The coastal dining destination an hour from Glasgow with stunning views and a beach next door

Sean Murphy

7 June 2024 at 6:12 am·2-min read

The sunset at the Waterside Hotel West Kilbride - days out from Glasgow — -Credit: (Image: Waterside Hotel)

With the summer arriving and the days getting longer, we all have one thing on our minds – escaping the city to find a wee beach somewhere to chill and enjoy the sunshine with friends and family.

Throw in a top-class restaurant for a delicious meal after a long walk on the beach and well, it seems like the perfect day out to us.

Located just a 50-minute drive from Glasgow, the Waterside Hotel in West Kilbride might just be the answer.

With its baby blue boathouse exterior and coastal charm, this cracking hotel sits right by one of the most underrated beaches in Ayrshire and not only offers a menu filled with mouth-watering options but also offers unimpeded panoramic views across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran.

You can soak up the sun on the garden terrace -Credit:Waterside Hotel

You'll feel like you're on holiday as you enjoy the pristine sands of the beach at Seamill just yards from the hotel, which is ideal for both children and pets.

The hotel’s Waterside Restaurant and Bar prides itself on serving the best local produce created from the freshest ingredients. On a sunny evening, there is no better place to watch the sun dip below the horizon or indulge in a spot of casual alfresco dining, than the beach hut-lined terrace and garden.

Offering great value for money too, the hotel is also dog friendly and is operated by SimpsInns, a family-owned business run by the Irvine-based Simpson family, including The Gailes Hotel & Spa and The Potting Shed in Irvine, and Old Loans Inn at Troon.

Be sure to book ahead as it gets quite busy due to being popular with the locals and should you be looking for something longer than an afternoon and evening away then you can also book one of its cosy rooms for a stay overnight for that extra holiday feel - oh, and did we mention they have a spa?

Just be sure to hang around for sunset as when the weather is right, there are few better places in the country to watch the sun go down.

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