Troon

Troon is a small seaside town 31 miles from Glasgow, in the South West region of Scotland. It's one of the closest beach resorts to the Glasgow conurbation, so on fine summer weekends it draws crowds, and another major attraction is golf, especially the Royal Troon Golf Club which often hosts the Open. Troon is also a major centre for yachting, and Dundonald Castle stands nearby. Troon is also a transport hub and base for exploring the rest of Ayrshire, including the Clyde islands as it’s close to the ferry ports of Ardrossan (for Arran) and Largs (for Cumbrae).

• See the beaches, with grand views over the Firth of Clyde, and the harbour. South Beach (ie south of the harbour) is the more sheltered, and has always been the main visitors' beach. Barassie or North Beach is breezy and exposed. Further out, the sand dunes north and south of town are designated SSSIs: Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
• Dundonald Castle, Dundonald KA2 9HD (4 miles NE of Troon; take hourly bus for Kilmarnock and get off at Dundonald village., +44 1563 851489. every day 10 am -5 pm. There’s probably been a fortification here since the Stone Age, but the present structure was built by Robert Stewart around 1371 when he became King Robert II. So it’s over 600 years old and looks it: basically just a masonry shell, and an hour here will be plenty. The castle has the usual hoaky legends of buried gold, secret tunnels and the inevitable ghost: Jules Verne added to these by setting part of his novel “The Underground City” here. Adults £4.50, children £2.70.

See the beaches, with grand views over the Firth of Clyde, and the harbour. South Beach (ie south of the harbour) is the more sheltered, and has always been the main visitors' beach. Barassie or North Beach is breezy and exposed. Further out, the sand dunes north and south of town are designated SSSIs: Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Dundonald Castle, Dundonald KA2 9HD (4 miles NE of Troon; take hourly bus for Kilmarnock and get off at Dundonald village., +44 1563 851489. every day 10 am -5 pm. There’s probably been a fortification here since the Stone Age, but the present structure was built by Robert Stewart around 1371 when he became King Robert II. So it’s over 600 years old and looks it: basically just a masonry shell, and an hour here will be plenty. The castle has the usual hoaky legends of buried gold, secret tunnels and the inevitable ghost: Jules Verne added to these by setting part of his novel “The Underground City” here. Adults £4.50, children £2.70.

• Royal Troon Golf Course. Two famous 18-hole golf courses, the Old Course and the Portland, and the 9-hole Craigend. The Old Course is used for the PGA Open Championship and is machair ie sandy links near the sea-shore. As a private club, the members have wide discretion over who they do & don’t admit, and until 2016 they didn’t allow women full membership. They risked losing their PGA tour status over this, so they changed the rules and hosted the Open that year.
• Open Links of Ayrshire is a combi-package with Royal Troon, Prestwick Old Course and Trump Turnberry south of Ayr. Reckon £2000 for a couple playing all three, plus accommodation and meals at Turnberry. You can't book this online, call +44 1655 333 991 or email reservations@trumpturnberry.com.
• As well as the Royal, there are at least half-a-dozen decent golf courses around town.
• Live at Troon is a music festival in mid-Sept. The next event is probably 11-13 Sept 2020 but tbc.

Royal Troon Golf Course. Two famous 18-hole golf courses, the Old Course and the Portland, and the 9-hole Craigend. The Old Course is used for the PGA Open Championship and is machair ie sandy links near the sea-shore. As a private club, the members have wide discretion over who they do & don’t admit, and until 2016 they didn’t allow women full membership. They risked losing their PGA tour status over this, so they changed the rules and hosted the Open that year.

Open Links of Ayrshire is a combi-package with Royal Troon, [[Prestwick]] Old Course and Trump Turnberry south of [[Ayr]]. Reckon £2000 for a couple playing all three, plus accommodation and meals at Turnberry. You can't book this online, call +44 1655 333 991 or email reservations@trumpturnberry.com.

Live at Troon is a music festival in mid-Sept. The next event is probably 11-13 Sept 2020 but tbc.

