Fairlie, North Ayrshire

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Fairlie is a small village on the west coast of Scotland, in North Ayrshire. It sits on the eastern shore of the Firth of Clyde and looks out to the Isle of Arran and the Cumbraes. Today it’s mainly a commuter village with just a few local shops. The Village Inn pub and restaurant and a petrol station are among the remaining businesses. The population was about 1,490 in 2020 (1,510 in 2001).

Fairlie has a long history. It began as a fishing village because of its sheltered harbour. Weaving and shipbuilding also helped its income. In 1803, William Fife started the Fife & Son shipyard in Fairlie, which helped the town gain international fame for sailing yachts. William Fife III, a renowned yacht designer, later brought even more recognition.

In the 20th century, the Royal Navy moved ASDIC (anti-submarine) research to Fairlie and worked on weapons like the Fairlie Mortar, which eventually evolved into Squid. After World War II, defence work continued for a time. In recent years, large facilities have changed the area along the coast, including Hunterston B nuclear power station, a deep-sea shipping terminal, and a NATO base.

Fairlie’s pier once connected to Clyde ferry services and the Largs branch, but it closed in 1971. There is still a railway station in the village with trains on the Ayrshire Coast Line to Glasgow.