The Auld Brig Visited

Photos

Local Area

Visited as part of walking the Ayrshire Coastal Path with this section going from Prestwick to Irvine through Troon and Barassie. Route followed coastline past Prestwick golf course then Royal Troon golf course before rounding Troon harbour then continuing north past Western Gailes and Dundonald Links golf courses before you reach Irvine. Much of the 19km route was good long stretches of beach walking. Troon is renowned for the Royal Troon Golf Club which has hosted The Open Championship 10 times, most recently in 2024. The "Postage Stamp" 8th hole is the shortest in the Open rota at 123 yards, while the 11th "Railway" is among the toughest. The town’s name likely derives from a Brythonic or Pictish term meaning "nose" or "cape," reflecting its headland geography. Troon’s natural harbour was enhanced by the 3rd Duke of Portland in 1808. It served Scotland's first Railway opened in 1812, the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway, and became a key coal port by the late 1800s. Troon boasts sandy North and South Beaches, popular for watersports like kitesurfing and paddleboarding. The beach’s southern dunes, part of Royal Troon’s course, are also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The town also featured in Outlander’s season 1 finale, filmed at its coast. Irvine blends a rich medieval history with its designation in 1966 as Scotland’s fifth and final New Town. It has been a royal burgh since 1372 and was a major medieval hub, serving as Scotland’s 12th-century military capital under the Lord High Constable, Hugh de Morville. It was a key port for Glasgow, exporting coal and importing goods like hemp and iron. The town hosted early Scottish kings, including David I, Robert II, and Robert III, and was a focal point during the 1296 Scottish Wars of Independence. Archaeological finds in nearby Dreghorn suggest habitation since the Mesolithic period, with Iron Age hill forts and the Grannie Stane, a glacial boulder, hinting at prehistoric roots. Irvine’s harbour, once Scotland’s third-largest for world trade, declined in the 19th century due to silting and competition from Troon and Ardrossan. With a population of around 34,000 (2020), Irvine's economy, once reliant on coal and shipping, now includes chemical manufacturing, engineering, and life sciences.

The Pub

The Auld Brig is named after an old bridge over the River Irvine with reports suggesting the first wooden structure was built in the 14th century with the first stone bridge being built in 1499. The rivergate shopping centre that hosts the pub now spans the river at this location. Inside the pub the Lavvies are on the same level (and very close) to the bar. Magic! Otherwise the pub is actually OK, built onto the 1970's rivergate shopping centre. Staff Rating: OK

Football Team

Irvine has a junior (semi-professional) football team called Irvine Meadow XI Football Club, commonly known as The Medda. Founded in 1897, the team were originally called Meadow XI after the specific area the 11 players in the team were from. The team has a strong local following and a history of success in junior football, including multiple West of Scotland League titles and Scottish Junior Cup victories, with notable wins in 1959, 1960, and 2012.

Travel

Busses there: change of transport! Needed to utilize plan b! Stagecoach Ayrshire bus drivers are on industrial action, striking for 6 full weeks so there are extremely limited busses in the Ayrshire area as of this week. I had planned the walking route stages knowing there was potential for 6 weeks of strikes, so I am now in easy reach of train stations for the start and end of my remaining sections. So it's Scottish government owned ScotRail to the rescue, with the train from Partick to Glasgow Central then Central to Prestwick on the Ayr line. I still used my free 'bus pass' as it also allows for half price rail fares across the wider Strathclyde transport region - basically from Ayrshire to Glasgow to Oban areas! Busses back: as above. change of transport! ScotRail to the rescue with the train from Irvine to Glasgow Central then Central to Partick!

Beers

Harviestoun Brewery Haggis Hunter, fruity, hoppy, spicy. A fine beer at an even finer price of £1.79 score 5/5. Harviestoun Brewery is an independent Scottish brewery located in Alva at the foot of the Ochil Hills, founded in 1983. Water Source: Uses soft water drawn directly from the nearby Ochil Hills, which gives their beers a clean, smooth finish. Haggis Hunter by Harviestoun Brewery is a hoppy Amber Ale / Bitter (4.3% ABV). Tasting Profile: Features a biscuit malt base complemented by citrus and floral aromas, as well as spicy and grassy undertones. It presents a balance of malty sweetness and light hop bitterness. Food Pairings; unsurprisingly, it pairs brilliantly with haggis, neeps, and Tatties as well as Pub Classics, Roasted Meats, Cheese, and Roasted Vegetables.