About Troon
Troon is a traditional seaside town with a little bit extra. The soft sand of the south beach is popular with visitors young and old for everything from paddling and picnics to wind and kite surfing. The north beach is good for bird watching especially at low tide and is also used for wind sports.
There is an abundance of cafes, tearooms, bars and restaurants within walking distance of Tigh Dearg which cater for all tastes and budgets.
The harbour is home to a fishing fleet and fish market. There is always something interesting to see at the harbour and the nearby ballast bank has excellent views of North and South Ayrshire, Ailsa Craig, Arran and, on a clear day, the Mull of Kintyre. Troon Marina has the capacity to berth 400 yachts and has a chandler's store and the usual support services.
Eating Out
Troon is fortunate in having a fine range of bars, restaurants, and hotels for eating out or enjoying a drink in convivial surroundings. The range of restaurants goes from cafes through fish and chip places and smart middle range restaurants to one of the best fish reataurants in Scotland. Most of these establishments are within a few minutes walk from Tigh Dearg. All the hotels in the area offer meals to non residents. Two of these are within walking distance and the rest no more than 5 minutes by taxi.
Golf
Troon is probably most well known for golf. Royal Troon golf course hosts the Open Championship every seven years or so and is open for visitors to play by arrangement, or simply to walk round the links on the public access paths and absorb the special atmosphere of one of the world's greatest golf courses. Royal Troon's sister course, Portland, is a shorter, less demanding links course.
Troon also has three municipal courses - the short Fullarton, ideal for beginners, the long Lochgreen and the Darley, shorter but with all the hazards of a links and more demanding of straight drives.
Activities
Troon has a great choice of activities for the whole family. One of the must-see attractions in Troon is the historic Dundonald Castle, built in 1371, which was used by the early Stewart kings as a Royal residence. Perched on a hill above the village, the castle offers the best views of Ayrshire.
- Golf breaks.
- Family holidays.
- Watersports.
- Nature and wildlife.
- Miles of sandy beaches.
- Coastal paths for walking and cycling.
Shopping
There is a diverse range of niche shopping experiences awaiting the retail enthusiast. Troon offers many shops not found on the average high street and a good number of these are run by the owners themselves. These independent retailers generally offer more interesting products and personal service.
Coastal Paths
The Ayrshire Coastal Path from Glenapp to Skelmorlie runs 100 miles along one of the finest panoramic coastlines in the British Isles. Crowned with a superb backdrop of the ever-changing profile of the mountains of Arran across the Firth of Clyde, this coastline is steeped in history and teeming with wildlife. The southern end of the Ayrshire Coastal Path also connects to the Lochryan Coastal Path at Glenapp, which forms part of the Mull of Galloway Trail.