West Kilbride is a scenic village on the North Coast of North Ayrshire, lying alongside the Firth of Clyde and offering iconic views of the local islands, the distant mainland of the Mull of Kintyre, The Arrochar Alps and as far as the Paps on the Isle of Jura. The village is a 40-minute drive from Glasgow, and an hour and a half from Edinburgh. Many beaches wind their way from the South, passing through Seamill and on to Portencross Hamlet and Castle. The Isle of Arran ferry is 6 miles South of the village.

This traditional Scottish village is registered as Craft Town Scotland and owns nine working studios and the Barony Craft Centre. The main shopping street is close to the green space of the Glen and gardens, and offers various cultural attractions including a range of family-owned shops and studios, cafes, pubs and independent art and craft retailers.

The village has a weaving history as well working connections with the Coats Cotton Manufacturers of Paisley. This crafting history has been further developed and in 1998 a village wide regeneration project was started by the newly formed West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd. With strong commitment and perseverance, and the support of many local volunteers and funders, West Kilbride, Craft Town Scotland was launched. 

Not only is West Kilbride an interesting place to live, it also offers a unique visitor experience. The village has developed a creative culture and the Initiative owns nine subsidised studios which are rented out to a range of makers and artists. Also on offer is a lovely exhibition space, café and further masterclass studios which are all housed in a stylishly refurbished former Victorian church. 

Local retail businesses offer a wide range of goods and include the award-winning Opus Couture (wedding dresses and accessories), LAH Travel, Giuliani’s (coffee, chocolate and confectionery), Climies (butchers and fishmonger), Scottish Country Foods (vegetables and fruits), Petz (for pets), The Kandy Bar Bakery, Nourish (sustainable and health foods), The Wee Deli, D & B Gallery (cards, stationery, art and craft supplies) and Timberbooks.

The craft studios have encouraged other creative businesses, and these are complemented by local gardens and green spaces which are maintained by an army of volunteers. A culture of music has also grown, and professional concerts take place throughout the year with many opportunities for amateur musicians as well. Outdoor activities are well catered for with walks along the many beaches or into the hills, amateur football, 3 all-weather floodlit tennis courts and a bowling green.

West Kilbride Museum is also popular with visitors and is located on the first floor of the Village Hall, showing various art and history displays. The station building, Kirktonhall and Overton (a former church), are also buildings of note, as is the memorial to Robert Simson, an 18th Century mathematician.

Volunteering in 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 which adds to the range of gardens and sporting activities already in place. There is a much-loved walk through the Glen woods along the Kilbride Burn to the sandy beaches of Seamill, the Ayrshire Coastal Path and the West Kilbride Golf Course – a links course over 120 years old and open for visiting golfers. 

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. For anyone interested in Creativity and Community Regeneration West Kilbride is a particularly interesting place to visit.

Three airports offer flights into Central Scotland – Glasgow, Glasgow Prestwick and Edinburgh. Prestwick Airport is closest to West Kilbride and lies in South Ayrshire. The village is also easy to reach with regular local bus and train services available from Glasgow, Largs and Ayr. Edinburgh to Glasgow offers a regular service too. When travelling by road, the M8 and M77 offer easy access to Ayrshire and the local A737 or A78 link the motorways to the local towns and villages.

Visits to Portencross Castle, Hunterston Castle and walks along the beaches add to the available activities, and if you want a castle of your own then Law Castle offers very special, exclusive use accommodation. All of the hills around the village are enjoyable to climb and the views over the village, estuary and islands make the climbs worthwhile.