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You may enjoy a sail around Ailsa Craig through Ailsa Craig Trips. Please make your enquiries to Mark McCrindle - his contact details are below.
Ailsa Craig is an island and bird sanctuary lying off the South Ayrshire coast that rises abruptly from the sea to an elevation of over a thousand feet.
Its chief claim to fame is for the rare micro-granite with riebeckite, known as Ailsite, that was used for producing curling stones from the early 1800’s until 1971. It was from the Ailsite here that the curling stones used by the Scottish Women’s Curling Team, Winter 2002 Olympic Gold medal winners, were made.
The Ailsa Craig Lighthouse was completed in 1886 with the construction being overseen by David and Thomas Stevenson. The lighthouse's oil-burning lamps were replaced with incandescent lighting in 1911. The fog signals were discontinued in 1987. The lighthouse was automated in 1990 with a refurbishment taking place in 2001. It was in 2001 that it
was converted to run on solar power. The lighthouse is now remotely monitored from the Northern Lighthouse Board offices in Edinburgh. The lighthouse is not open to the public.
The ruins of a small keep three storeys high are situated on a ledge on the steep side of the Craig. It was built around early 16th century, as is suggested by the thinness of the walls and the internal arrangements. The castle was in ruins in 1580 but was restored by Thos Hamilton. The Kennedy’s of Cassillis acquired Ailsa Craig in 1560. It is still owned by the Marquis of Ailsa.
Ailsa Craig has become a bird reserve through its owner, the Marquis of Ailsa. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said it “hopes to continue the work
of encouraging seabirds to return to the island.”
Ailsa Craig is home to more than seventy thousand birds. These consist of kittiwakes, gannets, guillemots, razorbill's, and herring gulls.
Mark McCrindle
Ailsa Craig Trips
7 Harbour Street
Girvan KA26 9AJ
Telephone number - 01465 713219
E mail - mccrindlem@aol.com
If you wish to sail around Ailsa Craig on the paddle steamer, the Waverley, please contact the website link on your right for details on available trips.
Courtesy of John Phillips ©
An old Style curling stone - Courtesy of Rosser54 ©
The birds have experienced a resurgence in their numbers, since an effective program was put into effect to eradicate the large numbers of imported rats that preyed on the eggs and young chicks. Puffins have returned to the island from the nearby Sheep Islands and Glunimore.
Opening Times
No formal visiting arrangements.
