Express by Holiday Inn Ayr-Prestwick Airport

Watersports

The sheltered waters of the Firth of Clyde make a wonderful playground for anyone who loves being on or beside the sea. The estuary has that magical west coast of Scotland feel, but getting there is so quick you can spend more time relaxing instead of travelling. That means a few more hours to stroll along a wide beach, dodging each wave as it wets the golden sand a little higher. Or an extra day to point your bow towards distant hills while crystal clear water slides under your hull.

As befits an area 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.

The sea has always had a great significance for the people of Ayrshire providing employment, food, access to trade and links to the outside world. Nowadays you are more likely to see people having fun on the water. Walk along the seafront at Largs and you will see all types of craft from wind-surfers and sailboats to cruisers, ferries and, if you are lucky, the last sea-going steamship in the world, the Waverley. You may also see the local diving club setting off from the lifeboat station perhaps to dive on the wreckage of Sunderland Flying Boats just off the coast.