Machrihanish

BeachArgyll and Bute Council🐾 Dog-friendly all year

A long, wild 5km Atlantic-facing sandy beach on the Mull of Kintyre, backed by dunes and the Machrihanish Dunes/Golf links, popular with surfers.

📍 View on the map

Beach & safety

Water quality: Excellent

Hazards: Powerful rip currents and submerged rocks on part of the beach.

Amenities: car-park

Dogs

No specific restriction found; SEPA's generic clean-up-after-your-dog guidance applies.

Official source: View the rule at source →

Family

Exposed Atlantic beach with SEPA-flagged powerful rip currents and submerged rocks on part of the beach.

Fishing

Surf and mixed ground support bass, pollack, wrasse, mackerel, dogfish, rays and flatfish.

Species reported: Bass, Pollack, Ballan wrasse, Mackerel, Lesser-spotted dogfish, Rays, Flatfish

Crabbing

unknown

Access & parking

Car parks at both ends of the bay.

Researched 2026-07-24 — sources & disclaimer

https://bathingwaters.sepa.org.uk/profiles/profile?location=124505

https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/environment/designated-bathing-waters

https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/my-community/public-toilets-argyll-and-bute

https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/car-parks-and-parking/car-parks-mid-argyll-kintyre-and-islay

Rules and conditions change, so always check current signage and tides before you go. We do our best to keep this accurate but can't promise it's error-free.