The stunning sandy beach closest to Glasgow and home to a pirate ship and seals

WITH our unpredictable Scottish weather, it can be hard to plan a day at the seaside. Rain has spoilt many a family plan.

So finding a beach close to home is a good idea. Wake up to sunshine and blue skies and you can jump in the car or on the train and be there within an hour.

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And that’s why little-known Lunderston Bay, part of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, should be on your radar.

It’s the closest sandy beach to Glasgow, just down the road near Inverkip and you can get there in under an hour, meaning more time to enjoy the day.

It’s popular with locals and those in the know and great for a picnic, making sand castles on the beach, enjoying the sea air and coastal views and walks.

There are great views of the Cowal Peninsula, Dunoon and down towards the Isle of Bute from it’s one-mile long beach, backed by grassy banks with plenty of car parking, picnic tables and, more importantly, toilets.

There’s also a relatively new and popular playground for kids, Lunderston Bay Play Area, which even features a pirate ship for youngsters to play in.

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Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park staff help maintain the bay, along with the Ranger Service and there are regular environmental education events, plus fun summer events for all the family.

At low tide, most of the shore at the south end of the bay becomes exposed, revealing rocks and shingle and rockpools full of crabs and other invertebrates to keep the kids amused,

It’s also opposite the award-winning Cardwell Garden centre with a 300-seat cafe/restaurant if a picnic is not up your street.

Or you can walk from here all the way to Inverkip and have lunch at the Chartroom restaurant overlooking the marina.

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Back on the beach fly a kite, watch the sail boats and spot the numerous birds, including Gannets, Canada Geeese, and Oyster Catchers, who flock to the area.

You might even catch a grey seal or two at the south end of the bay.

Lunderston Bay is a great place for dogs, who love splashing in the sea and walking on the coastal paths, north and south.

There’s a wheelchair accessible playground at the north end of the bay, where a Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park ranger station, toilets and a car park are also located.

The water is rated ‘excellent’ for swimming, if a little on the chilly side even in summer and there are lifebuoy stations at the beach, but there are no lifeguards.

The coastal path which runs through the bay area is part of the National Cycle Network and it is popular with walkers, joggers, cyclists and dog walkers year round.

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