Saltcoats

Saltcoats is a town in North Ayshire with about 12,000 folk living in it. It is one of the “three towns” with Ardrossan and Stevenson. The name derives from the salt panning industry that used to produce salt from sea water. Saltcoats is known for its attractive harbour and beach that made it a popular holiday resort.

The staue is of Bobby Lennox who palyed for the famous Glasgow Celtic team who won the Europeam Cup in 1967.

To get to Saltcoats there are four trains an hour from Glasgow Central to North Ayrshire however only two go to Saltcoats, taking about 40 minutes. There are trains for https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/timetables : (1) Ayr via Paisley, Johnstone , Kilwinning and Irvine with every second one also stopping at Glengarnock and Dalry, and

(2) Largs or Ardrossan via Paisley, Johnstone, Glengarnock , Dalry, Kilwinning and Saltcoats.

Should you catch the wrong train (ie Ayr via Irvine) ideal place to change trains, with a 20 minute wait is Kilwinning which has a cafe and you need to change platforms. However, if you are on the Ayr train that stops at Glengarnock you could get off at Glengarnock and visit the Station Inn which as the name suggests is right next to the station via the passenger bridge.

If you decide to to this stop from the Saltcoats train you can have 30 minutes in The Station Inn before the next train.

Leave Saltcoats station towards the riverside The One Bar is across the street from the station. However, leave this as a finishing point and turn down to the left and a minute further on is Bobby’s Bar. Travel down to the bottom of the street and turn left on to Bradshaw Street and a minutes’ walk takes you to The Windy-ha Bar.

Retrace your seps and continue along into the pedestrianised area and The Albion Bar on your left. Continue along the pedestrian zone and as you leave it The Crown is on the right. Cross and head down to the left as if you exit the pedestrian zone down Windmill St. On the left The Flask may be opened (may be closed M, T & W), and walking on you should reach Nonsuch Lounge and Sports Bar, pass by and leave it for the return journey and then just further down at the corner is Oscar’s Café Bar.

Return up to the pedestrian zone, stopping at Nonsuch Lounge and Sports Bar, then at The Crown go left into Hamilton St where there is The Salt Cot (JD Wetherspoon). Return along the pedestrian zone and turn left right opposite The Albion Bar there is The Four Seasons. Then continue up Green St which leads to the station. Now turn right to visit The One Bar opposite the station platform.

It is possible if you have time to cross over the railway bridge and walk up Raise St where there is TheVictoria and on the next corner The Elms although it does not open until 2pm during the week and 1pm F, S & S so probably not one to start trail with.

A shorter route, just covering the town centre, would be to miss out Nonsuch, Oscars, The Flask and The Elms giving 7 visits.

The Station Inn has a bar and lounge entrance where both end up at the same servery. The servery is just to the left against the back wall as you enter from the bar door. Banquette seating opposite the servery under the window. Stools line the dark counterBeyond the servery the room opens out to a large loung/dining area.

heavy/bitter: Tartan

lager: Tennent’s; Fosters; Cruzcampo

cider: Strongbow ; Old Mout Cider Guinness ; Murphy’s

Bobby’s Bar is beside the statue of Bobbie Lennox. The entrance foyer brings you to a dark thin bar with seating at either side of entrance by the windows. The dark wood servery is ahead on the right takeing up middle of the wall with a curved counter and dark wood gantry. Lots of stools are along the counter and opposite the servery are tall tables and couple of smaller ones then beyond the servery is a pool table. The floor is tyled and there is dark green wallpaper around window areas with white ceiling while lighter walls at back of room with dark red ceiling.

Bobby Lennox

Have a pint here

Heavy: McEwan’s Export

Lager: Stella ; Tennent’s

Cider: Strongbow. Guinness

The Windy-ha

The Albion Is a small bar with servery half way the up room on right wall. Banquette seating all around the small room with breaks toilet, doors, machines etc. Stools around wooden counter and tiled floor.Very Busy local.

Have a pint here.

Light: McEwans 60/- Heavy: Caledonia Best Lager: Heverlee ; Tennent’s; Carling; 1 664 Cider: Strongbow ; Strongbow Dark Fruit Guinness

The Flask does not look much at the front door. The two doors take to function suiter and, at left, the bar. A long corridor widening out to give servery on right which goes along wall and then around to the right where there is a performance area and a pool table. Opposite the servery is banquette seating and further along left wall a raised banquette seating area. The wooden floor is tiled at counter. the decor is dark green ealls with low white ceilings. Tall wooden counter has stools. and is itself shaped as coming if off of trees. Really needs a more welcoming entrance for an excellent venue.

Have a pint here

Heavy:

Lager: Tennent’s; Heverlee

Cider: Magners, Magners Dark Fruit Guinness

The Salt Cot is a Wetherspoon pub in the centre of town. The longest side faces the street and has two sets of windows. Going in the door at left of building there is outside seating to the left and the main body of the pub to the right. The start of the pub has a large dining style seating area with tables along the window and to the left a small area with banquette seating and a fire. Beyond here a few steps up brings you to the curved servery along the rest of the left wall and opposite it tall tables and stools then some dining style tables and chairs. Beyondthe servery are stairsdown to the right to a lower small dining seating area along the second set of windows. Green carpet and fabrics with light green paint work

Real Ale: Theakston’s Old Peculiar ; Greenery King IPA; Orca; Doombar

 Heavy/Bitter: Punk; Worthington

Lager: Corona ; Budweisser; Staroperamen ; Innes & Gunn; Stella; Bud Light; Coors; Tennent’s; Carling; Leffe

Cider: Strongbow; Strongbow Dark Fruit Guinness

The Four Seasons has the door at far end of a large room. The large room has the servery on the far side wall with stools along the counter. There is a big pillar in the middle with table for sitting round it. Black banquette seating is around two sides with tables and some with comfy arm chairs to the left and some have less comfy wooden chairs to right.

Lager: Tennent’s; Carling

Cider: Thatcher’s ; Strongbow Guinness

The Bar One is an attractive light and airy bar with light coloured furniture and servery. The curved servery is straight ahead on back wall with a marble counter and wooden front. Stools are along counter. There is banquette seating with wooden back and thick pine tables either side of the entrance. At the right the seating curls round to meet servery while to the left the seating curls round a doorway to a small room with sofas and a low table. there is further seating to the left of the servery servery. Light green wood up to dado then stone or silvery wall paper up to ceiling with some thin dark beams. Popular local with several TVs and beer garden.

Heavy: Belhaven Best

Lager: Fosters; Stella; Estrella Galicia; Bud Light; Cruzcampo; Tennent’s

Cider: Strongbow ; Thatchers Guinness; Belhaven Black

Victoria bar Servery on right through door. Stools along dark wood counter. Couple of tables opposite servery. Beyond servery is and up 5 stairs lounge with barrel chairs. Some banquette seating in three booths at right. Fireplace at far end

heavy/bitter: Tartan; John Smiths

lager: Tennent’s; Fosters

cider: Strongbow Guinness

The Elms has a seperate bar, lounge and outdoor seating area. The bar is at the right of the building and the lounge at the left up a corridor and has regular entertainment. The bar has banquette seating round three sides with the servery on the far right wall. This room has a pool table in the middle, darts and several large TVs. Stools and brass elbow rrest runs along the front of the counter. Dark green walls from dado to white ceiling and Celtic memorabillia.

The large lounge has a servery to the left connecting to the bar servery. A performance space is on the top right corner.

Heavy/bitter: Tartan; John Smiths Lager: Tennent’s; Heverlee; Cruzcampo; Stella Cider: Strongbow; Magners Guinness