Ardrossan

Ardrossan is a port in Ayrshire in Scotland. It's the largest of the "Three Towns" conurbation of Greater Ardrossan, which also includes Saltcoats and Stevenston. The town has few sights and amenities, and the only reason to visit is to catch the ferry to the Isle of Arran.

While nearby towns such as Largs and Troon developed as beach resorts in the Victorian era, the Three Towns have always been industrial. Trades included salt extraction, shipping, quarrying and mining, and in the early 20th C Stevenston was important for the production of military and commercial explosives. Little of these now remain and various regeneration projects are in hand.

• Ardrossan Castle. Interior closed. The castle was once ransacked by William Wallace and his followers and remained an important outpost until Oliver Cromwell took control of it, had it dismantled and sent the stone to build a new castle in Ayr. So it's just a stone stump, but prominently located on the hill above town centre. The ruins have become unsafe and are fenced off(hole in fence near momument), but you can admire the exterior and views across the Firth to Arran.
• Beaches: see "Do".
• Barony St Johns (now a training centre) and St Peter in Chains (RC) are good examples of old and new styles of church architecture. They're close together at the north end of South Beach.
• Montfode Castle. is just a stump of masonry, all that remains of a 16th C tower. Cromwell's not to blame for this ruin however, as it was stripped of its stone in the 19th C to build a dam for a mill at Montfode Farm. You see it first from the bypass A78 just before this reaches the coast. For a closer look, turn onto the coast road then immediately right into the lane.

• St Cuthbert's Church, Campbell Ave, Saltcoats KA21 5AF (Corner of Caledonia Road. Fine church, built in 1908. Note the stain-glass windows and the small carvings around the entrances and within. It's Church of Scotland, with regular services.
• North Ayrshire Heritage Centre, 12 Manse St, Saltcoats KA21 5AA (200 m west of Saltcoats station. M-F 09:30-13:00 & 14:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-13:00 & 14:00-17:00. Local history exhibits. Free.
• Abbottsford Nursing home, 98 Eglinton Rd, Ardrossan KA22 8NN. Location of plaque to remember first ever trans-Atlantic shortwave broadcast . On 11 December 1921, history was made in Ardrossan when the first radio broadcast from the United States of America was received in a field near Abbotsford.

Ardrossan Castle. Interior closed. The castle was once ransacked by William Wallace and his followers and remained an important outpost until Oliver Cromwell took control of it, had it dismantled and sent the stone to build a new castle in Ayr. So it's just a stone stump, but prominently located on the hill above town centre. The ruins have become unsafe and are fenced off(hole in fence near momument), but you can admire the exterior and views across the Firth to Arran.

Beaches: see "Do".

Barony St Johns (now a training centre) and St Peter in Chains (RC) are good examples of old and new styles of church architecture. They're close together at the north end of South Beach.

Montfode Castle. is just a stump of masonry, all that remains of a 16th C tower. Cromwell's not to blame for this ruin however, as it was stripped of its stone in the 19th C to build a dam for a mill at Montfode Farm. You see it first from the bypass A78 just before this reaches the coast. For a closer look, turn onto the coast road then immediately right into the lane.

St Cuthbert's Church, Campbell Ave, Saltcoats KA21 5AF (Corner of Caledonia Road. Fine church, built in 1908. Note the stain-glass windows and the small carvings around the entrances and within. It's Church of Scotland, with regular services.

North Ayrshire Heritage Centre, 12 Manse St, Saltcoats KA21 5AA (200 m west of Saltcoats station. M-F 09:30-13:00 & 14:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-13:00 & 14:00-17:00. Local history exhibits. Free.

Abbottsford Nursing home, 98 Eglinton Rd, Ardrossan KA22 8NN. Location of plaque to remember first ever trans-Atlantic shortwave broadcast . On 11 December 1921, history was made in Ardrossan when the first radio broadcast from the United States of America was received in a field near Abbotsford.

• Beaches along this coastline are:

Ardrossan South Beach, just south of the main railway station, is the principal traditional seaside strip. Amenities, pubs, ice cream vans, Glasgow accents, beach football, gulls stealing chips, squalling kids, yappy West Highland Terriers, what's not to like about it?

Ardrossan North Beach, north of the harbour, is quieter. Best views are at sunset as the light drops over the mountains of Arran. Listen out for the story of how the Earl of Eglington was horribly slain here. No spoilers, but if you seize a cartload of contraband rum on a fine smugglers' beach like this, then beware reprisals, even if you let them keep the cart.

