West Kilbride

West Kilbride is a scenic village in North Ayrshire on its west coast by the Firth of Clyde with many parts of it offering great views over to Arran and surrounding islands. The village is thought to be named after an ancient Celtic Saint; Brigid of Kildare, Ireland, who was known as St Bride. It is a hilly village bordered by the walking hills of Tarbert, Law and The Cauldron. The Kirktonhall Glen, gifted to the village nearly a century ago, offers walks to the beach via the village of Seamill. West Kilbride is umbilically connected to Seamill and from this seaside village, by the beach or road to the hamlet of Portencross with its Castle that dates back to around 1360.

West Kilbride is a cultural hub and is home to a variety of studios and galleries, showcasing local artists' work strung along the main street interspersed with a variety of local traders, a couple of pubs and several garden spaces. The Barony Centre, a former church, is a large exhibition space, shop and meeting place with a great café. Volunteers work alongside the staff to offer a diversity of events.
Other places that are popular with visitors include West Kilbride Museum. This is located on the first floor of the Village Hall. The Museum shows various art and history displays. The station building, Kirktonhall and Overton a former church are buildings of note as is the memorial to Robert Simson, an 18th Century mathematician.
Volunteering by the community is an important part of the regeneration of the village and gardens such as The Boyd Orr named after the Nobel Peace prize winner who grew up in the village, are maintained now by The Environmental Group. In Kirktonhall Glen, a community orchard has been created to the range of gardens and sporting activities already in place and in addition to the much loved walk through the woods along the Kilbride Burn to the sandy beach, The Ayrshire Coastal Path and The West Kilbride Golf Course – a links course coming up to 120 years old.