It took me no time at all to decide on a destination for my first guide on The Unexplored Road. Croy Shore Beach immediately sprung to mind without any hesitation or second-guessing. It’s a place I’ve visited countless times over the years and created many fond memories of its beautiful coastal scenery, spacious sandy stretches and chill atmosphere. Since Croy Shore Beach is hidden away from the masses due to its rural location, it’s a far quieter alternative to the region’s main beaches and an excellent choice for those seeking a peaceful adventure on the Ayrshire Coast.
Croy Shore Beach
Croy Shore is a rural beach found just off the A719, between the villages of Maidens and Dunure in South Ayrshire, Scotland. Far from the big-town beaches of Ayrshire, Croy Shore Beach provides a relaxing experience free from the busloads of drunken yobs you’ll find elsewhere. While Croy Shore might take a little more effort to reach than some of the more popular beaches in Ayrshire, I promise… It’s worth making the trip, especially if you’re hoping to avoid the crowds.
How To Get To Croy Shore Beach
We arrived at Croy Shore Beach by car after a few hours of skating at Girvan Beach, further down the coast. If you don’t have a car, you can take the bus to Culzean Castle and walk from there.
Here are your options:
By Car
Croy Shore sits about 10.6 miles (17.06 km) from Ayr. If you’re coming from Stranraer, it’s a scenic 43.4 mile (69.85 km) drive with lots of worthy stops along the way, like Bennane Cave and Sawney Bean’s Cave. For those of you driving from Glasgow, it’s 48.4 miles (77.89 km), but you could always stop off at Prestwick Beach, Newton-On-Ayr Shore or Dunure Castle.
The turnoff for Croy Shore Beach is between two fields on the A719 near the bottom of the Electric Brae by Knoweside. It is signposted but can be easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.
Once you make the turn, a narrow road takes you from the A719 to Croy Shore. Parking (free) is on the right-hand side as you approach the sharp bend leading down a steep hill to the beach. From the car park, it’s only a short downhill walk.
I’ve attached a map below showing the location of the parking area so you can plan your route.
By Public Transport
Your best option to get to Croy Shore by bus is to take the Stagecoach Service 60 or 360 from Ayr, Girvan or Maybole. These buses stop at Culzean Castle near Glenside.
When you get off the bus at Culzean Castle, make your way to the coast. Walk northbound past Maybole Shore and to Croy Shore Beach. The walk is roughly 2 – 2.5 miles. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you spot Croyburnfoot Caravan Park!
Alternatively, you can walk the Ayrshire Coastal Path south from Dunure.
If you’re travelling by train, the closest stations are Maybole, Girvan and Ayr. You’ll then need to get the bus to Culzean Castle and walk from there.
Bus Within Ayrshire
Consider using the bus if you’re coming from another town within Ayrshire and check your ticket prices against an Ayrshire DayRider. You might be able to save some money on your journey, especially if you have more stops to make. I personally use an Ayrshire DayRider for most of my trips as they’re a great budget option. They offer unlimited bus travel around the region for only £7.50.
Best Time To Visit Croy Shore Beach
Croy Shore Beach can be enjoyed all year round. But, obviously, the best time to visit is when the weather is nice!
This beach doesn’t generally get overcrowded like Ayr, Prestwick, Troon or Irvine. It can get a little busier on a hot day during peak season, but there’s more than enough space to accommodate. The biggest issue you might encounter on such days is parking.
My brother and I visited during the last week of May. The weather was perfect, and we had the beach almost all to ourselves.
If combining Croy Shore with some of the better-known locations in Ayrshire, the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) are a great choice. Temperatures will be milder, but you’ll see fewer people. Scottish schools break for the summer at the end of June and usually go back in mid-August. Visit on a weekday outside of these dates if you can.
Another thing to consider is tide times. Although not essential, checking tide times before visiting Croy Shore would be a good idea if you want to explore the rock pools, walk the coast and for some specific beach activities or watersports.
Here is a handy tide chart you can check before your visit.
My Visit To Croy Shore Beach
The Ayrshire Coast is DEFINITELY a road trip worthy route, even if you’re only driving a small section like we did. It’s beautiful on both ends and far better as a passenger… I was free to enjoy the scenery while my brother took the wheel for the 14-mile drive along the A77 and A719 from Girvan to Croy Shore Beach.
