Stranraer lies on the southern shore of Loch Ryan and is split by the harbour, with dog-friendly beaches on either side.

The beaches are identified by individual names, but this is immaterial as all are accessible from the town:

• To the west, you have West Beach, also known as Marine Lake Beach, due to the adjacent lake. If you walk away from the harbour, you reach Broadstone Beach.
• To the east, you have a long beach that stretches away from the harbour. At high tide, the sand disappears, and the stretch further away from the harbour is known as Cockle Shore due to the amount of shells washed up.

In all cases, the beaches are a pebble and sand mix that disappears when the tide comes in.

The town is a good spot with a selection of places to eat, shops and plenty of car parking, being the second largest town in Dumfries and Galloway, and a ferry port with public transport options of trains and regular coaches.