Maidens curves round a sandy bay between Turnberry Point and Culzean — a village of bungalows and holiday homes around a small stone harbour that once had its own shipyard and still shelters a few fishing boats. It is quiet, it faces west, and it is the most useful base on this stretch of coast for anyone who wants a beach, a walk and a good dinner without driving between them.
Things to do
- Walk south to Turnberry lighthouse — a mile and a half each way along the beach and across the edge of the Ailsa championship links, to the lighthouse standing in the remains of the castle where Robert the Bruce was traditionally born. The best short walk in the area, and free. Keep to the marked path and give way to golfers.
- Walk north to Culzean — about three miles along the shore and into the country park, arriving under the castle cliff. There is no charge to walk in on foot.
- The beach — sheltered by the breakwater, sandy, gently shelving, with rock pools at either end at low tide. The calmest beach within fifteen minutes of Girvan and the best of them for small children.
- The harbour — boats, a slipway and a wall to sit on. Small and working rather than picturesque, which is the appeal.
Eating
This is why a good many people come. Wildings on Harbour Road is the region's special-occasion restaurant — seafood landed locally, Ayrshire beef, and dining rooms looking over the harbour to Arran. Lunch and dinner daily; book, particularly at weekends and during golf events at Turnberry.
The Ropes is the casual alternative: a terrace over the same harbour for pizza, light bites, cake and a drink, and the best café view on this coast.
Staying
Wildings has rooms, several with sea views, which is the obvious answer if you would rather not drive after dinner. There is a caravan park at Redgates and a number of self-catering cottages in the village. See where to stay.
Getting there
Fourteen minutes from Girvan by car on the A77 and A719, with free parking at the Harbour Road car park. The Girvan–Maidens bus takes about seventeen minutes, which makes this one of the easier car-free evenings out from the town — though check the last bus before ordering a second course.
Turnberry is a mile south, Kirkoswald and Culzean ten minutes on. See the Carrick castle coast day trip.
