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Culzean gives an impression of how
wealthy some Families were a few
Centuries back, as along with the Castle,
the vast Grounds and Gardens are
impressive.
The coastal road A719, between Girvan
and Ayr, passing Turnberry, Maidens and
Dunure, is one of the most scenic in
Scotland.
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Girvan History
Girvan is thought to have evolved from
a tiny Fishing Village, with a number of
Small Boats specializing in catching
Herring where the River Girvan enters the
sea.
Due to high Taxes imposed on Imported
Goods in the 1700s & 1800s, Fishing
Boats at Girvan were used for Smuggling,
transferring Goods from larger Ships onto
the Mainland without paying Taxes.
By the 1800s, Girvan Harbour was used
to export Grain, Coal and Lime, with the
Town growing more after companies from
Glasgow opened Factories for the Weaving
of Cotton-Cloth.
The Rail Line from Glasgow reached
Girvan in 1860, leading to the Town being
promoted as a Beach Resort. The Town has
remained a peaceful Beach Resort with a
number of Holiday Parks close by, a Fine
Beach, Amusements, Kids Play, Boating
Lake, Cafe's, Restaurants, Bar/Diners,
and Golf Course.
Sea Angling out of Girvan on Boats was
also a popular Attraction, especially
during the Glasgow Fair Holidays in late
July, a time when Mackerel could be
caught 5 at a time, Cod over 20 pounds
were common, and huge Conger Eels up to 7
feet long were the top catch.
25 foot Basking Sharks would often
appear next to your boat, a good sign you
were close to the Mackerel, a bit scary
if you were on a 20 foot boat.
1900s early - Girvan Fish Market was
busy with a large number of Fishing Boats
up to 70 feet long based at Girvan, a
great place to view the different Fish
caught in the Waters around Girvan.
1940s - Alginate Industries Limited
opened a factory 3 miles north of Girvan
on the Coast, used to process Seaweed for
use in Food such as Ice Cream to make it
smoother, and put a head on Beer.
1940s - the Grangeston Munitions
Factory was built during World War Two,
about 2 miles north of Girvan, making Non
Flash Propellant for Gun and Rifle
Cartridges.
1963 - William Grant & Sons
purchased the former Munitions Factory at
Grangeston to build a Grain Distillery,
now one of the largest Distilleries in
Scotland, if not the largest. Cameronbridge in Fife, better
known as Haig, is normally regarded as
the largest Grain Distillery in Scotland
and Europe.
Single Malt Distilleries produce less,
as that process takes longer, malting the
barley by watering it and drying it a few
times for more taste, hence more
expensive.
Grants Parent Company is Glenfiddich
in Speyside, that specializes in the more
expensive Single Malt.
Grants Family
Reserve, formerly Grants Standfast,
is an inexpensive Blended Whisky, with
vast sales around the World. The Grain
Whisky from Girvan is Blended with more
expensive Single Malt to make the Family
Reserve, how much, and what Single Malt
is a Trade Secrete. Master Blenders spend
decades working out the top Blends for
different Markets and Price.
Grants now also produce Vodka and Gin,
along with Blended
Whisky up to 25 years old, at about
£120 per bottle.
1960s - Grangeston Industrial Estate
grew next to the Distillery with
Companies over the years manufacturing
Cloth, Clothing, Dental Floss, Surgical
Clothing, and Wood Pellets for
Heating.
1979 - Nestle opened a Chocolate
Factory at Grangeston Industrial Estate,
combining Ayrshire Milk, Sugar, and
ground Cocoa Beans to make Chocolate
Crumb, that is then transported to York
in England where it is made into
Chocolate Bars and Biscuits such as:
KitKat, Aero, Rolo, Quality Street, and
Yorkie.
1996 - a Large Modern Fish Market was
built at Troon, 30 miles north, leading
to the closure of the Girvan Fish
Market.
Girvan Harbour holds a number of
Pleasure Vessels, Boat Yard, small
Fishing Fleet, Lifeboat, and Boat Link to
the Isle of Ailsa Craig, about 10 miles
west.
Ailsa Craig is popular for Boat
Trips around to view Birds and Seals,
longer Trips to visit the Lighthouse and
Castle, and longer Trips to Hike to the
top.
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