Portencross

Portencross is a hamlet near Farland Head in North Ayrshire, overlooking the Firth of Clyde to Arran and Wee and Great Cumbraes. The Ayrshire Coastal Path runs through it and it is under 2 miles from the A78, Seamill and West Kilbride.
Portencross is home to Portencross Castle, a picturesque 14th century castle with a fascinating history. Lovingly preserved and adapted to its present state in 2010 by the charity Friends of Portencross Castle for future generations to enjoy.
The original natural harbour is alongside the castle with the “newer” natural harbour used by pleasure boat owners these days though it was a haven for fishing boats centuries ago. The pier further north was built to accommodate the steamers taking passengers “doon the watter” on their holidays. This activity went into decline in the 1960s and the pier is now a popular spot for fishermen. The farmlands around the hamlet are famous to this day for their early potato crop as Ayrshire Tatties are eagerly awaited by the locals for their flavour and speedy cooking, skins on.
Divers like to set off from the rocks at Portencross carpark to search for evidence of a Spanish Galleon that sank off the shore several centuries ago when it may have been part of the Spanish Armada. A long recovered cannon of Spanish design, sits on the bank alongside the castle today.
Portencross forms part of the Ayrshire Coastal Path and a walk to Hunterston from Portencross combines history, scenery and wildlife.