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Culzean gives an
impression of how wealthy
some Families were a few
Centuries back, as along
with the Castle, the vast
Grounds and Gardens are
impressive.
The coastal road A719,
between Girvan and Ayr,
passing Turnberry, Maidens
and Dunure, is one of the
most scenic in
Scotland.
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Girvan History
Girvan is thought to
have evolved from a tiny
Fishing Village, with a
number of Small Boats
specializing in catching
Herring where the River
Girvan enters the sea.
Due to high Taxes
imposed on Imported Goods
in the 1700s & 1800s,
Fishing Boats at Girvan
were used for Smuggling,
transferring Goods from
larger Ships onto the
Mainland without paying
Taxes.
By the 1800s, Girvan
Harbour was used to export
Grain, Coal and Lime, with
the Town growing more after
companies from Glasgow
opened Factories for the
Weaving of
Cotton-Cloth.
The Rail Line from
Glasgow reached Girvan in
1860, leading to the Town
being promoted as a Beach
Resort. The Town has
remained a peaceful Beach
Resort with a number of
Holiday Parks close by, a
Fine Beach, Amusements,
Kids Play, Boating Lake,
Cafe's, Restaurants,
Bar/Diners, and Golf
Course.
Sea Angling out of
Girvan on Boats was also a
popular Attraction,
especially during the
Glasgow Fair Holidays in
late July, a time when
Mackerel could be caught 5
at a time, and Cod over 20
pounds were common.
1900s early - Girvan
Fish Market was busy with a
large number of Fishing
Boats up to 70 feet long
based at Girvan, a great
place to view the different
Fish caught in the Waters
around Girvan.
1940s - Alginate
Industries Limited opened a
factory 3 miles north of
Girvan on the Coast, used
to process Seaweed for use
in Food such as Ice Cream
to make it smoother, and
put a head on Beer.
1940s - the Grangeston
Munitions Factory was built
during World War Two, about
2 miles north of Girvan,
making Non Flash Propellant
for Gun and Rifle
Cartridges.
1963 - William Grant
& Sons purchased the
former Munitions Factory at
Grangeston to built a Grain
Distillery, now one of the
largest Distilleries in
Scotland, if not the
largest. Cameronbridge in
Fife, better known as Haig,
is normally regarded as the
largest Grain Distillery in
Scotland and Europe.
Single Malt Distilleries
produce less, as that
process takes longer,
malting the barley by
watering it and drying it a
few times, hence more
expensive.
Grants Parent Company is
Glenfiddich in Speyside,
that specializes in the
more expensive Single
Malt.
Grants Family
Reserve, formerly
Grants Standfast, is an
inexpensive Blended Whisky,
with vast sales around the
World. The Grain Whisky
from Girvan is Blended with
more expensive Single Malt
to make the Family Reserve,
how much, and what Single
Malt is a Trade Secrete.
Master Blenders spend
decades working out the top
Blends for different
Markets and Price.
Grants now also produce
Vodka and Gin, along with
Blended Whisky up
to 25 years old, at about
£120 per bottle.
1960s - Grangeston
Industrial Estate grew next
to the Distillery with
Companies over the years
manufacturing Cloth,
Clothing, Dental Floss,
Surgical Clothing, and Wood
Pellets for Heating.
1979 - Nestle opened a
Chocolate Factory at
Grangeston Industrial
Estate, combining Ayrshire
Milk, Sugar, and ground
Cocoa Beans to make
Chocolate Crumb, that is
then transported to York
where it is made into
Chocolate Bars and Biscuits
such as: KitKat, Aero,
Rolo, Quality Street, and
Yorkie.
1996 - a Large Modern
Fish Market was built at
Troon, 30 miles north,
leading to the closure of
the Girvan Fish Market.
Girvan Harbour holds a
number of Pleasure Vessels,
Boat Yard, small Fishing
Fleet, Lifeboat, and Boat
Link to the Isle of Ailsa
Craig, about 10 miles
west.
Ailsa Craig is
popular for Boat Trips
around to view Birds and
Seals, longer Trips to
visit the Lighthouse and
Castle, and longer Trips to
Hike to the top.
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