Home Report Gourock

Gourock, Inverclyde, is a port town of some 10,300 residents extending contiguously from Greenock to its east. Gourock’s development over the years is really reflected in its location on the Firth of Clyde. Historically, activities such as rope making, and fish processing took place in the town, and tourism, especially after the railway came to link Gourock directly to Glasgow. Clyde steamers often stopped at Gourock too, dropping passengers off to take the train up to Glasgow.

Gourock today is primarily a commuter town for residents who work in nearby Greenock, as well as Glasgow, and Renfrewshire. The headquarters of Caledonian MacBrayne can be found here, as can the main ferry port for Dunoon.

In terms of transport links then, Gourock is well served. The A78 runs to the south of the town, allowing for easy road transport to Glasgow, the wider Inverclyde and Renfrewshire areas, as well as Ayrshire. There are many regular bus services around the town, as well as to Greenock, and direct to Glasgow, though travel to the latter is faster via train. Residents and commuters can make use of the town’s dedicated station, though there are several other stations within a short distance of most parts of the town. These include Fort Matilda, Greenock West, Greenock Central, which have regular services for commuters to Greenock and further on to Paisley and Glasgow Central Station. The Branchton train station, to the south of the town, offers regular services to Inverkip and Wemyss Bay. Gourock is also the main port serving Dunoon from the mainland.

Gourock packs a punch for its size when it comes to amenities like coffee shops, bakeries, pubs, restaurants, and takeaways all catering for the influx of visitors throughout the year, usually visiting for the day, or passing through on their way to or from Dunoon. Indeed, Gourock’s ice cream parlours and open-air waterfront swimming pool recall its days as a popular day trip “doon the watter” destination for Glaswegians. In fact, the open-air pool is one of only three remaining in Scotland and was refurbished in 2010. There are also plenty of other local and independent businesses as well as your usual chain stores.

There are superb views from Gourock across the Clyde Estuary to the mountains of the southwest Highlands. Visitors can enjoy walks along the Ashton Front promenade. Three miles west of Gourock lies Cloch Point, where there is a lighthouse that dates from 1797. Regular ferries run from Gourock to Dunoon, Kilcreggan and Helensburgh.

Gourock also has a large yacht club named the Royal Gourock Yacht Club. Situated on Ashton Road at the junction of Victoria Road, it was known as Gourock Sailing Club when it was founded in 1894. It became Gourock Yacht Club in 1900 and acquired Royal status in 1908. For golfers, Gourock also has a golf course, which stretches from behind Trumpethill to Levan estates and is generally well-received, offering spectacular views over the town, Firth of Clyde and Argyllshire Hills.

As for local schooling, the local primary schools are Gourock, St. Ninians and Moorfoot Primary Schools. St. Columbas High School and Clydeview academy are the local high schools. West College Scotland, though to the east in Greenock, is a short distance away allowing for easy access to a tertiary education establishment.