The West Kirk Visited

Photos

Local Area

Visited as part of walking the Ayrshire Coastal Path, a ~150km trek up the coastline from South to North Ayrshire. Some tough going in places with high tides forcing onto high shoreline fields of pebbles or super dry and deep sand. The route starts in Glenapp, then heads north to Ballantrae, Lendalfoot, Girvan, Maidens, Dunure, Ayr and then beyond. Ayr has the first Wetherspoons of the route when heading north. Notable highlights of the route so far includes great views of Ailsa Craig, Arran, Mull of Kintyre and Northern Ireland in the distance. Trump Turnberry and some other golf courses, Culzean Castle and some other castles. There were a couple of caves on the route worth exploring: Bennane Cave is situated along the old, now-abandoned Girvan coastline road, about 2 miles north-northeast of Ballantrae, beneath Bennane Head. The cave is most famously associated with Henry Ewing Torbet (1912–1983), known locally as Snib Scott, who lived there as a hermit for the last 30 years of his life. Bennane Cave is frequently confused with the nearby Sawney Bean’s Cave, located at Balcreuchan Port under Bennane Head. This one has a more sinister story. It is a 200-meter-deep sea cave tied to the legend of Alexander “Sawney” Bean, a 16th-century cannibal who, with his clan, allegedly murdered and ate over 1,000 people.

The Pub

The West Kirk is a former 'free church' from the great Disruption of the Church of Scotland when almost half the clergy and laity left to form the Free Church. The building dates from 1845 and internally is one of the best Wetherspoons I've visited so far. Staff rating good, after the typical Wetherspoons delay.

Football Team

Ayr United Football Club. Nicknamed “The Honest Men” after a line from Robert Burns’ poem Tam o’ Shanter. Two local clubs, Ayr FC and Ayr Parkhouse, merged to form Ayr United in 1910 creating the only Scottish Football League club born from the union of two existing league teams. Moving into Somerset Park, a stadium that’s still their home. It's a 10,185-capacity that’s one of the last 'old-school' stadiums standing. The first match here saw Ayr United thrash the English Aston Villa 3-0. The club’s most legendary manager is Ally MacLeod.

Travel

Busses there: First Glasgow 77, Stagecoach X77, Stagecoach 60 Busses back: Stagecoach 361, Stagecoach X77, First 2 PS. I still fukin laugh out loud at how I can just jump on any bus in Scotland, going anywhere, and it's free. It's totally nuts!!!

Beers

Harviestoun Brewery Bitter & Twisted. Price: £1.99 a pint, score 5/5, sooperb! 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. Bitter & Twisted is Harviestoun’s flagship Golden Ale (4.2% ABV). It was revolutionary at launch for bringing bright, zesty, American-style hop profiles to traditional British golden ales. Tasting Notes; crisp and refreshing; aromas of lemon zest, lime, and fresh hay, balanced by a light, biscuity malt backbone and a clean, bitter finish. Pairs exceptionally well with spicy curry, grilled chicken, or sharp cheddar cheese. Beyond Bitter & Twisted, they produce Schiehallion (a multi-award-winning craft lager named after the Perthshire mountain) and Ola Dubh (a dark ale aged in Highland Park single malt whisky casks).