FAMOUS FIVE
New routes around the often overlooked areas of Ayrshire and Arran give Stephanie Abbot the chance to find some hidden gems and get a taste of what this part of Scotland has to offer
Exploring The Coig uncovers some hidden gems in Ayrshire and Arran
Believe it or not our bonnie wee country spans just over eight million hectares. Packed in to all that space is more history, stunning architecture, breathtaking landscapes and delicious food than you can shake a medieval sword at. And while people tend to flock to our bustling capital, stage a Nessie search party or head to the Highlands, there’s a wealth of hidden gems and adventures all over Scotland.
With The North Coast 500 having injected £22 million into the North Highland community over the last 12 months, it is Scotland’s most successful route development since its launch in 2015 – and now there’s a new kid on the block justifiably reaching for a piece of the growing Scottish tourism pie.
The Coig, meaning ‘five’ in Gaelic, is a tourism campaign made up of a series of five different tourist routes covering Ayrshire, Arran, Bute and Cumbrae. Each route has been specifically designed to showcase the area’s natural beauty, history, and food and drink, as well as a wide range of outdoor and family activities on offer across the region.
‘We wanted to bring something together; a reason for new people to come and visit and also for people who had visited part of the region before to explore other parts of it,’ says Daniel Steel, operations director for The Coig. ‘Perhaps people who have been to mainland Ayrshire, this would encourage them to also get out and see some of the Clyde islands and vice versa.’
With shorter individual routes, it means visitors can take on The Coig or at least parts of it, as a day trip or over a weekend. ‘The routes can either be done
The Coig, meaning ‘five’ in Gaelic, is a tourist campaign
together or in bite-size chunks, so people will hopefully find a reason to come back,’ says Steele. ‘It’s not just a driving route either, we want to see people cycle and walk.’
Three of the five routes require travel by ferry but for a lot of people (myself included) this simply adds to the adventure. To experience some of what The Coig has to offer when it comes to Ayrshire and Arran, I headed out with our photographer Angus for a road test.
We started off on the mainland with the 55-mile-long Shiel route, which incorporates the seaside towns and maritime heritage plus the landscape of Clyde Muirshiel Country Park, and our
“One of the main aims is to promote local produce
first stop was the impressive Blair Estate in Dalry where we stayed in the Garden Cottage. Set in 220 acres of woodland and private gardens, the cestate is a cosy retreat which acted as a base for our day of exploring Ayrshire.
One of the main aims of The Coig is to promote local produce by integrating great food and drink, so we ventured to West Kilbride for our first Coig-inspired meal at The Waterside Hotel. We tucked into scallops, shin of beef and a medley of cheeses as we took in the stunning views across the Firth of Clyde.
The following day we were joined by local Ardrossan lad Matt Smith , who is the founder of luxury tour company Primal Adventures. He was on hand to inject some insider knowledge throughout our tour as he transported us in his Range Rover to sites such as Kilwinning Abbey, Saltcoats beach, the colourful Kelburn Castle and Largs Viewpoint, which offers stunning views across the Firth of Clyde to to Arran, Bute and the Isles of Cumbrae.
Being so close to the water already, it felt only right that we take the opportunity to step off land and on to a boat. In the capable hands of sea tour company Sea Clyde we made our way out of Largs Yacht Haven and onto the water where, to my absolute delight, we met Kylie, the resident dolphin who calls this stretch of water home. We also spotted some common seals resting on the rocks just off Millport, the only town on Great Cumbrae. There are a number of tour options available which showcase the islands around the Firth of Clyde should you also feel the call of the waves.
To begin the 70-mile Arran route, we braved the water once again, only in a slightly larger vessel, a CalMac ferry. Once ashore, we checked into the
expansive but welcoming Auchrannie resort. Our evenings were spent by cosy fires in the house hotel, sinking in to the leather couches as we slowly sipped our favourite tipples. The resort has all the things you’d expect from a four-star establishment from their Scottish-style tapas restaurant 1869 to the private lodges and relaxing spa and leisure club.
On The Arran route we were pleased to encounter The Arran Gin Company, whose cosy beach house venue opens in March 2020. We got a sneak peak at this neat little spot on the shore which oozes a casual charm and where music pours out of the record player as you cuddle up with a t-rex adorned pillow by the woodburning stove, with a freshly made G&T in hand. Made using no less than six botanicals gathered on Arran itself, founder Stuart Fraser and director George Grassie are keen to welcome visitors in for talks, tastings and cocktail classes.
Dotted with so many fascinating places along the way and with lots to be discovered, The Coig’s five routes could be revisited again and again. What was clear from my time spent with the people involved is that there’s a real buzz of excitement and a hope that this will bring more visitors to this vibrant part of Scotland. They will not be disappointed.
The five routes; 1. The Shire, 2. The Shiel, 3. The Arran, 4. The Bute, 5. The Cumbrae.