The village of two lochs -why Kilcreggan is one of Scotland's favourite hidden Treasures!
A visit to Kilcreggan is like stepping back in time. The village grew from the 1840s onwards, when the Clyde steamers brought it within easy reach of Glasgow. In 1848 the 8th Duke of Argyll “feued” (gave the right to the use of land in return for a fixed annual payment) the south and west coasts of the peninsula for housing developments. He also had steamer piers built at Cove, Kilcreggan and Coulport to encourage the project. Feus were quickly taken-up and many prestigious villas and castles were built as summer retreats and permanent residencies for Glasgow’s well-to-do businessmen.
These wealthy ship builders and merchants commissioned some of the best architects of the day to design and build distinctive and distinguished homes. Kilcreggan, along with neighbouring Cove, is thought to have the largest concentration of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson-attributed architecture outside Glasgow and Historic Scotland’s website lists a remarkable total of 88 listed buildings in this small area..
These wealthy ship builders and merchants commissioned some of the best architects of the day to design and build distinctive and distinguished homes. Kilcreggan, along with neighbouring Cove, is thought to have the largest concentration of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson-attributed architecture outside Glasgow and Historic Scotland’s website lists a remarkable total of 88 listed buildings in this small area..
The last remaining original Victorian pier on the Clyde
Kilcreggan Pier was opened in 1850 and was described as “a substantial pier with commodious waiting-rooms and other conveniences”. It’s the oldest surviving wooden pier on the Clyde and still has the original signal discs dating from 1888 which regulated the order of steamers racing for the pier. In its heyday up to 39 ferries a day would call here. Kilcreggan Pier not only survives, but continues to be used. It’s the terminus for the ferry that links Kilcreggan with Gourock.
The famous TuT-TuT Rock
Initially called 'The Pianted Rock' when first create din 1851, this piece of Victorian rock art is painted upon a boulder cast high on the shoreline by the retreat of a glacier during the last Ice Age.
The rock’s look has varied throughout the years, often to reflect historical events. Despite having no connection to Egypt, the rock gained its current name, Tut-Tut, in 1922 following Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb
The rock’s look has varied throughout the years, often to reflect historical events. Despite having no connection to Egypt, the rock gained its current name, Tut-Tut, in 1922 following Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb
