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Troon, the beach town just north of Prestwick Airport near Glasgow, features a long arc of glistening sand abutted by an esplanade with a beautiful view of the Isle of Arran's sleeping warrior silhouette. The beach at Troon has been the seaside to which Glaswegians streamed for as long as seaside breaks have been popular, and it still is. Each year the taxi drivers of Glasgow take one day off work to transport special needs children from the city to Troon. Elaborately decorated taxis and even an open-topped double-decker bus parade through the town to bring the children and their caregivers for a day's outing.
Activities and attractions
The beach itself is a property of the South Ayrshire Council and is frequented by sun lovers, windsurfers and vendors selling ice cream. The beach is also home to a kitesurfing outfitter and the calm shallow waters are said to be perfect for the sport, except for the necessity of staying out from under the flight paths in and out of Prestwick. Troon Yacht Haven claims to be Scotland's most accessible marina. Some of its 400 berths are always available to visitors. Even those who prefer to watch the sailors rather than get wet will enjoy the frequent races and regattas on the Clyde.
The village of Troon is most famous outside its immediate environs for golf. The Royal Troon Golf Club, which has hosted the open eight times, is open to guests with a handicap certificate, but the fees are steep. The Council courses are about a tenth the cost, and only the cachet is missing. Less expensive still is a pass for the Council courses good for six rounds in a seven day period.
For music lovers Troon offers live @ Troon, a festival with over forty performers. Less than a decade old, the three day weekend event attracts international talent as well as local bands. Some of the many workshops are targeted to specific age groups, particularly for younger children, but others are appropriate for all ages.
History buffs will enjoy visiting the buildings from Troon's past that are in various states of preservation. Crosbie Castle, constructed about 1240, was the original home of the prominent Fullerton family. It fell into disrepair and many of its stones were appropriated for later structures, but its dungeon contained an underground river. This made it perfect for cold storage, and the castle became known as the Ice House. Today only the dungeon remains. The estate offers woodland footpaths, a bridle path, a play park and pitches for ball games. Fullerton Park is operated by the Council and there is no charge for admission or for parking.
Just south of the park is the ruined Crosby Church. Members of a holy order lived here long before the Fullertons came, and a tiny village once clustered around it. Locals say that the roof blew off the church on the night in 1759 when Robert Burns was born. All that is left is the walls of the church and its graveyard, which dates back to 1240 CE and was used by the Fullerton family until the middle of the twentieth century.
The Black Rocks off the coast near the Fullerton estate are frequently mentioned in the annals of shipwrecks, but the rocks were also used by smugglers. Luggers with local pilots would hazard the dangerous approach and meet farmers with carts who would haul away their cargo before the excise man appeared.
A few miles outside Troon stands Laigh Milton Viaduct. Built in 1810, it is said to be the oldest railway viaduct in the world. The viaduct is no longer used for its original purpose but it is under preservation. The footpath across it gives access to fascinating views.
Access and Places to Stay
Troon's old railway station was one of the earliest in Scotland. Frequent trains and buses connect to Glasgow and Ayr. Prestwick airport is immediately outside Troon, making the town accessible by air from anywhere in the world. Visitors who bring or hire cars will fight heavy traffic, especially towards Glasgow, but the A77 and A78 do give easy access to the M77 from Troon.
Troon is a tourist town replete with accommodation options from the B&B and guest house level all the way to luxury hotels. Dining options are similarly rich, and the nightlife is said to be some of the best in the Glasgow area.
Accommodation in Troon
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