Port Logan (easy)– Beach Launch at all states of tide. The beach is hard sand and with care is suitable for launching with a normal car at any state of tide so long as your trailer has a good sized jockey wheel and you are happy to use a rope to retrieve your boat trailer. The launch site is open to any winds from the West and is particularly unsuitable in NW winds. Beware of strong tide and whirlpools around the Mull Head. Launching is free.

East Tarbet (hard) – Beach launch direct from a field onto the open beach. 4wd or tractor launch only. Even with a 4wd beware of soft sand below the high water mark. Best to launch on the rising tide and retrieve when the tide is going out. This should provide maximum safety for your vehicle. The beach is sheltered from South westerly and Westerly winds but should be avoided in any other direction. The beach is also prone to a nasty little surf on the ebb about one hour after high water. The farmer who owns the field charges £4 to launch. Pay at the last house on the left 200m before reaching the track down onto the beach. Beware of strong tide and whirlpools around the Mull Head.

Drummore (Moderate)– 2 Beach launch sites situated 100m North of the harbour and 1/2mile north of the harbour. 4WD or Tractor launch only. Best to launch on a rising tide and retrieve when the tide is going out. Beware of soft sand patches below the HW mark and consider using a rope to retrieve. Sheltered to all Westerly winds and avoid if the wind is in the East. Launching from this beach is free.

Ardwell Bay (easy)– Concrete ramp onto a beach. Extremely sheltered launch site. Launching at all states of tide for 4WD owners and 2 hours either side of HW for car owners from the concrete ramp. Always depart and arrive on the beach at dead slow speed due to the presence of submerged rocks particularly around low water.

Port William (moderate) – 4wd launch inside the harbour 4 hours either side of HW. Access via the entrance at the start of the Northern breakwater.

There is an additional slipway to the north of the harbour known as Second Sands which is usable with a 4WD vehicle at all stages of the tide and on the ebb tide only for non 4WD.

Sheltered from Easterly winds but open to any winds from the South or West. Launching is free.

Isle of Whithorn (easy) – 2 launching ramps. 1 all tide situated outside the harbour (moderate) and 1 inside the harbour accessible 2 hours either side of HW (easy). Both suitable for use by cars although watch out for slippery weed and the uneven gradient on the outer ramp. Avoid if the wind is blowing from the South or East and beware of strong tides around the Burrowhead area. The sea in this area can be particularly nasty in any wind against tide scenario. Launching is free.

Garlieston Harbour (easy)– Launching ramp inside the harbour accessible for cars 2 hours either side of HW. 4wd beach launching 4 hours either side of HW from the beach directly behind the main harbour wall. Good sheltered launch site but avoid East and North East winds. Launching is free.