Ayrshire beaches retain prestigious national award

Beaches in South Ayrshire have once again retained a prestigious award from an environmental charity, recognising their high standards in areas such as biodiversity and cleanliness.

The Scotland’s Beach Awards from Keep Scotland Beautiful have recognised Ayr, Girvan, Maidens, Prestwick, Troon and Barassie beaches for meeting criteria that highlight the environmental, economic and aesthetic value of Scotland’s coastline.

The South Ayrshire beaches are among 52 across the country to be included in this year’s awards, which recognise coastal environments as “valuable national assets”.

The programme aims to give visitors confidence when choosing coastal destinations, ensuring beaches are carefully maintained for nature and the wider environment, while supporting continued investment and improvement.

Councillor Martin Kilbride, Lead for Housing and Property Services at South Ayrshire Council, believes pride and commitment go into making the region’s beaches welcoming and worthy of recognition.

He said: “These awards reflect the pride we take in our coastline and the high standards we maintain year after year.

“We are committed to protecting and enhancing South Ayrshire’s natural environment, ensuring our open spaces remain safe, accessible and well cared for, while supporting important habitats.

“By working closely with our partners, we are also improving biodiversity and water quality, helping create a healthier environment for our communities and local wildlife.”

Councillor Alec Clark also welcomed the recognition, saying beaches are “an important part of life” in South Ayrshire.

Councillor Clark said: “This recognition highlights the great efforts of our teams, community groups and volunteers who care for these special places.

“With summer here, we’re looking forward to seeing people make the most of our award-winning beaches, and hopefully we’ll get more good weather to match.”

Keep Scotland Beautiful is a charity focused on tackling climate change, reducing litter and improving biodiversity and the quality of places across Scotland.

Its beach awards programme celebrates its 34th year recognising coastal destinations  across the country, including areas as far as Shetland and Aberdeenshire, for their commitment to maintaining clean, safe and well-managed environments for people and nature.