The Waterside Hotel and Spa

With a golden stretch of beach just beyond the garden, who needs a treadmill? Confident swimmers can head down to the shore for a bracing dip in the sea, then warm up again in the outdoor sauna. Repeat as often as you dare! Keep an eye on the hotel’s What’s On page too, as it occasionally hosts beach yoga and wellness days in the gardens overlooking the sea.

For gentler exercise, stroll along the sands of Seamill beach and breathe in the sea air, with the mountains of Arran on the horizon. Or follow the coast north to Portencross, where a medieval castle stands guard over the shore. It makes a lovely walk, with sweeping views and plenty of spots to stop and take it all in.

Fancy stretching your legs a little further? Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park rises in the hills above the coast, with moorland trails, big skies and views across the water. Nearby, the woodland paths of Kelburn Estate wind past tumbling waterfalls and a castle painted in vivid colours by Brazilian street artists.

Your first taste of The Waterside is likely to be in the Si! Spa Lounge, where soft, fluffy robes are almost obligatory! Start the day with a spa breakfast, refuel with a vibrant poke bowl or light bite, or settle in for afternoon tea. Cocktails are on the menu too – and when the sun’s out, you can enjoy them alfresco.

Over in the hotel, Dunes Restaurant & Bar is the place to be from breakfast through to dinner. Light pours in through the skylight, a colourful light installation adds a touch of fun, and the views stretch over the gardens to the beach. 

The menu celebrates the coast, from creamy chowder and moules-frites to Scottish king scallops with crispy haggis fritters. There are plenty of Scottish classics too, like haggis, neeps and tatties and fish and chips. Even the butter comes with a West Coast twist, made with salt harvested just down the coast by Blackthorn Salt.

As the sun dips, the spritz menu comes into its own on the veranda, and there’s a good whisky list for a nightcap. In the afternoon, Dunes also serves a traditional afternoon tea of finger sandwiches, mini patisserie and homemade scones with jam and cream, all with views along the water’s edge. Look out for the hotel’s themed afternoon tea parties too, which have previously included live music and dancing.

It certainly does, and it features in several of the spa packages. Afternoon tea is served in the Si! Spa Lounge, where you’re welcome to stay in your robe. You can also enjoy it in the hotel’s Dunes Restaurant & Bar, with finger sandwiches, mini patisserie and homemade scones with jam and cream, all with views along the water’s edge. Look out for the hotel’s themed afternoon tea parties too, which have included live music and dancing.

Yes there is. Spa breaks include a stay in a Classic room, decorated in the hotel’s breezy New England style, with a Smart TV, free WiFi and tea and coffee. Look out for the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer and Scottish Fine Soaps toiletries. Fancy an upgrade? The brand-new Superior Sea View rooms come with a Juliet balcony or patio. Or go all out with the Kilmory Suite, which has its own balcony hot tub, or the Sannox Suite, with a private sauna and double whirlpool bath.

If you’re staying over, check-in is from 3pm, and check-out is by 11am, or 10am for suites. Late check-out and early check-in can be arranged on request for a small charge. For spa days, arrival times vary depending on the package you’ve booked, so check your booking confirmation for details. Most packages include an hour in the thermal areas before your treatment, so it’s worth arriving in good time to make the most of it.

Yes it is. The spa has accessible changing and treatment rooms, and the hotel offers step-free access, a lift, disabled parking and Classic Double rooms with wet rooms. Please note that the suites are reached by stairs, and the Superior Sea View rooms involve a short half-flight of stairs after the lift. 

The Waterside sits right on the beach between Ardrossan and Seamill, West Kilbride, on the Ayrshire coast, around 45 minutes from Glasgow. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you spot the navy and white clapboard building, which looks more New England than North Ayrshire. A row of blue beach huts lines the garden terrace, and the Isle of Arran’s mountains rise across the water. On a clear day, you can even spot Ailsa Craig, the rocky island whose granite is used to make Olympic curling stones.

Robes and towels are provided with spa days and treatments of 55 minutes or more, so you just need your swimwear and a pair of flip-flops. As part of its green commitment, the spa no longer provides slippers. If you forget yours, you can pick up a pair at spa reception for a few pounds. And if you’re planning a sea dip, a spare swimming costume never goes amiss.

Yes! The Si! Spa Lounge is a robe-friendly zone, serving breakfast, poke bowls, light bites and afternoon tea, plus cocktails from the bar. On sunny days, you can even take your table outside.

The rasul is a self-led ritual of exfoliation, mud and steam that leaves your skin feeling wonderfully soft. Better still, the rasul room here has space for up to four, so you can get muddy with friends. It’s messy, it’s fun, and it’s a brilliant way to start a pampering day by the sea.

You can! A wooden boardwalk leads from the spa garden straight onto the beach, so you can go for a stroll in your robe, dip a toe in or brave a proper sea swim. Sea dips are unsupervised and at your own risk, so only head in if you’re a confident swimmer and comfortable in cold water. Afterwards, give yourself time to warm up gently before heading back into the sauna or hydro pool.

The Waterside is part of SimpsInns, a family-run group founded in 1996 by Malcolm and Karen Simpson, who now run it with their sons Jack and Lee. In 2026, a £3m redevelopment transformed the hotel, adding Si! Spa, Dunes Restaurant & Bar and a new wing of sea-view bedrooms. The spa is the sister to Si! Spa at The Gailes, down the coast in Irvine. And the name? “Si” means “yes”, which is exactly what you’ll want to say when someone suggests a spa day here!

The Waterside was highly commended in the Best Coastal Hotel category at the 2026 Scottish Prestige Hotel Awards, which is quite a compliment for a hotel right on the shore. And the spa has a strong pedigree: its sister, Si! Spa at The Gailes, was named Scotland’s Best Spa Hotel at the same awards.

Plenty! Stroll along Seamill beach, follow the coast to the medieval Portencross Castle, or browse the studios and galleries of West Kilbride, Scotland’s Craft Town. The Arran ferry leaves from Ardrossan, just five minutes away, and Largs is a short hop up the coast, with its seafront and ferry to Great Cumbrae. Keep an eye on the hotel’s What’s On page too, for occasional beach yoga and wellness days.

Grown-ups only in the spa, we’re afraid! It’s for guests aged 16 and over, so you can enjoy a spot of R&R in peace. The hotel itself welcomes families, though, with spacious family rooms that sleep up to four. 

Little ones will love the kids’ menu at Dunes Restaurant & Bar, which doubles as a colouring sheet. With the beach right outside, there’s sandcastle building and rock-pooling on the doorstep too. Further afield, Kelburn Estate near Largs has woodland trails, waterfalls and a castle painted in vivid colours by Brazilian street artists. Or hop on the ferry to Arran for a family adventure on the island.

Very much so. Although your four-legged friend can’t join you in the spa, dogs are welcome in the Deluxe Sea View and Classic Double rooms for £15 per dog, per night. Just call the hotel in advance to book. With private gardens and the beach right outside, it’s a dream spot for walkies.

There’s no golf course on site, but West Kilbride Golf Club’s seaside links is just down the road. Ayrshire’s championship courses, including Royal Troon, Western Gailes and Prestwick, the birthplace of The Open, are all within easy reach.