Scotland Whiskey Festival 2026

Troon

5.21.26 - 5.23.26 60 °F

I traveled to Scotland today to board the Dutch sailing vessel Tall Ship Thalassa for a cruise to the western Scotland Islands for the annual Whiskey Festival. I flew to Baltimore then took Iceland air to Glasgow via Keflavik Iceland and then to Glasgow. From Glasgow it was a train to Troon and then a short walk to The South Shore Hotel not far from Royal Troon Golf Club, where the 2024 British Open was played.

In 1808, the 3rd Duke of Portland added docks to the existing natural harbour on the north side of the headland, under powers granted by an act of Parliament, the Troon Harbour Act 1808. The harbour opened in 1812 to serve the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway. Later improvements increased the protection afforded by the headland with an artificial "ballast bank" made from the dumped ballast of incoming merchant ships. Troon Lifeboat Station opened at the harbour in 1871 on land donated by the Duke of Portland.

Troon Harbour played a notable part in the development of the town for many years. It was home to the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, which constructed many vessels for worldwide customers but mainly small passenger and various merchant vessels. The fishing fleet from Ayr moved to Troon Harbour and a revitalization of the abandoned section of the harbour started.