Wemyss Bay
Directly bordering North Ayrshire, this particularly picturesque residential village is very popular with city commuters and some of the staff from the multinational industries based around Inverclyde.
Wemyss Bay formed part of the Kelly Estate which was established in the late 15th century by the Bannatyne family. Wemyss Bay Caravan Park now occupies the site of their family home, Kelly Castle, which was burnt down in 1740. In the 19th century Kelly house was built, but this was also destroyed by fire in 1913 - suffragettes were thought to be responsible.
It was the advent of the railway age which firmly established Wemyss Bay as a popular residential village and holiday resort. The station at Wemyss Bay pier is a Grade A listed building and one of the finest railway buildings in Scotland. The rail service complements the regular ferry service to the Isle of Bute which operates from the pier. You can now visit the Friends of Wemyss Bay website via the link on this page.