Five nostalgic Scottish seaside towns that were once holiday hot spots – do you remember them?

Going “doon the watter” on your holidays is now a thing of the past in Scotland as seaside towns have largely declined

Before all-inclusive hotels in exotic locations and magnificent cruise ship holidays that sail all over Europe, most Scots enjoyed a far simpler summer holiday “doon the watter”.

Children nowadays will often hear the older generation speak of their beloved seaside family trips, which generally consisted of ice cream and a good chippy, playing in the sand with your siblings and if you were lucky a few nights’ stay in a caravan park.

Traditional Scottish seaside holidays are now a thing of a past but were a very common practice for working-class families for hundreds of years.

They began to flourish in the mid-19th century with the arrival of the railways and Clyde paddle steamers and peaked through the mid-20th century.

However, by the 1970s and 1980s, seaside holidays largely declined as cheap foreign air travel was introduced and holidaymakers began to choose going abroad instead.

While seeing other parts of the world is an incredible privilege, many Scots will look back fondly with nostalgia at their favourite seaside towns they used to visit.

Here are five popular holiday hot spots from back in the day – do you remember them?

Dunoon

From the Victorian era through to the 1950s and 1960s, Dunoon was a booming destination for Glaswegian holidaymakers taking the steamers ‘doon the watter’ for summer breaks.

The town experienced a major economic and social boom during the Cold War when the US Navy stationed the Holbrook floating submarine base nearby at Holy Loch, bringing thousands of American service members and families to the area from 1961.

It’s widely reported that the once popular coastal town on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, went into rapid decline after the American Navy base shut in 1992.

While not as popular as it once was, Dunoon still attracts a steady stream of outdoor lovers and day trippers via CalMac or Western Ferries.

According to the 2022 census, Dunoon is home to just under 8,000 people. Across the water is Rothesay, another seaside town on the Isle of Bute that once brought in thousands of families every year for a seaside holiday.

Millport

Millport was another popular destination for Scottish families back in the day.

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It is the only town on the Isle of Great Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde, off the west coast of mainland Scotland, within the North Ayrshire council area.

Once a booming holiday destination, the introduction of roll-on-roll-off vehicle ferries in 1972 moved the main island arrival point to Cumbrae Slip, ending Millport’s direct status as a primary steamer and passenger pier terminus.

The deterioration and eventual closure of Millport’s historic pier also cut off direct maritime excursion traffic.

Recent figures list the town’s population to be around 1,170 to 1,270, while the wider Isle of Cumbrae is home to approximately 1,300 residents.

While Millport is no longer a holiday hot spot as such, it’s still described as a “Jewel in the Clyde” on its website. Just a short ferry trip away from Largs, Millport was even previously rated as the “most beautiful” destination in the country by Hidden Scotland.

Gourock

Another charming seaside spot popular with Scottish families was the once small fishing village of Gourock.

Situated on the coast of the River Clyde, Gourock has spectacular views across the Arrochar Alps, Argyll peninsula and beyond.

Gourock transformed into a popular seaside resort in the 19th century, known for its scenic views and outdoor swimming baths.

Visitors today still flock to its famous outdoor swimming pool in the summer months, which is Scotland’s oldest heated saltwater pool. It was first built in 1090 and then rebuilt in 1969.

Today, however, Gourock is a more modern residential and commuter town, known for its ferry links to Dunoon and waterfront promenade.

With a population of around 10,077, Gourock was named as one of the happiest places to live in the UK in 2025.

Saltcoats

Saltcoats was a beloved traditional seaside holiday spot for Scottish families, especially Glaswegians during the Glasgow Fair summer holidays, from the Victorian era up through the 1960s and 1970s.

Holidaymakers and day-trippers could easily catch trains straight from Glasgow Central down to the Ayrshire coast.

A favourite spot was the long, sandy South Beach stretch with views looking out towards the Isle of Arran.

The North Ayrshire town also once had a huge saltwater tidal pool built in a rocky cove. The attraction famously drew thousands of visitors a day for swimming and midnight bathing before it was finally closed in the 1980s.

Saltcoats is no longer the booming ‘doon the watter’ holiday resort it was once was in the mid-20th century, but it remains a popular, budget-friendly destination for quick day trips and an affordable residential choice on the Firth of Clyde

The population of Saltcoats alone is believed to be roughly 12,000.

Crail

Crail is a picturesque, historic coastal village and ancient Royal Burgh located in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland, about 10 miles southeast of St Andrews.

It was once a very popular seaside spot for families thanks to its local caravan sites and sandy shores.

However, the closure of its local railway line in September 1965 as part of the Beeching Cuts and saw less people visit the village.

Crail was once a major and prosperous fishing port and trading hub in Scotland and while not as popular as it once was, the 16th-century Crail Harbour still sees fishing boats regularly landing their catch here.

It is a popular spot for photographers, artists and walkers.

When last recorded in 2020, the population was said to be around 1,600 people.