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Coastal
Coastal
The sheltered waters of the Firth of Clyde make a wonderful playground for anyone who loves being on or beside the sea.
The obvious starting point is the highly accessible Ayrshire coast, with its 80 miles of headlands, harbours and sandy strands. From here rugged Arran and gentle Great Cumbrae are within easy reach. Between them the two islands double the length of coastline available to explore, adding even more variety to the mix with sleepy villages and uninhabited shores.
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With a world-class reputation for yachting, Ayrshire boasts three superb marinas: at Largs, Ardrossan and Troon. All three are accessible at any state of the tide and offer berths for visiting and resident yachts as well as charters for competent sailors. They are the gateway to a whole world of different seascapes. Within a few hours sailing you'll discover lochs and islands, fishing villages and Victorian resorts, and peaceful anchorages in wooded bays or near welcoming hostelries. |
| If you feel unprepared for such adventure, the Scottish Watersports Centre on Cumbrae is the ideal place to develop your skills and confidence. Their courses cover all aspects of sailing - from basic seamanship to racing - using dinghies, catamarans or cruising yachts. You can also have fun and gain qualifications windsurfing, sea kayaking and powerboating. |
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For those who'd rather just sit back and enjoy the scenery, a boat trip is the perfect way to enjoy the freedom of the open sea. To travel in style, take a cruise on the Waverley, the world's last ocean-going paddle steamer, which plies the Ayrshire ports. Alternatively join a pleasure trip to see some of the Clyde's marine wildlife. There are spacious beaches for building sandcastles and plenty of attractions to keep the children amused. Meanwhile, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park offers a range of land and water activities. Here you can sail, windsurf or canoe on safe and shallow Castle Semple Loch, or even try one of Scotland's first aqua-trikes.
Time your visit to coincide with one of the many events held in the region and you could enjoy the excitement and atmosphere of a sailing regatta or windsurfing championships. Be it a top racing yacht or a basking shark, you'll find there is always something interesting to see around the coast of Ayrshire and Arran.
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