Tour of Ailsa Craig

Right is a view of Ailsa Craig when approaching from Girvan. Ailsa Craig is a 1,114 feet high volcanic rock that protrudes from middle of the Firth of Clyde. With the Ayrshire town of Girvan being only ten miles east of the Craig, some local boat owners offer trips around the rock.

Documents from the early 1400s show Crossraguel Abbey as the earliest recorded owner of the island. The Craig is now a bird sanctuary; home too more than 70,000 birds. These include gannets, guillemots, razorbill's, kittiwakes and herring gulls. Anyone wishing to land on the island must acquire a permit from the local council before doing so. Left is a view from the northwest showing the cliffs that are home to so many species of birds. 

The castle sitting high on the left was built for the Hamilton’s in the 1400s/1500s. The lighthouse in the foreground was completed in 1886. The Craig has vast quantities of fine granite that was mined for manufacturing curling stones from the early 1800s - 1971. Many of the finest curling stones still used today are made of this granite. Between mining and before the lighthouse was automated, there would be up to 29 people living on the island throughout the summer.

Ailsa Craig was acquired by the Kennedy’s of Cassillis in 1560 and is still owned by a member of that family, the present day Marquis of Ailsa ‘Charles Kennedy’.

Trips to or around the island on the small boat M.F.V. Glorious can be booked by phoning Mark McCrindle 01465 713 219.
Website www.ailsacraig.org.uk.
Email: mccrindlem@aol.com.

See also Waverley Paddle Steamer for trips around the island.

Photos of the island were donated by Ann Bowker. View more excellent photos of the trip to the island at http://web.ukonline.co.uk/mountains/ailsa.htm.