Wemyss Bay

It is widely believed that Wemyss Bay takes its name from the Gaelic for cave.  No-one though is quite sure where the location of this cave could be, though there is one of significant size located further along the coast road  in Skelmorlie. Some argue however that it was local fisherman Robert Wemyss who gave the town its name.

Positioned on the fringes of Renfrewshire and on the border with Ayrshire, Wemyss Bay lies 8 miles (13 km) south of Greenock and 31 miles (50 km) west of Glasgow.

Wemyss Bay proved wildly popular during the heyday of the Clyde Steamers. The railway first arrived here in 1865 and the magnificent Victorian railway station was built in 1903 to welcome the crowds sailing over to Bute and Millport.

Many came from Glasgow on their excursions 'doon the watter' for fish tea's and ice creams. (Still on the menu today!!)

Much of the area was originally part of the Kelly estate owned from the 15th century by the Bannatyne family. Today on the old site of Kelly Castle (burnt down in 1740) a caravan park is sited.  

Dr. David Livingstone was a regular visitor to the Kelly Estate in Wemyss Bay  in the mid 1800's as guest and personal friend to Dr. Young, a scientist, entrepreneur and benefactor of Livingstone's.

On hearing of Livingstone's death, Dr. Young arranged permanent employment on the estate for two of the explorer's native servants, Susi and Chuma. These two later recreated Dr. Livingstone's Hut in Wemyss Bay as it was near the Victoria Falls, itself becoming the major tourist attraction of its day. 

H.M. Stanley, commissioned to find Dr. Livingstone and who on doing so uttered the famous words, 'Dr. Livingstone I presume', was curiously also a regular visitor to Wemyss Bay as a guest of Lord Inverclyde of Castle Wemyss.

It is widely believed that much of Anthony Trollope's novel 'Barchester Towers' was written at the same Castle Wemyss, a 19th-century mansion then owned by George Burns, the first Chairman of the Cunard Steam Packet Company.

Notable guests to the Castle have been the Royal Family, Peter II of Yugoslavia, General Sherman and Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia.

Today many of the large merchant houses still stand and Wemyss Bay has a thriving community welcoming famous people in the past and continues to do so in the present. Hey, and don't forget to come in for some of the best coffee and warmest welcomes in the area!

Don't forget that our newest addition, Cafe Riva is located at Scotland's Premier Marina, Kip Marina in Inverkip just 2 miles away. It boasts an excellent location, fabulous facilities, superb berthing and extensive services, and is only 30 minutes from Glasgow International Airport.

Check out some local images.

Hold the front page !!! Wemyss Bay Headlines

• Check out the local website Wemyss Bay Net. 

Only a short ferry ride away is Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, the epitome of the traditional Scottish seaside resort.


Featuring a large selection of restaurants, picturesque B&B's and hotels, it is the ideal location to get away from it all.

A principal highlight of Rothesay is its medieval castle, dating back to the C13th, complete with moat and battle scars.

Another must see are the famous Victorian Toilets by the Pier, I kid you not.

Mount Stuart House, the ancestral home of the Marquis of Bute is located on the Isle of Bute, and is famous for its gardens and Italianate Chapel, it also boasts over 600 years of ancestry.

The Firth of Clyde has long been renowned for its sailing and cruising waters. In 1999, Greenock on the Clyde played host to the Tall Ships Race.