Saltcoats South Beach is another traditional seaside strip, close to Saltcoats railway station where hordes alight from Glasgow.

Stevenston Beach further south is much quieter, but the tide comes right in and with the wind behind the sea it can become hazardous.

• A short way inland from Ardrossan South Beach, Holm Plantation, Sorbie Rd. is a relaxing grassland for recreation and walking.
• Auchenharvie Leisure Centre, Saltcoats Road, Stevenston KA20 3JR (Any bus along B780 Canal St, eg 11 or 585, +44 1294 605126. M-W & F 09:00-21:00, Th 10:00-21:00, Sa Su 09:00-17:00. Activities include ice skating and the Olympic sized swimming pool.
• Ardrossan Bowling Club, Kilmeny Terrace, Ardrossan KA22 8DX (just off South Beach. Disclaimer - this is not a wise choice for the under 60s.
• Apollo Leisure, Saltcoats KA21 5DA. Cinema overlooking Saltcoats harbour.
• Basebowl, 58-60 Hamilton Street Saltcoats KA21 5DS, +44 1294 603801. Daily 10:00-23:00. Ten pin bowling.
• Sail the ferry to Arran even if you're not staying on the island. You can take a day-trip to Brodick and stroll to the castle, or just cruise there and back without stepping ashore. Have a scenic lunch on the way, or look for marine life in the Firth.
• Ardrossan Highland Games are held on the second Sunday in June on Memorial Playing Fields. The next event is on Sun 14 June 2020.

Beaches along this coastline are:

A short way inland from Ardrossan South Beach, Holm Plantation, Sorbie Rd. is a relaxing grassland for recreation and walking.

Auchenharvie Leisure Centre, Saltcoats Road, Stevenston KA20 3JR (Any bus along B780 Canal St, eg 11 or 585, +44 1294 605126. M-W & F 09:00-21:00, Th 10:00-21:00, Sa Su 09:00-17:00. Activities include ice skating and the Olympic sized swimming pool.

Ardrossan Bowling Club, Kilmeny Terrace, Ardrossan KA22 8DX (just off South Beach. Disclaimer - this is not a wise choice for the under 60s.

Apollo Leisure, Saltcoats KA21 5DA. Cinema overlooking Saltcoats harbour.

Basebowl, 58-60 Hamilton Street Saltcoats KA21 5DS, +44 1294 603801. Daily 10:00-23:00. Ten pin bowling.

Sail the ferry to Arran even if you're not staying on the island. You can take a day-trip to Brodick and stroll to the castle, or just cruise there and back without stepping ashore. Have a scenic lunch on the way, or look for marine life in the Firth.

Ardrossan Highland Games are held on the second Sunday in June on Memorial Playing Fields. The next event is on Sun 14 June 2020.

There are few shops in Ardrossan. Glasgow Street and Princes Street have basic shops and the ASDA superstore.

There are many shops in Saltcoats' town centre. Most are found on Hamilton Street, Chapelwell Street, Dockhead Street and Countess Street.

• Cafe Palazzo, 230-232 Glasgow Street (Junction with main road, +44 1294 464355. Daily 06:30-23:00. Traditional Italian fish and chips shop, cafe, and ice cream parlour. They also offer a sit down service, an extensive selection of sweets (some old fashioned) and newspapers.
• Alberts, 35 Glasgow Street KA22 8EP. Daily 11:00-22:00. Fish & chips takeaway.
• Jaipur, 51 Glasgow Street KA22 8EP. Daily 16:00-23:00 plus W-Sa 12:00-13:45. Small friendly restaurant with usual Indian menu. Does takeaway. Set meals from £10 pp.
• Lauriston Hotel: bar meals and restaurant food, see "Sleep". It's best value before 6pm.
• Cecchini's, 5 Dock Rd KA22 8DA (The Marina, +44 1294 471700. Su-Th 09:30-00:00, F Sa 09:30-01:00. Good Italian, a tad pricey but worth it. Let them know if you prefer a well-fired pizza, they usually cook soft. Has another branch in Ayr.

Saltcoats has a huge number of places to eat.

