Millport (North Ayrshire)

Lat:55.7514 Lon: -4.9320

Millport is the only town on the island of Great Cumbrae in North Ayrshire in the lower Firth of Clyde.

Until the 1700s, the two separate villages of Kames and Kirkton were home to most of the population of Great Cumbrae. Gradually the villages grew together, forming the town of Millport.

The harbour, known as Knox's Port, was built for small fishing boats and to handle trading boats that transported goods to and from the island. In 1833, a pier was added. The town became a regular port of call for Clyde Steamers and grew as a holiday resort.

Millport remained an important stopping off point for steamers until the 1960s and a passenger ferry linked the pier with the mainland. This ended with the introduction of a roll-on roll-off ferry service between Largs and Cumbrae Slip, to the north east of the island.

Millport and Cumbrae generally enjoy a sheltered position in the Firth of Clyde, largely protected by the Isle of Arran to the south. However the town is not immune to rough weather. The storm of 26th November 1912 caused extensive damage along the sea front. Some buildings on the main street were later demolished, as well as most of the sea wall defence.

Features of the area

• Island
• Town
• Harbour
• Farm
• Coast

North Ayrshire Group

North Ayrshire is one of Scotland’s 32 unitary council areas. It borders Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire.

The area was created in 1996, adopting the boundaries of the former district Cunninghame. The mainland portion of the council area has historically been part of a greater County of Ayr, however it also contains the islands of Arran, Great Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae in the lower Firth of Clyde. All the islands were previously in the County of Bute.

Elsewhere on the BBC

• BBC Scotland's The L.A.B.
• BBC Glasgow and West Scotland

Elsewhere on the web

• Wikipedia entry on Millport
• North Ayrshire Flickr Photostream
• North Ayrshire Council: Local and Family History