Westport

A tortuous 4-hour drive from Glasgow, the Kintyre Peninsula has a colourful history of herring, whisky and bloody battles – while the verdant landscape and azure waters always were impressive. But more importantly, outstretched towards Ireland it's fully exposed to big W swells. Hence this vast sandy beach offers West Scotland’s best mainland wavesailing. Launch near town in a south-westerly, or up at 'Westport' for south to south-easterlies. Prevailing west to north-westerlies often produce too evil a shorebreak.