ALF IndexTransport / Sea / HarbourMost of the coastal communities have depended heavily on their harbours in the past, as they provided a useful supplement to the ports of Greenock and Glasgow. The main Ayrshire ports are Ardrossan, Ayr, Troon and Irvine. Irvine and Ayr were in use from medieval times – and were very busy until the 18th century with trade from America. All four ports were kept busy in the 19th century with the enlargement of the Ayrshire coalfields and the opening of the railways (which transported the coal quickly to the coast). For much of the 19th century, Troon had the largest dry dock on the Clyde. There are smaller harbours at Saltcoats and Girvan. Images have been allocated into the following categories and subcategories. |
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