Dhoon Beach
NEED TO KNOW
Type of beach
Dogs
Dogs are welcome on the beach all year round, but must be kept under effective control.
Lifeguard
There is no lifeguard cover at this beach.
Beach cleaning
Parking
Nearest town
Postcode
OS grid reference
What3words
ABOUT
Also known as Goat Well Bay, Dhoon beach looks out over Nun Mill Bay at the mouth of the River Dee. The beach is mainly sandy with some rocky outcrops, and a high tidal range of up to 10 metres.
The name of the beach is derived from nearby Doon Hill, from the Gaelic Dun meaning fort, where the remains of timber halls from the Neolithic period were found. Nothing above ground can be seen today, and strips of coloured concrete mark the outline of the structures.
With relatively shallow water, Dhoon beach is a good spot for swimming but be aware that there is no lifeguard cover and check tide times before you go as there can be strong currents at high tide.
At low tide, there are plenty of rockpools to explore. Look out for crabs, sea anemones, shrimps, and small fish, and shells can often be found poking out of the sand.
STAR SPECIES
There is a shipwreck on the beach that is visible at low tide. The Monreith, a two-mast wooden schooner carrying a cargo of granite kerbstones from Newcastle in County Down to Silloth in Cumberland, got caught in a storm on the 12th November 1900. The crew attempted to take shelter in Kirkudbright Bay, but the ship was driven into the sandbanks at Dhoon Beach where she ran aground. The crew all got safely to shore in the ship’s boat.
The wreck consists of the hull, which is almost complete including the iron fastenings, although most of the lower hull is buried in the sand, and what remains is covered in seaweed.
A memorial plaque can be found near the car park with the inscription, “The ships (sic) timbers lying due east in the bay are all that remains of the schooner Monreith of Wigtown wrecked in the Kirkcudbright Bay on the 12th November 1900”.
Approach the wreck with caution, as there are patches of mud and quicksand around it.
For walkers, the Senwick Shore Walk is a 4 mile route that starts at the car park at Dhoon. Follow the hill south on the road verge and turn left onto Millhall, where the path runs alongside a garden that’s part of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme. It is usually open in April and September, but arrangements for visiting can be made at other times. With an area of 5 acres, the garden has a large collection of mature shrubs including over 200 rhododendrons, as well as camellias, hydrangeas, and some rare Southern Hemisphere plants.
Continue along the footpath along the edge of the coastal woodland which in the spring has a carpet of wild garlic and bluebells. Red squirrels can often be spotted among the trees, while in summer look out for the speckled wood butterfly.
From the woods there are good views across Kirkcudbright Bay and the RNLI lifeboat station can be seen on the far side. At low tide, a rocky outcrop called Frenchman’s Rock is visible, named after French smugglers who raided Senwick Church and stole the silverware. As they sailed away with the loot, a storm forced their ship onto the rocks and the smugglers along with the silver were lost at sea for good.
The ruins of the church, which has not been in use since 1618, are situated at the end of the path. The graveyard that surrounds it is still in use, and includes the headstones of Robert Watson, a Little Ross lighthouse keeper who drowned at sea, and John McTaggart, author of the Scottish Gallovidian Encyclopedia, an important source for Scots lexicography.
From here, you can either continue further along the coast or retrace your steps back to Dhoon beach.
Seaward Holiday Park overlooks the beach that has pitches for caravans, motorhomes, and tents, as well as glamping lodges. Facilities include a heated outdoor swimming pool and a children’s play area.
Behind the beach is a wide expanse of grass which is the ideal spot for a picnic. Here you’ll also find a large car park with free parking and public toilets. Shops, restaurants, and cafés can be found in Kirkcudbright which is a short drive away.
AMENITIES
