KILWINNING -- Getting here is easy!

DRIVING

It’s never been easier to get to Kilwinning. With the new M77 now complete, Glasgow and Central Scotland are closer than ever. You could also try the alternative route along the Clyde coast on the M8 as far as Greenock, then south along the A78.

If you’re travelling from England, you really start to enjoy a breath of fresh air when you leave the M6 behind and drive on to the M74. You have a choice of routes. Follow the A75 west to Castle Douglas, take the A713 northwest and you’ll be on the Galloway Tourist Route to Ayr, driving along the eastern edge of the Galloway Forest Park, then north on the A78 to Kilwinning. Alternatively, you could go further west, where the equally scenic A714 would lead you to Girvan, then north on the A77 via Ayr and Prestwick on to the A78 for Kilwinning; or head for Kilmarnock, enjoying the rewarding views from the upland route along the A76 then west on the A71 and north on the A78 to Kilwinning.

If you’re travelling from the Western Highlands you can reach Arran from the Kintyre peninsula. A delightful short ferry crossing leaves Claonaig for Lochranza on the North of Arran in the summer, continuing with the ferry (Caledonian MacBrayne: http://www.calmac.co.uk) from Brodick to Ardrossan (some 55 minutes sailing time) then south on the A78 to Kilwinning. 

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  SAILING

From Ireland you’ll sail to Cairnryan (Stena : http://www.stenaline.com/) or Stranraer (P & O : http://www.portflarne.co.uk/) or the NEW Sea Cat ( http://www.steam-packet.com/) service in to Troon just down the road from Kilwinning or take the other NEW ferry service from Ballycastle to Campbeltown then drive up the Kintyre peninsula for the ferry to Arran from Claonaig. If you’re from the Western Highlands you can take the ferry ( Caledonian MacBrayne - http://www.calmac.co.uk) from Rothesay to Wemyss Bay or from Dunoon to Gourock and Kilwinning is only a short drive away.

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  FLYING

If you’re travelling from France, Ireland or England (Paris, Dublin, Donegal, Belfast or Stansted) both Ryanair (http://www.ryanair.ie) and Gill Airways operate fast and frequent low-cost services from these destinations to Prestwick (Prestwick International Airport : http://www.glasgow.pwk.com/) in the heart of Ayrshire, just down the road from Kilwinning.

If you’re flying in other UK, European or World centres, you will arrive at Glasgow Airport which is connected to Kilwinning by rail and coach routes.

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TAKING THE TRAIN

The services from Glasgow (Scotrail / S.P.T : enquiries at http://www.railtrack.co.uk/) to Ayr, Irvine, Largs and other towns in the area are frequent and all pass through Kilwinning which is the railway crossroads of Ayrshire. There’s also a good rail service from Stranraer to Ayr.

For ferries to Arran, trains leave Kilwinning for Ardrossan and for a visit to the Isle of Cumbrae, whose main town is Millport, for Largs.

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TAKING THE BUS

An excellent network of express services connects Glasgow with all major cities in the UK. There are frequent onward connections into Ayrshire many passing through Kilwinning. Kilwinning is served by routes operated by Stagecoach and First Bus.

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