Ballantrae is a community in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The name probably comes from the Scottish Gaelic Baile na Tràgha, meaning the "town by the beach".
It is the setting of the novel The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Geologically, Ballantrae has lent its name to a subdivision of the Arenig group, which is the name applied to the lowest stage of the Ordovician System.
In June 1673 while holding a conventicle at Knockdow near Ballantrae, Alexander Peden, was captured by Major William Cockburn, and condemned by the Privy Council to four years and three months imprisonment on the Bass Rock and a further fifteen months in the Edinburgh Tolbooth.
A stained glass window in the chancel of the church commemorates Elsie Mackay who perished in an attempt to become the first female transatlantic aviator. Her father, James Mackay, 1st Earl of Inchcape of Strathnaver, was the owner of the Glenapp estate and flowering shrubs spell out her name on the opposite side of the glen.
There is a pub by the main road with accommodation. Houses by the beach are typically single storey with dormer windows. The town boasts a small links golf course where a round of golf can be played for 30p. The beach is of the shingle and sand variety with views of Ailsa Craig, Arran and Kintyre. Piles of wood can be seen on the beach as well as an old fishing boat.
Ballantrae has a Primary School which is called Ballantrae Primary School. There are four garages. One of them is a petrol station/garage; the workers there put the petrol in for you so you just have to tell them how much money you want to spend.