# Gourock

Gourock is a ferry port on Clydeside in the Central Belt of Scotland. Most visitors are only passing through, to catch ferries to Dunoon in Argyll. In 2022 Gourock had a population of 10,200.

## Understand

Gourock was a fishing village, historically part of Renfrewshire. In the 18th century the "Tail of the Bank" of the Clyde became industrial between Port Glasgow and Greenock, but the wealthy merchants and shipbuilders kept Gourock and western Greenock unspoiled for their fine villas. When the railway arrived in 1889, Gourock became part of the "Costa Clyde" or "Glasgow Riveria" of holiday destinations along the coast down into Ayrshire. It still has that role, but nowadays as a springboard for reaching the Cowal and Rosneath peninsulas rather than as a resort in its own right.

## Get in
### By plane

From Glasgow Airport (GLA) a frequent local bus runs to Paisley Gilmour Street, which has trains to Gourock as below.
From Prestwick Airport (PIK) take the train towards Glasgow Central and change at Paisley Gilmour Street. See Prestwick page for discount rail travel to and from that airport.

### By road

Follow the M8 westbound from Glasgow to its end where it becomes the A8, continue through Greenock to Gourock. From the southwest, follow the A78 along the Ayrshire coast.

### By train

Trains from Glasgow Central run every 15 min via Paisley Gilmour Street, Bishopton, Port Glasgow and Greenock Central and West, taking 40-50 min to Gourock. The first train is around 6AM and the last is towards midnight. As trains and ferries are both frequent, they're not normally held for each other. If you're running late for the last connection of the day, make your plight known to the conductor or ferry steward, and the connection might be held - you won't be the only one.
55.9619-4.81581 Gourock railway station is 200 yards north of the foot-passenger ferry terminal. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, and a waiting room and toilets. There is step-free access to all platforms.

### By bus

McGill's Bus 901 runs from Glasgow Buchanan station via Braehead, Port Glasgow and Greenock to Gourock (80 min), continuing to McInroy's Point, Inverkip, Wemyss Bay (for ferry to Bute) and Largs (another 30 min). It runs every 30 min M-Sa, and hourly on Sunday. Don't take the 906, which bypasses Gourock on its way to Largs.

### By road

Follow the M8 westbound from Glasgow to its end where it becomes the A8, continue through Greenock to Gourock. From the southwest, follow the A78 along the Ayrshire coast.

### By boat

55.96-4.81442 Gourock Ferry Terminal serves foot passengers only, no booking. Until end of March 2026:
* Calmac ferries take 25 min to Dunoon on Cowal peninsula. They sail every 30 min M-Sa 6:30AM-10:30PM, hourly Sunday; the return fare is £12.30 adult, £7.50 child.
* Calmac ferries take 15 min to Kilcreggan on Rosneath peninsula. They sail M-Sa roughly hourly 7AM-6PM, no Sunday service. The return fare is £9.20 adult, £4.20 child.
55.9514-4.85373 McInroy's Point is the terminal for Western Ferries. These sail 7AM -11:40PM every 20 min and take 20 min to Hunters Quay at the north end of Dunoon by the mouth of Holy Loch. Return fares paid on board until end of March 2026 are car plus driver £44.70, other adults £12, child £4.60. It's cheaper to buy online, but you have to pay £4.20 for them to post your tickets by snail mail to UK addresses only. Folk have complained about this for years, but they simply cannot grasp the concept of internet sales.
Cruise ships often visit nearby Greenock.

## Get around

It's only a couple of miles to walk to Greenock, along the scenic Esplanade. See that page for points of interest along the way and in the town. Any bus going east from Gourock is running via Greenock.

## See

* 55.9614-4.81981 Granny Kempock is a megalith or menhir just above the main street. It's a grey mica schist: it's not known when it was placed here, and may not be in its original position. Bronze Age has been suggested but the markings on it are much more recent. Various superstitions and rituals have attached to it, for instance departing sailors and newly-weds walked seven times around it for luck. In 1662 Marie Lamont confessed to dancing round the stone and trying to throw it into the sea to sink shipping, also to changing her shape into a cat, stealing milk by an incantation over a tether made of cows' tails, and having sex with the devil when he appeared as a brown dog. She and her accomplices were burned at the stake. Marie was 16.
* 55.9567-4.82232 Tower Hill is the breezy park overlooking town and the Firth. The stumpy tower at the summit was built in 1847 as a lookout-cum-folly - you can't go in.

## Do

* 55.9611-4.82261 Gourock Pool, Albert Road, Gourock PA19 1NQ, ☏ +44 1475 631561. May-Sep M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa Su 10AM-4:30PM. Outdoor saltwater pool heated to 29 °C: length 33.3 m, width 15 m, max depth 3.5 m. Great views over the Firth to Argyll. Free parking. (updated Mar 2025)
* Golf: Gourock GC is a moorland course of 6512 yards, par 73.
* Gourock Highland Games are held on Battery Park, with the next on Su 11 May 2025.

## Buy

* There are just small convenience stores here, such as Co-op Food opposite the ferry terminal, and Sainsburys Local west of the railway station. Head to Greenock for your big shop.
* Fuel is more expensive on the Cowal peninsula and beyond, and you'll do a lot of mileage. Best place to fill up before the ferry is Morrisons supermarket edge of Greenock.

## Eat

* Cafe Continental, 40 Kempock St, Gourock PA19 1ND (200 yards west of railway station), ☏ +44 1475 638693. Food served daily 9AM-9PM, bar till midnight. Cosy pub, gets great reviews for food, beer, service and views. (updated Mar 2025)
* Sea View (formerly My Kitchen), 25 Kempock Place, Gourock PA19 1QU (100 yards southwest of railway station), ☏ +44 1475 635842. Su-Th 2-10PM, F Sa noon-10PM. Surprise, it's Indian, and a good one. (updated Mar 2025)
* Gianni's Pizzeria is a takeaway on Kempock St.
* Taj Mahal, 89 Kempock St, Gourock PA19 1NF (300 yards west of railway station), ☏ +44 1475 633268. Su-Th 4-10:30PM, F Sa 3:30-11:30PM. Good menu choice including GF. (updated Mar 2025)

## Drink

Along the main strip are Kempock Bar and Cleat's Bar. South of the railway station are Victoria Bar, Darroch Bar, Lyle's and Old Wherry.

## Sleep

    Gourock is short of accommodation as most people just pass through, try Greenock which has budget chain hotels along the main road.
* 55.9554-4.83021 Spinnaker Hotel, 121 Albert Rd, Gourock PA19 1BU, ☏ +44 1475 633107, enquiries@spinnakerhotel.co.uk. Pleasant friendly 3-star overlooking the Firth. B&B double £90. (updated Mar 2025)

## Connect

As of March 2025, Gourock and its approach roads have 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from Three.

## Go next

* Above Greenock is Loch Thom, and you can walk along its aqueduct "The Cut".
* Take the ferry to Dunoon, where Benmore Gardens and Kilmun Arboretum are the main sights. You can then travel on to Inveraray, Lochgilphead, Oban or Kintyre.
* Head south along the mainland coast to Ardrossan for ferries to Arran, and to Ayr for the birthplace of Robert Burns.