Westport Beach – Atlantic Sands, Then a Pint by the Fire
A few hours.
The route
Westport is the north end of the long sweep of sand that runs down the Atlantic side of Kintyre to Machrihanish, backed by the high Machrihanish Dunes.
It's a grand place to walk a dog, with miles of sand and the surf rolling in. Afterwards, the Old Clubhouse in Machrihanish, the golf club's first clubhouse in the days of Old Tom Morris, is dog friendly, and has a wood-burning fire.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
None of ours is close by: the nearest is The Hollies, 38 miles away. Sleeps 18.
Then Glenstriven House, 45 miles away. next free Sun 25 Oct to Tue 27 Oct.
The day
Machrihanish
A long walk on the sand below the dunes with the dog, then supper or a pint by the fire at the old golf pub in Machrihanish.
About three hours
Westport Beach
An attraction
There's parking off the A83 at Westport, a few minutes' walk through the dunes from the sand. The beach runs south from here for miles below the Machrihanish Dunes, pale sand with low dark rocks along the tideline and the Atlantic swell coming in, which makes it one of the west coast's favourite surfing beaches. There's no lifeguard, so keep out of the water unless you know it. The dunes are a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so keep the dog on a lead on the paths through them, then let it run on the sand, and pick up after it. Seals are often seen offshore. Walk south as far as you like and come back the same way. From November to early February the sun is down before 5pm, so set out in good time. Allow an hour and a half.
22 min by car
The Old Clubhouse
Supper
It's about 22 minutes' drive south to Machrihanish village and the Old Clubhouse, the original clubhouse of Machrihanish Golf Club from 1876, restored to look much as it did then, with a wood-burning fire. It opens every day from noon to 1am, with food until 10pm: pub classics, seasonal specials and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices, with local ales and a long list of malts. Dogs are welcome. From the beer garden you look out over the sea towards Islay and Jura. Over Christmas and New Year, check before going.
If it rains
The beach has no shelter: in heavy rain keep the walk short and go early to the Old Clubhouse, where the fire is lit and dogs are welcome.
