Ardrossan

Ardrossan is a town in Ayrshire in Scotland.

Get in

Ardrossan Harbour

Most people that go to Ardrossan are only transiting through to get to the Isle of Arran.

By car

From the south, the A78 now by-passes Irvine, Stevenston and Saltcoats so Ardrossan is a lot easier to get to. A recommended route avoiding the traffic lights is to stay on the bypass until you pass Ardrossan, turn left when the road reaches the coast, and then turn right at a public toilet, following the coast. Stay on this road and then turn right at the crossroads at Princes Street.

From Glasgow, the M8 takes you to Glasgow Airport and at the Airport, the A737 signposted Irvine and going through Dalry is the best route.

Even though the bypass has been built, the main roads around the town centre can be clogged with ferry traffic, especially in the summer, so watch out. Extensive long term parking is available at the Harbour.

By bus

A variety of bus services run here from all over the area; all of which are operated by Stagecoach Western [2].

• The number 11 bus from Kilmarnock runs every few minutes Monday to Saturday, and every 20 minutes on Sunday.

• The 'Clyde Coast' 585 service runs from Ayr and Glasgow Prestwick International Airport in the south and Greenock, Weymss Bay (for the Isle of Bute and Largs (for Cumbrae) in the north every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 2 hours on Sunday.

• The X36 express bus runs from Glasgow sporadically seven days per week. Other express buses are available Monday to Friday during peak times, see the Stagecoach website for more details.

By train

There is a half-hourly train service from Glasgow, with stops at all of the town's 3 railway stations - Ardrossan South Beach, Ardrossan Town and Ardrossan Harbour.

Trains from Glasgow usually depart at quarter to the hour and quarter past, but this changes at peak times. Trains leaving at quarter to the hour will only stop at Ardrossan South Beach and continue on to Largs, whereas trains leaving at quarter past will carry straight on to Ardrossan Town and Ardrossan Harbour.

By boat

From the harbour, you can catch the Caledonian MacBrayne [3] ferry, MV Caledonian Isles, to the Isle of Arran. This leaves several times a day and there are trains from Glasgow Central that connect with these sailings. The journey time is around 55 minutes, though this can change depending on the weather conditions.

From the beginning of May to the end of September, an additional ship is used for the route, this is currently the MV Isle of Arran. During this period, the MV Isle of Arran also operates a three-times weekly service to and from Campbeltown.

For private vessels and pleasure cruisers there is the Clyde Marina at Ardrossan Harbour which offers superb shelter from the elements and competitive rates. As well as this it is also situated next to an excellent restaurant and a large ASDA supermarket.

By plane

The nearest airport is Prestwick International Airport. This is less than an hour away by the 585 bus, and there is also a train station with a change at Kilwinning station required to reach Ardrossan.

Also convenient is Glasgow International Airport. A bus link take travellers to Paisley Gilmour Street Station where a Ardrossan/Largs train can be taken to Ardrossan.

Get around

Walking is probably all that is required to see the town, it is not huge and above the High Road/Parkhouse Road there is little of interest to tourists.

There are plenty of local buses should walking be impossible e.g. due to the often atrocious weather.

See

South Beach, with Arran in the distance.

• The wind turbines on the hillside near the town are juxtaposed next to the quaint rolling fields.

• South Beach - popular with daytrippers from Glasgow, situated close to amenities and pubs. On good days this beach is very busy and there are often several ice cream vans but bear in mind good days are few and far between.

• Barony St Johns and St Peter's Church are splendid examples of both old and new styles of architecture, situated at South Beach.

• Ardrossan Castle - 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. It is now a ruin but the site towers above the town centre making the approach into Ardrossan Town station reminiscent of Edinburgh Waverley. Excellent views of the surrounding coast and Isle of Arran from the top of Castle Hill.

• North Beach - wonderful stretches of sand north of the town, a superb alternative to South Beach especially at sunset where the Isle of Arran can make for an arresting scene while out on a stroll.

Do

• Go on a trip to the Isle of Arran, of course!.

• Go to Auchenharvie Leisure Centre [4], where you can go ice skating on the UK's only double decker ice rink or you can go swimming in the olympic sized swimming pool. Catch the number 11, 585 or X36 buses from Princes Street.

• Go for a walk around the Holm Plantation area, it is a wonderful alternative to South Beach and there is plenty of grassland for recreation.

• Go bowling at the Bowling club just off South Beach. Disclaimer - this is not a wise choice for the under 60s.

Buy

There is a distinct lack of shops in Ardrossan as neighbouring Saltcoats has the larger retail area. There are two streets in the town with shops however, as well as the ASDA superstore.

Glasgow Street

• Costcutters in Glasgow Street. A small, cheap convenience store.
• A florists
• A motoring shop - car equipment etc.
• A betting shop

Princes Street

• Printing Shop
• Dog Grooming shop
• Bathroom Shop

ASDA - Wait until 3.30PM for the cheap out of date items (you can't miss it as there are always about 15 to 20 folk waiting to grab the 'almost out of date' bargains).

Eat

• Cafe Palazzo (PLAZA), 230-232 Glasgow Street, [1]. 7am-11pm. Traditional Italian Fish and Chips Shop - Cafe - Ice Cream Parlour. Sells brilliant fish and chips! They also offer a sit down service, an extensive selection of sweets (some old fashioned) and newspapers.  edit

• Alberts Fish and Chicken Bar, Glasgow Street. A good chip shop that is only 5 minutes walk from the ferry terminal (They do excellent chips!).

• Jaipur, Glasgow Street. Excellent Indian restaurant - small, but the staff are very friendly and the food is good. Also does a takeaway service.

• Cecchini's, The Marina. Great Italian restaurant at Clyde Marina with sister restaurant in Ayr. It is placed top in Tam Cowan's Daily Record list of Scottish restaurants. Quite pricey but worth going to as other options are far from plentiful. Beware, if you like a crispy and slightly burnt round the edges pizza then state it before you order - often they can be a little too perfect and soft!

• The Laurieston Hotel, South Crescent Road. Good traditional family restaurant with bar meals available as well as the restaurant food. Good deals available if you dine before 6pm otherwise it can be quite expensive with less appeal than Cecchini's.

• Oh Really's, Princes Street. Small cafe with hearty, reasonably priced food and a small gift shop.

• Coletta's Italian Bistro, Princes Street. Small but friendly place with authentic Italian produce for sale. Quite reasonably priced.

Drink

There are a few establishments in which to remedy a dry throat in Ardrossan, some less reputable than others. These are...

Charlie's Bar

The Red Herring

Castlehill Vaults

Cecchini's Bar - more expensive

Johnny Ho's

The Laurieston Hotel - more expensive

Contact

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

Free WiFi is available in the ferry terminal at the harbour.

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

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

Get out

Eglinton Country Park in nearby Kilwinning is a popular place for locals to go for a woodland stroll.

In the town itself there are the 2 beaches, at South Beach there is a children's play park.

Jacks Park, the Piggery, Elm Park and the Holm Plantation are other popular places for walks.

There are many outdoor pursuits available on the Isle of Arran.

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