7 Harbour Street, Girvan, KA26 9AJ
Phone number: 01465 713219 / 07773794358
Email: mccrindlem@aol.com
Ailsa Craig Trips: boat trips onto the Ailsa Craig or a sail around the island. See spectacular bird and wildlife around Ailsa Craig, a prime location for bird enthusiasts and hill-walkers. There are daily sailings from Girvan Harbour, all year round, with a fully licensed vessel that can carry 12 passengers per trip. Fishing trips are also available. Ailsa is a truly unique island. It is 1,114 feet high, about 2.5 miles (4 km) around the base and is made of unique, very hard granite. Ailsa granite became the favored stone of the curler and stones are today still removed to be manufactured into what we see on TV when the curling is played.
In
medieval times, fishermen also used the island as a refuge in stormy weather,
pulling their sails over depressions in the rocks used as shelters. These
depressions are still visible near the Lighthouse.
The island is now managed as an RSPB Nature Reserve by agreement with the
Marquees of Ailsa, it is also by Law a SSSI and designated a Special Protection
Area.
Ailsa is principally a seabird colony and is famous for its Gannets, with the third largest colony in Britain. The Gannet is the largest breeding seabird and can be seen making spectacular high dives to catch its fish prey.
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