As we approached the turnoff for Croy Shore, I did get worried about where to park since it was a hot day and parking at the beach was limited. I expected the beach to be busier than a typical Scottish grey day. Nope. The tiny car park was wide open with plenty of spaces available.
Now that our only worry (parking) was out of the way, it was time to follow that narrow road leading down to the sand. But not before checking out the view across the Firth of Clyde from the car park! It was a little hazy, but far from disappointing. The Isle of Arran was visible… Just.
Walking downhill to Croy Shore Beach is easy enough, but listen out for cars coming uphill as there is a blind corner.
At the bottom of the hill, we were met by a vast sandy beach… Our retreat for the next few hours of the day. After a brief look around, I was surprised by how empty it was. I also noticed that most beachgoers seemed drawn to one side, leaving the area I had my mind set on walking pretty much untouched.
Seeing Culzean Castle perched on a cliff, I was quite tempted to walk along Maybole Shore to Culzean Beach. But since Croy Shore was the purpose of this visit, I walked in the opposite direction, past Croyburnfoot Caravan Park and towards a rock formation…
Spring is my favourite season to walk the coast. Just look at those greens!
It didn’t take long before we reached the first rocky section of the beach. Be careful here as some of the rocks are slippery (and sharp!). Despite my grippy footwear, I lost my footing more times than I’d like to admit! But the rewards were worth the effort. Taking a break and chilling on the rocks made it a worthwhile mini-adventure.
Further along, I stumbled across an interesting area… The colours and textures of the stone almost looked like drone photographs of some alien landscape. Pretty cool!
Not many others had ventured as far along as we did. Only the occasional dog walker and lone hiker, presumably conquering the Ayrshire Coastal Path, shared this part of Croy Shore.
After chilling for a while, we headed back to where we started. The haze had lifted, and Culzean Castle was now visible across the water.
I felt genuinely disappointed to be leaving. If I had more time, I would have extended my walk towards Culzean, but we had one more stop to make before calling it a day…
Croy Shore Beach Highlights
Coastal Scenery
You won’t know where to put your eyes as you walk along Croy Shore Beach. Seriously. Separating the shore from the road are vibrant green hills and fields. And on the other end, the Firth of Clyde. If the view of Culzean Castle, the Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran isn’t enough, the beach itself is also beautiful. There are no eyesores to spoil the landscape since Croy Shore is miles from the nearest town.
Peacefulness
If you’re looking for a quiet beach in Ayrshire with enough space to practice activities or watersports without an unwelcomed and distracting audience… This is it. We had no trouble finding completely empty sections of the beach to relax, which is a nice change. No shouting or cursing to be heard, and no large groups. I guess that Croy Shore Beach is too far out of the way for the drunken teenagers and their free bus passes.
ADVENTURE EDIT
Walking And Hiking
Stage 5 of the Ayrshire Coastal Path (Maidens to Dunure) passes through Croy Shore. The distance is 6.2 miles (10km) and will take around 3 hours to complete.
If you don’t want to tackle all of Stage 5, you can easily break it into a shorter section. You can walk towards Dunure (north) or past Culzean Castle towards Maidens (South). Either choice is good as this is a particularly scenic stretch of the Ayrshire Coast!
Wild Camping
With a little common sense (and decency), you’ll be able to find a camping spot along the bay. In Scotland, wild camping is allowed wherever access rights apply. Obviously, don’t camp in any farmers’ fields with livestock or crops, and keep your distance from Culzean Castle!
As long as you’re not causing any problems for landowners or locals, you should be left alone.
Where To Skate
You’d need to be insane, or at the very least, an excellent downhill skater with a trustworthy lookout to attempt the short (but steep) decline into Croy Shore. There’s a sharp, blind bend on the hill, which I wouldn’t recommend tackling solo.
Other than the opportunity for a short, but potentially epic downhill run from the car park to the sand on the smooth concrete, there’s nowhere else to skate at Croy Shore Beach.
Girvan Beach is a far better option!
Facilities And Amenities
Nearest Town
Maybole is roughly 5 miles from Croy Shore Beach. Girvan and Ayr are also within easy reach by car.
Public Toilets
During my visit in the off-season, there were no public toilets available. Remember, Croy Shore is a rural beach.
Food And Drink
Bring everything you need with you as there are no shops nearby. Carry enough water, sunscreen, and food for your time in the area.
Where To Next?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Craig Swain has lived in Ayrshire (Scotland) for almost 40 years. He travels extensively around the region, seeking the best destinations, adventures, and experiences.
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