The Joys of Troon

[OfftoPenzance]

Hello again,

Just started a thread about the Rhins of Galloway, but DH and I will also be going through Troon as we drive down the west coast. Unfortunately we'll miss the Mod Festival, but has anyone any hints and tips for skulking around Troon for a couple of days? According to the interwebz, it's the Jewel in Ayrshire's Crown (compared with the rest of North Ayrshire..) ...is this indeed the case, in your experience???

Thank you again,

Not anymore. Its really run down. The beach and views are lovely same for all the ayrshire coastal towns. You can walk from Ayr to Troon mostly on the beach(ayrshire coastal walk) if tide out and weather is good then there's nowhere else like it. Hopefully someone will have something more positive say.

God we love Troon. Just lovely to walk around. Lovely beach, lido or scotts is great for food. Nice ice creams too.

Piersland House is nice for food and to stay in, if you have kids they can run around in the garden to burn off some energy!

Yeah, this was my experience unfortunately. It makes me sad when I visit places like this when I can see the potential for what it could be. Mind you was a few years ago!

It’s not what it once was, that’s for sure, but I like it - DH is from Troon. The Piersland and Highgrove hotels are lovely and the beach is great for a walk to blow away the cobwebs. I think I’d struggle to spend 2 days there though! If you can get to Culzean Castle that’s well worth a visit and you must visit the electric brae - still haven’t worked it out!

s

Blimey!

And we're actually staying at the Piersland.. so that's a good start...

I second Scotts for amazing seafood!

Culzean castle wonderful

Dunure beach

Ailsa Craig boat trip

I agree try Scotts
www.scotts-troon.co.uk

The Wee Hurrie chip shop at the harbour is where we go for takeaway lunch after a morning on the beach. Freshly caught and freshly cooked

Was Ailsa Craig where Butlins Ayr was in the 1970s?

We were taken there for the day as children. I remember the wonderful ice cream parlour, the cable car, the beachcomber bar and the free fairground rides. It seemed like paradise at the time.

Bloom is a really nice coffee shop there probably the best of the bunch as most of the rest , there is a nice farm shop /tea room just outside Troon Langholm Farm which is always busy but really good . The nearby town of Prestwick has nice little gift shops and coffee shops . Be aware though both places are pretty dead on a Sunday except for pubs if it’s not great weather there’s not a huge amount to do .

Ailsa craig is the big lump of rock out in the water you see from the beach

Butlins Ayr is now Haven Craig Tara.
Ailsa Craig is a big lump of rock, a volcanic plug in the sea off the coast of South Ayrshire

Scott’s was really disappointing the last time we went - we’ve been a few times but the service was really poor and the menu had changed so it was very limited. Maybe it’s improved though. The one at South Queensferry is much better imo - although a bit far to drive from Troon!

Lido is really nice and great service, think they are part of buzzworks

Ailsa Craig - AKA The Currant Bun

I'm from a different town in Ayrshire and pop to Troon quite a lot. It's probably not quite what it used to be, but is anywhere these days? Often walk along promenade or sometimes even just the North Shore with the dog. Usually rather bracing. I like Lidos for brunch! But at the end of the day, you can't beat a west coast sunset. I never tire of that view across to Arran.

I though that another name for the Ailsa Craig was 'Paddy's Milestone'. Have I confused it with somewhere else?

You're not confused. That is it's alternative name.

I am from Ayrshire and I have never seen the huge attraction of Troon, nice-ish shore walk but I prefer the walk Irvine towards Troon on the sand closer to the sea.

Lido/Scotts have a buzz but we have found the food, and sometimes the service when busy is very hit and miss.

Piersland - we haven't been back to for a few years since my mums Ruby wedding celebration and there were earwigs everywhere (first spotted when unfolding the napkins, then dh had one run out from under his salad which ruined the ambience a bit! 🤣). It get great reviews, think they had a one off problem!

Culzean which is outside Troon/ towards Maybole is a nice visit, especially the gardens in summer.

Not sure what tour guides you're reading, but (if you're not golfing!) there's nothing to do in Troon - besides for eat and have an ice cream.
In South Ayrshire, Alloway and (a short trip down the coast to) Culzean are worth visiting. In Alloway you have the Burns cottage and museum, and the Rozelle Estate nearby.
Culzean is a great day out for kids. Heads of Ayr Farm Park too (which is next to Culzean) is also a great day out for kids. All of these places are within a 20 minute drive of Troon.

North Ayrshire has lots too though - the Isle of Arran is in the North. You also have Kelburn Castle and Country Park in the North, and its a nice drive to Kelburn through Seamill and West Kilbride (great beach in Seamill, amazing views of Arran). Largs too is a place kids love (my daughter is 14 now and still loves Largs!), there's a funfair at Largs plus speed boat trips, amusements etc. (and Nardini's ice cream is much nicer than any you'll get in Troon!).