Best beaches near Glasgow: 11 of the best beaches you need to visit near the city this summer

By Liam Smillie

Digital Reporter

Published 19th Jun 2024, 16:14 BST

Updated 6th May 2025, 11:59 BST

If you’re looking to head to the beach this summer - these are the best beaches you can easily find near Glasgow via train, bus or car!

With sunny weather ahead of us here in Glasgow we’ve come to realise that there may just be one thing that our city is sorely lacking: sandy beaches.

For sure you can enjoy the sun in Kelvingrove Park or the Botanic Gardens, or any one of the many great green jewels of Glasgow - but no summer is complete without at least one trip to the beach.

Just a short jaunt to the west coast via train, bus or car can give you a litany of beaches to choose while there are many seaside and lochside towns and villages that are a short distance from Glasgow.

Here’s our list of the top 12 best beaches towns to visit near Glasgow for your next sunny day trip.

Maidens Beach on the west coast down toward the borders is constantly winning awards from Keep Scotland Beautiful - and for good reason. The sands are immaculate, incredibly well kept, and idyllic, well worth the trip.

1. Maidens Beach, Maidens - 1hr

Maidens Beach on the west coast down toward the borders is constantly winning awards from Keep Scotland Beautiful - and for good reason. The sands are immaculate, incredibly well kept, and idyllic, well worth the trip. | Wikimedia Commons

Need to get to a beach in a hurry? (who doesn’t?) - you can get a train directly from Glasgow Central to Ayr in just under an hour then walk from the train station to the beach in about 5 minutes.

2. Ayr Beach, Ayr - 50mins

Need to get to a beach in a hurry? (who doesn’t?) - you can get a train directly from Glasgow Central to Ayr in just under an hour then walk from the train station to the beach in about 5 minutes. | Visit Scotland

Easily reached from the Ayrshire town of the same name, Prestwick Beach has magnificent views over the Isle of Arran and is known for its spectacular sunsets.

3. Prestwick Beach - 40 mins

Easily reached from the Ayrshire town of the same name, Prestwick Beach has magnificent views over the Isle of Arran and is known for its spectacular sunsets. Photo: Canva/Getty Images

You may have to wrap up warm on the beach at Girvan, but there are some days when the sand is so hot it hurts your feet - the view of Ailsa Craig is worth it though.

4. Girvan Beaches - 1hr 15m

You may have to wrap up warm on the beach at Girvan, but there are some days when the sand is so hot it hurts your feet - the view of Ailsa Craig is worth it though. | John Devlin Photo: John Devlin

Glasgow Seaside

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