Inverkip is a village in Inverclyde, the western part of Clydeside in the Central Belt of Scotland, best known for its large marina. In 2022 its population was 3500.
Wemyss Bay (pronounced "Weems") three miles south is the railway terminus and ferry port for the Isle of Bute. Wemyss Bay merges to the south with Skelmorlie across the border into Ayrshire, but sights associated with that village are even further south, so see Largs.
Get in
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1 Inverkip station has hourly trains from Glasgow Central, taking 45 min via Paisley Gilmour Street (for Glasgow Airport (GLA IATA)), Bishopton and Port Glasgow. These run 6AM-10:30PM and trundle onward for another 5 min to Wemyss Bay. The station is just a platform halt with no ticket office, machines or other facilities, buy on board if you start your journey here. There is step-free access to the sole platform.
2 Wemyss Bay is end of the line, next to the ferry pier. This station is an elegant 1903 creation of glass and steel curves, and has a good bar while you're waiting. It has a ticket office and machines, toilets, and step-free access to all platforms.
Calmac ferries sail from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. They take 35 min and sail at least hourly daily year-round 7AM-8PM, see Bute for fares. You don't have to return the same way, as another ferry connects the island to the Cowal peninsula.
By bus: McGill's Bus 903 runs from Glasgow Buchanan station via Braehead, Port Glasgow and Greenock to Inverkip (30 min), Wemyss Bay and Largs. It runs every 30 min M-Sa and hourly on Sunday.
Bus 901 also runs from Buchanan station every 30 min, but from Greenock goes via Gourock (for ferries to Kilcreggan and Dunoon) then to Wemyss Bay and Largs, skipping Inverkip.
From Ayr, Prestwick Airport (PIK IATA), Irvine or Ardrossan take Stagecoach 585 to Largs and change for the 901 / 903.
By road from Glasgow city or airport follow M8 west onto A78.
Get around
[edit]- "Sync throu the Largis, him allane / Till Ennerkip the way he tane /
- "Rigcht to the castell that wes then / Stuffyt all with Ingless men / That him resaiffyt in daynte."
- - In 1307 the Scots beat the invading English, who holed up in Inverkip Castle then escaped by sea.
Both villages are small and walkable, but take Bus 903 to get between them. You need a bike or car to reach anywhere away from the main road, such as Loch Thom.
See
[edit]- 1 Inverkip Parish Church, 20 Langhouse Rd, Inverkip PA16 0BJ, ☏ +44 1475 521455. This was built in 1805 in pink sandstone. A hundred yards southeast on Millhouse Road, the old cemetery is on the site of the medieval church; some of its stone was re-used in the Shaw-Stewart mausoleum, now derelict. People from Greenock had to walk six miles each way to attend here until in 1859 they got their own church.
- 2 Ardgowan House, Inverkip PA16 0DW. Plush 18th century mansion at the north edge of Inverkip. It's hired out as a wedding venue (sleeps 20) but doesn't operate as a hotel or restaurant or do tours. In the grounds is its predecessor, a ruined 15th century tower house. You'll have to be content with glimpses of the exterior of both as you drive past on A78.
Do
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- Walk along the shore: it's a decent beach between Inverkip and Wemyss Bay now the former power station has been cleared away.
- Loch Thom and The Cut: see Greenock for description, but these walks are closer to Inverkip, three miles up the Shielhill Glen lane.
- Golf: Skelmorlie GC is two miles south of Wemyss Bay. White tees 5030 yards, par 65, visitor round £25.
- Sea sports: various boat operators offer trips, sea-fishing, sailing, boat-handling courses and scuba-diving in the Firth. These are all for organised groups, so get in touch with the relevant sport or training agency, there's nothing here that you can just rock up and join.
- Scotland's Boat Show is held at Inverkip Marina, with the next probably on 21-22 June 2025, tbc.
Buy
[edit]- Supermarket: Sainsburys in Inverkip is open M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM.
- Buy a boat. The glitzy new stuff is all at the boat show but for better prices come another time, when craft and chandlery will range from serviceable to rusty bathtubs.
Eat
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- Inverkip Hotel serves good meals, see below.
- 1 The Chartroom, Harbourside, Inverkip PA16 0BF, ☏ +44 1475 520919. W-Su noon-11PM. Seafood restaurant with views.
- Wemyss Bay near the ferry pier has McCaskies Cafe (Tu-Su 9AM-4PM) and Macaris chip shop (daily noon-8PM). Turn south, whereupon you cross into Ayrshire, and half a mile away is a Chinese takeaway, Skelmorlie Kitchen (Tu-Su 5-10PM).
Drink
[edit]- The restaurant and hotel in Inverkip have bars.
- Ardgowan Distillery is expected to begin whisky production in 2025, with the first batch going on sale in 2032.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Inverkip Hotel, Main St, Inverkip PA16 0AS, ☏ +44 1475 521478, hello@inverkip.co.uk. Grand little hotel and restaurant. B&B double £100.
- Foresters House, Station Rd, Inverkip PA16 0AY (50 yards west of Inverkip Hotel), ☏ +44 1475 522382. Small friendly B&B, but rooms are on first floor with no lift. B&B double £90.
- 2 Langhouse Castle, Langhouse Rd, Inverkip PA16 0DE, ☏ +44 7540 973578. Charming B&B in a mock castle, a mansion from 1705. B&B double £110.
- Wemyss Bay and its surrounds have nothing for passing visitors. The caravan site on the hill above the ferry pier is open all year but has ten nights minimum stay. Northcliff Manor in the village is self-catering, sleeps ten.
Connect
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As of Dec 2024 Inverkip and Wemyss Bay have 4G from O2, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from EE. There are many dead spots along the approach roads.
Go next
[edit]- You're probably here to reach the Isle of Bute, where Mount Stuart House is the top sight.
- Further down the "Costa Clyde" is Ayrshire, with Largs, Troon, lots of golf, and Robert Burns' birthplace near Ayr.
- The main reason Inverkip and Wemyss Bay have limited amenities is that central Glasgow is only an hour away. Take the hint.