• Cafe Melbourne, 72 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats KA21 5DS, +44 1294 607079. Daily 09:00-16:00. Coffee and snacks.
• Cavani West End Cafe, 68 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats KA21 5DS, +44 1294 464638. Daily 08:00-17:00. Coffee and meals, can serve gluten-free.
• The Kandy Bar, 2 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats. M-Sa 08:00-17:00. Bakery: breads, rolls, sandwiches, cakes.
• Indian restaurants are Motherland Spice (16 Bradshaw St), Punjab Grill (3 Dockhead St) and Sugar & Spice (18 Hamilton St). Dalry six miles north along B714 has Braidwoods, a Michelin-starred restaurant, you need to book at least a month ahead. Open W-Sa 12:00-13:30 & 19:00-21:00, Su 12:00-13:30; May-Aug also Tu 19:00-21:00.

Cafe Palazzo, 230-232 Glasgow Street (Junction with main road, +44 1294 464355. Daily 06:30-23:00. Traditional Italian fish and chips shop, cafe, and ice cream parlour. They also offer a sit down service, an extensive selection of sweets (some old fashioned) and newspapers.

Alberts, 35 Glasgow Street KA22 8EP. Daily 11:00-22:00. Fish & chips takeaway.

Jaipur, 51 Glasgow Street KA22 8EP. Daily 16:00-23:00 plus W-Sa 12:00-13:45. Small friendly restaurant with usual Indian menu. Does takeaway. Set meals from £10 pp.

Lauriston Hotel: bar meals and restaurant food, see "Sleep". It's best value before 6pm.

Cecchini's, 5 Dock Rd KA22 8DA (The Marina, +44 1294 471700. Su-Th 09:30-00:00, F Sa 09:30-01:00. Good Italian, a tad pricey but worth it. Let them know if you prefer a well-fired pizza, they usually cook soft. Has another branch in Ayr.

Cafe Melbourne, 72 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats KA21 5DS, +44 1294 607079. Daily 09:00-16:00. Coffee and snacks.

Cavani West End Cafe, 68 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats KA21 5DS, +44 1294 464638. Daily 08:00-17:00. Coffee and meals, can serve gluten-free.

The Kandy Bar, 2 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats. M-Sa 08:00-17:00. Bakery: breads, rolls, sandwiches, cakes.

There are a few establishments in which to remedy a dry throat in Ardrossan.

• Charlie's Bar, 18 Glasgow St KA22 8EL. Daily 10:00-23:30. Friendly wee place.
• Castlehill Vaults, 2-4 Princes Pl KA22 8HB. M & Th-Sa 09:00-01:00, Tu W 09:00-00:00, Su 10:00-00:00. Pub with games. Free wifi, beer garden, dog friendly, horse racing and football on TVs.

Saltcoats has a plethora of drinking establishments, mostly situated around Hamilton Street and Dockhead Street in the town centre.

• The Salt Cot, 7 Hamilton Street Saltcoats KA21 5DS. Su-Th 08:00-00:00, F Sa 08:00-01:00. J.D. Wetherspoon pub with food.
• Nonsuch Sports Bar, 35-37 Windmill Street Saltcoats KA21 5EW. M-W 11:00-23:00, Th F 11:00-00:00, Sa 10:00-00:00, Su 10:00-23:00. Play pool here.

Charlie's Bar, 18 Glasgow St KA22 8EL. Daily 10:00-23:30. Friendly wee place.

Castlehill Vaults, 2-4 Princes Pl KA22 8HB. M & Th-Sa 09:00-01:00, Tu W 09:00-00:00, Su 10:00-00:00. Pub with games. Free wifi, beer garden, dog friendly, horse racing and football on TVs.

The Salt Cot, 7 Hamilton Street Saltcoats KA21 5DS. Su-Th 08:00-00:00, F Sa 08:00-01:00. J.D. Wetherspoon pub with food.

Nonsuch Sports Bar, 35-37 Windmill Street Saltcoats KA21 5EW. M-W 11:00-23:00, Th F 11:00-00:00, Sa 10:00-00:00, Su 10:00-23:00. Play pool here.

Free internet access at the Ardrossan Library where there are pleasant, foreigner-tolerant librarians.

The Harbour where a free wifi internet connection is set up.

There are several public phone booths in the centre of town.

Several postboxes around town and a Post Office in neighbouring Saltcoats.

• The top attraction is the Isle of Arran, which can be done on a day-trip but deserves a longer stay.
• A short train-ride brings you to Largs, with a ferry to Cumbrae - and a day-trip will be enough here.
• Nearby Kilwinning has a ruined abbey, castle and country park.
• Visit Ayr, and especially Alloway, for the Burns Heritage Park.