Carrick Shore – Sand, Islands and Kirkcudbright Scallops
A few hours.
The route
Carrick is a small sandy bay on the quiet coast west of Kirkcudbright.
Its pale sand runs between rocky headlands, with the Isles of Fleet lying out in the bay. Lunch is in Kirkcudbright at Swally n' Scran, the restaurant of the town's own fishing company, where the scallops come off its boats.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book a lunch table at Swally n' Scran on West Coast Sea Products' website, for Thursday to Saturday between noon and 2pm or Sunday between noon and 3pm (it's shut Monday to Wednesday); walk-ins are taken too, but it gets busy.
The day
Carrick
A quiet bay of sand and rock on the Borgue peninsula, an hour or so on the shore, and a seafood lunch by the harbour in Kirkcudbright.
About two and a half hours
Carrick Bay
An attraction
Carrick is reached by narrow country roads, and there's a small parking place above the shore; space is short, so park with care and keep gateways clear. The bay is a stretch of pale sand between rocky headlands, with thrift and gorse along the edge and the Isles of Fleet lying offshore. The coast path runs on along the shore in both directions if you'd like a longer wander. At low spring tides the sand reaches out to Ardwall and Barlocco Isles, but the tide comes back fast: only cross with the tide times in hand, and otherwise enjoy them from the beach. There's nothing here but the beach, so bring what you need. Keep dogs under close control, as the shore is a protected site for wildlife.
17 min by car
Swally n' Scran
Lunch
Lunch is 17 minutes' drive away in Kirkcudbright, at Swally n' Scran on St Cuthbert's Place, beside the Harbour Square car park. It belongs to West Coast Sea Products, the Kirkcudbright fishing company, and serves fresh seafood: Kirkcudbright scallops, chowder and the catch of the day, with local beers and spirits at the bar. Lunch is from noon to 2pm, Thursday to Saturday, and noon to 3pm on Sunday; it's shut Monday to Wednesday. You sit at long tables. Children are welcome, but dogs aren't. If it's full, Skipper's Scran Van, the same company's seafood trailer on the harbour 2 minutes away, serves from noon Thursday to Sunday.
If it rains
Carrick is open shore with no shelter, so on a wet day keep the beach for another time; Swally n' Scran, by the harbour in Kirkcudbright, is indoors.
Photograph by Swally n' Scran via Google