• The Herbary, Ayr Street, +44 1292 313489. jewellery and fine gifts.
• Lady Par, Ayr Street, +44 1292 318020. golf boutique
• Pandora of Troon, Portland Street, +44 1292 310888. home fragrance, jewellery & gifts
• Words & Music, Portland Street, +44 1292 312248. cards, cds & DVDs
• The Frame Work Gallery, Portland Street, +44 1292 316144. contemporary Scottish art

The Herbary, Ayr Street, +44 1292 313489. jewellery and fine gifts.

Lady Par, Ayr Street, +44 1292 318020. golf boutique

Pandora of Troon, Portland Street, +44 1292 310888. home fragrance, jewellery & gifts

Words & Music, Portland Street, +44 1292 312248. cards, cds & DVDs

The Frame Work Gallery, Portland Street, +44 1292 316144. contemporary Scottish art

• Fairways Restaurant: in Marine Hotel by golf course, see "Sleep".
• Jade Dragon, 9 Templehill KA10 6BQ, +44 1292 313123. Su M W Th 16:00-22:00, F Sa 12:00-14:00 & 16:00-22:00. Oriental restaurant with a contemporary twist.
• Lochgreen House Hotel: fine dining, see "Sleep".
• Maharani Indian Restaurant, 42-46 W Portland St, KA10 6AB, +44 1292 311797. Daily 16:30-00:00, plus F 12:00-14:00. Indian food.
• McCallums Oyster Bar beside the fish harbour is a must for seafood fans. 01292 319339
• Scotts, Harbour Rd KA10 6DJ, +44 1292 315315. Daily 18:30-00:00. Bar and restaurant which looks out towards Arran and Ailsa Craig.

Fairways Restaurant: in Marine Hotel by golf course, see "Sleep".

Jade Dragon, 9 Templehill KA10 6BQ, +44 1292 313123. Su M W Th 16:00-22:00, F Sa 12:00-14:00 & 16:00-22:00. Oriental restaurant with a contemporary twist.

Lochgreen House Hotel: fine dining, see "Sleep".

Maharani Indian Restaurant, 42-46 W Portland St, KA10 6AB, +44 1292 311797. Daily 16:30-00:00, plus F 12:00-14:00. Indian food.

McCallums Oyster Bar beside the fish harbour is a must for seafood fans. 01292 319339

Scotts, Harbour Rd KA10 6DJ, +44 1292 315315. Daily 18:30-00:00. Bar and restaurant which looks out towards Arran and Ailsa Craig.

• Anchorage Hotel, 149 Templehill KA10 6BQ (near harbour, +44 1292 317448. Decent enough for a bar meal and drinks. It has rooms but they're tatty.
• Bruce's Well, 91 Portland Street. Daily 12:00-00:00.
• Cheeky Charlies, 47 Templehill. M-W 10:30-01:00, Th-Su 12:00-02:30.
• Dan MacKays, 69 Portland Street. Daily 10:00-00:30.
• Harbour Bar, Templehill. M-Sa 11:00-01:00, Su 12:00-01:00.
• Lonsdale Bar, 15 Portland Street. M-Sa 11:00-00:00, Su 12:00-23:00.

Anchorage Hotel, 149 Templehill KA10 6BQ (near harbour, +44 1292 317448. Decent enough for a bar meal and drinks. It has rooms but they're tatty.

Bruce's Well, 91 Portland Street. Daily 12:00-00:00.

Cheeky Charlies, 47 Templehill. M-W 10:30-01:00, Th-Su 12:00-02:30.

Dan MacKays, 69 Portland Street. Daily 10:00-00:30.

Harbour Bar, Templehill. M-Sa 11:00-01:00, Su 12:00-01:00.

Lonsdale Bar, 15 Portland Street. M-Sa 11:00-00:00, Su 12:00-23:00.

Day-trips from Troon include

• Largs a similar seaside town, with a short ferry crossing to Great Cumbrae.
• Ayr, where the main attraction is the Burns Heritage Centre at Alloway, and a few miles further south is Culzean Castle.

The Isle of Arran can easily be done as a day-trip, by ferry from Ardrossan, but you’d miss the essence of the place, stay longer. Top destinations further afield are Glasgow and Edinburgh.