Inverclyde

About Inverclyde

Inverclyde is, in terms of area, is one of the smallest council areas in Scotland. The area includes 61 square miles along the south bank of the River Clyde along which are a number of small coastal settlements including Inverkip and Wemyss Bay. The main towns of Inverclyde are Gourock, Greenock and Port Glasgow.

Gourock is the smallest of the three main towns of Inverclyde and sits at the mouth of the Clyde and just below Lyle Hill. Gourock developed from a fishing village into a seaside resort when it became the popular destination for visitors from nearby Glasgow following the opening of the railway and Gourock railway station in 1889.

Greenock , just west of Glasgow, is the historic place where the first dock on the Clyde was founded in 1711. Originally a small fishing village Greenock is now the largest town of Inverclyde. In the 17th Century the town expanded rapidly in response to the extensive herring trade and in 1635 it was granted burgh status.

Port Glasgow is the second largest town of Inverclyde. It was originally the small fishing hamlet of Newark but in 1688 the burghers of Glasgow purchased it and built a harbour and breakwater. Newark became Glasgow's first deep-water port allowing larger ships to dock there and their goods were then transferred to smaller vessels and transported up the Clyde to Glasgow leading to the town becoming known as Port Glasgow.

Things to see and do around Inverclyde

Greenock Custom House Museum is a museum illustrating the Customs & Excise Service over the centuries and includes informative and entertaining displays of former employees such as Robert Burns who worked as an Excise man in his final years. The museum is housed in Custom House a grade A listed building built in 1818.

The McLean Museum & Art Gallery in Greenock has on display many Scottish and European paintings and also displays of local and natural history.
Tel: 0141 8893151

Loch Thom, near Greenock, offers rather good trout fishing. Loch Thom is a reservoir, completed in 1827, and is one of a small group of lochs which supply water to Greenock. Originally called the "Great Reservoir" or "Little Caspian" the reservoir was named after its designer Robert Thom. Loch Thom forms part of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

Inverclyde Links

Inverclyde Council
The official site for Inverclyde County Council