Visit West Kilbride Places

Welcome to Visit West Kilbride Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in West Kilbride

  

West Kilbride Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about West Kilbride

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West Kilbride history

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Early history

Neolithic cup and ring marked stone is located on Blackshaw Hill, near West Kilbride . This stone is unusual, in that it is carved with three spirals . The purpose of such stones is not known, but it is considered that they may have had religious importance .

Celtic

West Kilbride is generally believed to be named after the ancient Celtic Saint Brigid of Kildare, often known as St Bride . The name suggests there was once a cell or kil to Brigid in the area, although local legend has her visit to establish her church around 500 AD . The “West” prefix was added to distinguish between other places which commemorates the same Celtic saint .

Medieval

Law Castle was built in the 15th century for King James III’s sister Mary . The castle is a simple rectangular structure with a sloping roof and several large chimneys protruding at each side . It has been substantially restored and refurbished in recent years .

Early modern

The town became known as a weaving and agricultural town, one of many Ayrshire towns specialising in potatoes . Since the town became linked by rail to Glasgow in 1878, it began to attract more visitors to the Hydropathic spa at Seamill .

West Kilbride culture & places

Festivals and public events

Music, stalls and children’s fairground rides are set up on Main Street and adjoining Glen Road, which are closed to traffic for the evening . Shops open late as a procession of children and adults follow Santa to village hall .

Sport

West Kilbride Golf Club, a championship links course, is situated at Fullerton Drive, Seamill . The original designer of the course was Old Tom Morris . The club hosted the Millennium British Ladies’ Championship and Scottish Boys’ Championship .

West Kilbride economy & business

Work and employment

The local area is predominantly rural, but agriculture accounts for only 1.4% of local employment . Managers and professional occupations make up 33.7% of the employed population .

Farming and local industry

The area is noted for its Ayrshire potatoes . These grow well locally, thanks to the use of seaweed fertiliser . Other crops grown include sweetcorn (for cattle food), barley, root vegetables and summer berries .

Crafts

West Kilbride is now achieving fame as the “Craft Town Scotland” The village boasts a number of craft shops and studios . The Barony Craft Centre provides a convenient way for craftspeople to sell their art and craftwork .

West Kilbride landmarks

St. Andrew’s church, formerly known as St. Brides, belongs to the Church of Scotland. In addition to being a church, it has several large function rooms which are used by local groups.

West Kilbride geography / climate

West Kilbride is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about 40 miles (60 km) southwest of Glasgow. It lies about 8 mi (13 km) south of Largs and about 5 mi (8 km) north of the “Three Towns” conurbation of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston. The built-up area extends from Seamill on the coast of the Firth of Clyde to the principal part of the town.

You can visit West Kilbride places with Walkfo West Kilbride to hear history at West Kilbride’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo West Kilbride has 13 places to visit in our interactive West Kilbride map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout West Kilbride, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at West Kilbride places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to West Kilbride & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 13 audio facts unique to West Kilbride places in an interactive West Kilbride map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit West Kilbride Places Map
13 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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West Kilbride historic spots	West Kilbride tourist destinations	West Kilbride plaques	West Kilbride geographic features
Walkfo West Kilbride tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in West Kilbride

  

Best West Kilbride places to visit

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West Kilbride has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied West Kilbride’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo West Kilbride’s information audio spots:

Portencross Castle Portencross Castle is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about 3 km from West Kilbride . The site has been fortified since the 11th Century . The present tower castle is thought to date from the mid-14th Century and later .

Visit West Kilbride plaques