Troon shorefront
Troon shorefront is divided into two beach areas. Barassie shore which is open and
exposed to the north, and Troon shore which is curved into a bay shape and so more
protected to the south. The two are divided by Troon Harbour which was a small fishing
port until 1808 when the Duke of Portland started to build and develop the harbour
so that it was suitable for the export of coal to Ireland. Industry still flourishes
within the harbour with fishing, shipbuilding, and the sawmill and now is the port
for P&O Irish Sea Ferries to and from Larne.
Troon is an excellent location for a great number of water sports. With its excellent
marina it provides a good base for sailing in the Firth of Clyde. Whenever the wind
and tide allow, windsurfers can be seen enjoying the surf. There are also times
that you will see motor boats and jet skis. For those of a less energetic nature
fishing, whether from the harbour area or deep-sea, fishing is a popular activity.
Troon developed as a tourist location during the 1890's, centred around the beautiful
sandy beaches and excellent views out to Arran and south to the Brown Carrick hills.
The main visitors who first came to Troon were day-trippers from Glasgow and Paisley
- factory workers for whom this was their only holiday. The more affluent would
enjoy the sea air while staying at one of the hotels. Troon is still a popular place
to visit for those who wish a day at the seaside and is one of the few west coast
beaches to have been granted the Clean Beach Award.
The shorefront has a promenade with seating areas along its length; the lovely Italian
Gardens situated to the north should not be missed. As you head south a play park
and fun fair attract young children. Royal Troon golf course is at the southern
end of the beach, and has been host to the British Open Golf Championships on a
number of occasions.
The southern end of Troon sand dunes have over a number of years, been battered
by strong winds and high tides. This has resulted in the dunes being very fragile
with loose sand being blown inshore causing damage to drains and gardens. In the
winter of 1999 / 2000 a dune restoration programme got underway. Advice was sought
from Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Wildlife Trust with most of the work
being undertaken by Scottish Wildlife Trust employees and local volunteers. By the
summer of 2000 it was clear that all the hard work had paid off and the project
had been a success.