Explore Girvan with your furry friend
Check out our dog friendly guide to Girvan and start planning a holiday all the family will enjoy because we know dogs love a break by the seaside just as much as their owners!
WINNER TOWN/CITY 2023
A DOG FRIENDLY GUIDE TO GIRVAN
In Girvan we know dogs are an important member of the family which is why many of our businesses give them a warm woof of welcome. From dog friendly beaches to traditional amusement arcades, your companion will be able to let their fur down on a pawfect seaside break.
Girvan is a great holiday destination for all the family and there is no shortage of places to have fun with your faithful friend. You can find all the information you need to plan a pooch friendly break by the sea below.
DOG FRIENDLY BEACHES
Girvan Beach spans almost 2 miles and is open to dogs and their responsible humans throughout the year. It is the perfect place for bounding, digging and splashing. Prefer to escape the crowds? The coast around Girvan is dotted with quiet bays where you and your best friend can take in the sea views undisturbed.
DOG FRIENDLY WALKS
From strolls along the traffic-free promenade to hill walks and coastal trails, there are miles of dog-friendly walking routes to explore around Girvan. You can find some local suggestions on our walking page and remember to follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when you’re exploring.
DOG FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO
Pop into Girvan’s Community Garden and enjoy some live music with your pooch, or hire a bike with a dog trailer from Biosphere Bikes and take them for a wheel along scenic country roads. If they have four steady sea legs, they can join you on a boat trip to Ailsa Craig or why not take them into the amusement arcade where they don’t even have to gamble to get a biscuit (just ask nicely at the desk!). See below for more dog friendly activities in Girvan.
DOG FRIENDLY STICKER SCHEME
We have our own Go Girvan dog friendly sticker scheme so you can easily identify local businesses that allow you to take your furry friend inside. Just look out for our sticker displayed on the window or door of shops, pubs, cafes and attractions. around town
There are currently more than 20 dog friendly businesses in Girvan town centre and most are independently owned.
All of the participating premises are also listed below and we have created a series of handy maps so you can easily plan your dog friendly day out in Girvan.
DOG FRIENDLY PLACES TO STAY
With so many fun things for you and your furbaby to do in Girvan, why not book a dog friendly holiday and stay for more than a day?
We have a list of local dog friendly accommodation below that is pawfect for a relaxing seaside break.
DOG FRIENDLY THINGS TO SEE & DO IN GIRVAN
Start your visit to Girvan off right with a visit to our volunteer-run Tourist Information Point and Craft Shop which is situated in the Town House, 25 Knockcuchan Street (opposite RNLI)
The Tourist Information is open from 29th March 2024 until 29th September 2024 between 11am – 3pm
Orchard Gardens is a beautiful quiet space in Girvan, bursting with colourful blooms in the summer. A pond covered with lilypads and plenty of seating makes for a lovely little hideaway in the town.
The entrance is located on The Avenue.
Located near the promenade a Girvan Beach, Biosphere Bikes is a not-for-proft social enterprise working with local groups to bring accessible and inclusive cycling activities to Girvan and surrounding communities. Visitors can explore and appreciate the hidden places across South Carrick that are less accessible by car and enjoy the beautiful landscapes, local culture, and wonderful heritage whilst reducing environmental impact by using a bike instead of a car. Biosphere Bikes also has beach wheelchairs, ensuring the beach is accessible to all. Find them at: www.biospherebikes.com
Knockcushan Gardens and Aviary is a quiet oasis hidden behind The Town House on Knockcushan Street. Full of colourful seasonal blooms, there are plenty of benches to sit on and enjoy the tranquility.
A memorial pillar marks the historic hillock of Knockushion or ‘The Hill of Justice’, the seat of the High Courts of the ancient jurisdiction of Carrick. King Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick, even held court here.
Stumpy Jail, was built in 1827. It has survived 2 World Wars and is still standing as a tribute to the craftsmanship of its Victorian Builders and racing on to its 200th Birthday and is still at the centre and heart of Girvan’s Community. Inside, there are 4 floors of exhibits for the public to view free of charge, but unfortunately there are no lifts within the tower and the original stone stairs are steep and old. Special visits for groups of tourists, community groups, and schools for educational tours can be made by special arrangement and at no cost. Stumpy Jail is looked after by the Girvan & District Attractions Committee.
