Troon
Troon Troon occupies a strip of land in South Ayreshire, along the coast of the Firth of Clyde. The name of the town comes from the Old Celtic word "Trwyn", meaning headland. It stands on the west coast of Scotland, about 30 miles south west of Glasgow, and Glasgow’s Prestwick International Airport is just three miles away. Troon is famous for its Royal Troon golf course, which hosts Open Golf Championship every seven years. The Port of Troon is one of the most sheltered harbours on the west coast of Scotland, and an efficient trunk road system connects it to the motorways of Scotland and England. History Records from the beginning of the 19th century describe just a few cottages at the site, and the story of the following 200 years revolves around the fortunes of a few prominent families, still remembered in Troon place names: Fullerton Drive, Titchfield Road, Portland Street and Crosbie Tower. In 1812, the Duke of Portland opened the first railroad in Scotland. Running from Kilmarnock, it carried goods (particularly coal) and passengers to and from a new harbour which the Duke had built at Troon. From about a mile north of Troon Station through to Kilmarnock, today’s railway follows that original route. Initially the wagons were horse-drawn, but in 1820 the Duke bought one of Stephenson’s first steam locomotives and named it after himself - The Duke. The sea has played a major part in the history of Troon, with smuggling and shipwrecks being recurrent themes. A lifeboat station was built in 1871 and received its Centenary Vellum in 1971. What to See & Do in Troon