Not sure why it’s called the “Wee Bay”, as it’s actually quite large! Take the bus to the entrance to Kilchattan Bay village or park on the grass parking area (GR NS098556). The grassland surrounding this area is a riot of colour – red (Red Campion), blue (Bluebells, Ground Ivy, Germander Speedwell and Field Forget-me-not) and yellow (Creeping Buttercup and Sea Radish). Garden escapes such as Star of Bethlehem (white) and Dame’s Violet add to this dazzling display.
Starting near the village, work northwards along the fringe of the beach for about 500 yards up to the footbridge over the Mill Burn. Most of the species currently in flower in this area are listed below, and there’s also a list of some of the species that are as yet only showing their distinctive leaves.
Beyond the footbridge there are fewer species to be seen, the beach fringe being dominated by tall grasses or, in one section, the large Butterbur leaves. But it still makes a very pleasant walk with new species to be spotted, either on the shore itself or after reaching the shorter grassland .
Species currently in flower include:
| Bluebell | Hyacinthoides non-scripta |
| Broad-leaved Dock | Rumex obtusifolius |
| Burnet Rose | Rosa spinosissima |
| Cat's-ear | Hypochaeris radicata |
| Common Bird's-foot-trefoil | Lotus corniculatus |
| Common Nettle | Urtica dioica |
| Common Valerian | Valeriana officinalis |
| Creeping Buttercup | Ranunculus repens |
| Curled Dock | Rumex crispus |
| Daisy | Bellis perennis |
| Dame's Violet | Hesperis matronalis |
| Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale agg. |
| Field Forget-me-not | Myosotis arvensis |
| Germander Speedwell | Veronica chamaedrys |
| Gorse | Ulex europaeus |
| Green Alkanet | Pentaglottis sempervivens |
| Ground Ivy | Glechoma hederacea |
| Hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna |
| Hemlock Water-dropwort | Oenanthe crocata |
| Japanese Rose | Rosa rugusa |
| Lyme Grass | Leymus arenarius |
| Pignut | Conopodium majus |
| Red Campion | Silene dioica |
| Ribwort Plantain | Plantago lanceolata |
| Sea Mayweed | Tripleurospermum maritimum |
| Sea Radish | Raphanus raphanistrum ssp maritimus |
| Silverweed | Potentilla anserina |
| Star of Bethlehem | Ornithogalum angustifolium |
| Sweet Cicely | Myrrhis odorata |
Not yet in flower:
| Bramble | Rubus fruticosus agg. |
| Cleavers | Galium aparine |
| Common Hemp-nettle | Galeopsis tetrahit agg. |
| Creeping Thistle | Cirsium arvense |
| Hogweed | Heracleum spondylium |
| Ivy | Hedera helix |
| Japanese Knotweed | Fallopia japonica |
| Marram | Ammophila arenaria |
| Mugwort | Artemisia vulgaris |
| Orache | Atriplex spp |
| Orpine | Sedum telephium |
| Osier | Salix viminalis |
| Ragwort | Senecio jacobaea |
| Soapwort | Saponaria officinalis |
| Spear Thistle | Cirsium vulgare |
| Yellow flag | Iris pseudacorus |