool, is only a 15-minute drive away and boat trips can be taken out to Ailsa Craig to see the varied birdlife. The towns of Ayr, Troon and Prestwick are all good for a day out, with plentiful restaurants, shops and bars. Heading further down the coast, ferries can be taken over to the islands of Cumbrae, Bute and Arran. Glasgow and Edinburgh are easily accessible for a day out. Further south, you will find Stranraer situated at the head of Loch Ryan. The town has an array of shops and there are plenty of places to dine out. There are many castles and gardens to visit as well as lovely harbour villages including Portpatrick, Drummore and Scotland’s most southerly point at the Mull of Galloway. Beach 500 yards. Shop, pub and restaurant 500 yards.

Originally a retreat, this semi-detached shorefront property offers spacious accommodation. It has a hot tub for six, enjoys fantastic views over the Firth of Clyde and offers the perfect venue for special occasions or large parties.

Situated on the Ayrshire coast only a short walk from the shore, it lies close to the bustling town of Largs with its shops, restaurants and promenade. It is ideally located to explore the islands of Cumbrae, Arran and the Isle of Bute. Ferries also run to Dunoon and the Cowal Peninsula, giving access to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
Ayrshire offers a varying coastline with villages, beaches and rocky coves to explore, and is a perfect location for cyclists and walkers - Skelmorlie heralds the start of the Ayrshire Coastal Path, a 100-mile long coastal walk. Inland, there is walking, cycling, gardens and castles to visit, riding, fishing, racing and a choice of golf courses, including the world famous Turnberry. Culzean Castle Country Park, extending over 550 acres, has a network of wooded trails passing along the beach. Glasgow and Edinburgh are easily reached for a day trip, with rail links available from the town. Beach 100 yards. Shop 500 yards, pub 600 yards and restaurant 6 miles.
The Wee Nunnery can be booked together with The Old Nunnery (UK5250).

Seal Rocks is situated at Lendalfoot and has the most amazing views over the sea to Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran. The sunsets are something to behold and the beach is just a stone’s throw away.
Seal Rocks is just a 10-minute drive away from the seaside town of Girvan where you will find shops, restaurants, and a leisure centre with swimming pool. If you fancy something a bit different you can book a boat trip from Girvan harbour out to Ailsa Craig to see the nesting birds or book a fishing trip. Girvan also has great train links to the city of Glasgow perfect for a day out.
The Ayrshire coastal path runs along the coast and there are numerous sandy beaches to visit and coastal trails to explore. The area is steeped in history, with many ruined castles to explore, such as Dunure, Turnberry and Greenan. The world-famous Turnberry Resort is close by and in addition to golf, has a fantastic spa and outdoor centre. A visit and tour of Culzean Castle, designed by Robert Adams, is one not to be missed with its dramatic clifftop location, as is a trip to the 18th century Dumfries House, part of the Princes Foundation and home to an unrivalled collection of Chippendale furniture. The 2000-acre estate has been beautifully designed with stunning walks throughout the grounds. The pretty seaside towns of Ballantrae, Ayr, Prestwick and Troon are only a short drive away. The islands of Cumbrae and Arran are easily reached for a day out whilst day trips to Ireland can be taken from Cairnryan. Beach 150 yards.

This traditional stone built cottage situated in the coastal village of Maidens lies only yards from the beautiful sandy beach and has the most amazing views from most rooms over towards the Isle of Arran. Guests can follow the beach walk up into Culzean Castle estate with woodland walks through the grounds. The seaside town of Girvan with shops, leisure centre and swimming pool, is only a 5-minute drive away and boat trips can be taken to Ailsa Craig for bird watching. Ayr, Prestwick and Troon are all close by with beautiful sandy beaches and the islands of Arran and Cumbrae and easily reached by ferry and well worth the effort.

Ayrshire, also known as ’Burns Country’, is steeped in tradition and history. Visit Burns Cottage, the Burns Memorial Museum and the Brig o’ Doon, the bridge from the famous poem, Tam o’ Shanter. Inland, the Galloway Forest Park is a short drive away and is Britain’s largest forest park with 300 square miles of wild beauty waiting to be explored. The park boasts tranquil valleys, rugged rock faces, forest, moorland, lochs, ancient woodland and a huge diversity of wildlife including red and roe deer, wild goats and many birds of prey. The park has also been awarded the status of one of only four Dark Sky Parks in the western world and when the sun sets, enthusiasts come to wonder at the universe revealed above. Dalmellington is home to the Scottish Dark Observatory and is only a short drive from the property. Day trips to Ireland can be taken by ferry from Cairnryan. Glasgow and Edinburgh are easily reached for a day out. Beach 20 yards. Shop 50 yards, pub 3 miles and restaurant 100 yards.

Boasting spectacular uninterrupted views over the Firth of Clyde coast and across the sea to the Isle of Arran (pictured), this spacious and exceptionally well-appointed property sits just one mile from the picturesque fishing harbour at Dunure. Keen walkers will delight in roaming the fabulous beaches and rugged coastline whilst golf enthusiasts can play the championship course at Turnberry (10 miles) or one of Ayrshire’s many other courses. At the end of a glorious day, visitors can watch a film in the home cinema/entertainment room or just simply enjoy the ever changing sea view. On the roof of the garden room, which is located behind the cinema room, visitors will find a relaxing hot tub with built in sound system, which is enclosed in glass walls and a roof. There are some wonderful places to visit in the area, including Culzean Castle and Country Park (NT) – the castle boasts magnificent interiors, even the kitchen block was designed by Robert Adams, and the 600 acres of grounds offer a diverse range of habitats for birds and wildlife. Also just 6 miles away is Alloway, the setting for Burns Cottage, the poet’s birthplace. Ferries to the Isle of Arran are readily available as are day trips to Ireland departing from Stranraer. There is a shop and pub serving food in Dunure (1 mile) and the historic town of Ayr offers a good choice of restaurants and shopping, 7 miles. Shop and pub 1 mile.