Girvan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Girvan
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| Burgh | |
 The Stumpy Tower, Girvan, South Ayrshire. |
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 Girvan
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| Population | 6,330 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NX185975 |
| • Edinburgh | 81 mi (130 km) |
| • London | 323 mi (520 km) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GIRVAN |
| Postcode district | KA26 |
| Dialling code | 01465 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Girvan is a lovely town in South Ayrshire, Scotland. Its name, Inbhir Gharbhain, means "mouth of the River Girvan" in Scottish Gaelic.
Girvan is located on the east coast of the Firth of Clyde. About 6,450 people live here. It is 21 miles (34 km) south of Ayr and 29 miles (47 km) north of Stranraer. Stranraer is a main port for ferries going to Northern Ireland. Girvan is an important harbour town.
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History of Girvan
Girvan started as a busy fishing port. In 1668, it officially became a town. This was made possible by a special document called a charter.
Girvan as a Seaside Resort
In the late 1850s, railways came to Girvan. The Maybole and Girvan Railway helped the town grow. Girvan became a popular seaside resort with beautiful beaches and cliffs.
From 1855 to 1941, the Gray family often visited Girvan. This included Robert and Elizabeth Gray and their daughters, Alice and Edith. Elizabeth and Alice were especially good at collecting fossils. They created amazing collections for museums, like the Natural History Museum.
Modern Girvan
Today, you can still reach the town by train at Girvan railway station. North of Girvan, there is a William Grant & Sons distillery. It opened in 1964 and makes spirits. There is also a Nestlé factory in Girvan. This factory makes chocolate that is sent to York. This chocolate is used in popular treats like Kit Kat and Yorkie bars.
Fun Places to Visit
Girvan has many interesting spots to explore.
Knockcushan Gardens
Knockcushan Gardens is home to the old 'Hill of Justice' stone. A special plaque there tells us that Robert the Bruce, a famous Scottish king, held a court here in 1328.
McKechnie Institute
The McKechnie Institute was built thanks to local businessmen, Robert and Thomas McKechnie. It first opened its doors in 1889.
Nearby Attractions
Culzean Castle is about 8 miles (13 km) north of Girvan. This amazing castle is a great place to visit. The volcanic island of Ailsa Craig can be seen about 10 miles (16 km) offshore. It looks like a giant rock in the sea.
Turnberry golf course and hotel are located 5 miles (8 km) north of Girvan. The coastline south of Girvan is famous for its unique geology. You can also find the Sawney Bean Caves at Bennane Head or Balcreuchan Port.
Exciting Local Festivals
Girvan hosts several fun festivals throughout the year.
Girvan RNLI Harbour Gala
The Girvan RNLI harbour gala happens every summer, usually in July. It's a big event with music, market stalls, and a fun fair. You can also see exciting rescue displays by the emergency services. The Girvan Lifeboat station recently got a new Shannon Class lifeboat. This boat is very advanced and uses water jets to move. It's one of the best all-weather boats in the fleet. The boat is named 13-23 Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan. It's the second Shannon Class lifeboat in Scotland and the first on the west coast.
Girvan Folk Music Festival
If you love music, the Girvan Folk Music Festival is for you! It takes place on the first weekend of May each year. Girvan also has a folk music club where people can enjoy traditional music.
Lowland Gathering
The Lowland Gathering is held on the first Sunday of June. It takes place in Victory Park, right in the middle of town.
Festival of Light
The annual Festival of Light happens in October. For six weeks, people work on a lantern project. This project ends with a beautiful "river of light" lantern procession. There is also a performance along the shorefront. This autumn lantern project celebrates the people who make the lanterns and the community of Carrick.
Schools and Community Life
Girvan has good schools and a new community center.
Education in Girvan
Girvan has its own secondary school called Girvan Academy. Most local children attend this school. For Roman Catholic families, there is also Queen Margaret Academy in Ayr. The town has two primary schools: Girvan Primary School (for all faiths) and Sacred Heart Primary School (a Christian school). There is also a special school called Invergarven School.
The Quay Zone Leisure Centre
Girvan's old swimming pool closed in 2009. But a fantastic new leisure centre, called 'The Quay Zone', opened on April 26, 2017. It was built to help improve Girvan and is located at the harbour, where the old pool used to be.
Churches in Girvan
Girvan has several churches for different faiths.
Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
This is a Roman Catholic church, built around 1863. It is located on Harbour Lane, near Louisa Drive and Henrietta Street.
Church of Scotland
Girvan has two Church of Scotland congregations. These are Girvan North Parish Church, which has a tall spire over 100 feet or 30 metres high, and Girvan South Parish Church.
Milestone Christian Fellowship
Milestone Christian Fellowship is a local church that started meeting in Girvan's Community Centre in 2005. In 2016, they moved into a renovated building on Bridge Street. Milestone is part of the Baptist Union of Scotland.
Twin Town
Girvan has a special connection with Torcy, Seine-et-Marne, France. This partnership honors a Scottish knight named Sir Thomas Huston. He was from Girvan and fought against the English as part of the Auld Alliance during the Hundred Years' War. In 1439, the King of France rewarded him for his bravery during the capture of Meaux. The king gave him the land of Torcy.
Girvan's Climate
Girvan has an oceanic climate. This means it has mild temperatures and rain throughout the year.
| Climate data for Girvan (9 m or 30 ft asl, averages 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.6 (45.7) |
7.8 (46.0) |
9.4 (48.9) |
11.8 (53.2) |
15.1 (59.2) |
17.2 (63.0) |
18.8 (65.8) |
18.5 (65.3) |
16.5 (61.7) |
13.3 (55.9) |
10.2 (50.4) |
8.1 (46.6) |
12.9 (55.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) |
2.8 (37.0) |
3.9 (39.0) |
5.2 (41.4) |
7.6 (45.7) |
10.3 (50.5) |
12.3 (54.1) |
12.1 (53.8) |
10.3 (50.5) |
7.9 (46.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
3.0 (37.4) |
7.0 (44.5) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 111.3 (4.38) |
78.9 (3.11) |
90.2 (3.55) |
61.8 (2.43) |
56.9 (2.24) |
53.8 (2.12) |
75.5 (2.97) |
86.3 (3.40) |
91.5 (3.60) |
125.7 (4.95) |
116.0 (4.57) |
115.2 (4.54) |
1,063.1 (41.86) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | 16.6 | 12.8 | 14.7 | 11.2 | 10.8 | 10.7 | 11.7 | 13.7 | 13.0 | 17.3 | 16.5 | 15.6 | 164.6 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 41.1 | 66.7 | 96.8 | 151.8 | 201.1 | 172.6 | 161.3 | 154.0 | 114.9 | 82.9 | 52.5 | 38.2 | 1,333.9 |
| Source: Met Office | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Girvan para niños
