In clear conditions, views extend north over the upper Clyde estuary to Ben Lomond and the Arrochar Alps.

Ailsa Craig roughly marks the halfway point to Northern Ireland, which itself may be glimpsed if visibility is good.

To the east, the views are not so extensive, being restricted by the higher ground of the Renfrew Hills only a few miles distant, however the town of Largs and village of Fairlie and the deep water coal terminal and power station at Hunterston can be seen.

The Cumbraes take their name from the Old Norse Kumreyjar, meaning "islands of the Cymry" (referring to the Cumbric-speaking inhabitants of southern Scotland).

The island's highest waterfall, Horse Falls, plunges over the old sea cliffs at Bell Bay.

In 1263, Haakon IV, King of Norway, may have used the eastern coast of the island as an anchorage for his fleet, before the inconclusive Battle of Largs.

Ballochmartin Bay and Portrye (derived from Gaelic elements meaning "king's harbour") are suggested locations for the Norwegian-anchorage.

The Aberdeen Breviary of 1509, printed in Edinburgh, tells of two of the island's early female missionaries, Saints Baya and Maura.

In 1999 the final feudal landowner, Le Mans winner Johnny Dumfries, now Bute, of Mount Stuart House, put the island up for general sale, with first refusal given to his farmer tenants.

Founded in 1885 by Sir John Murray and David Robertson and originally called Millport Marine Biological Station, its buildings near Keppel Pier were opened in 1897.

The Guardian reported that Cumbrae was number 8 in British online property searches in 2021, attributing this to the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown then in force.

Community Council members are elected by the residents, and all groups and individuals on the island are invited to its monthly meetings.

The most dived site on the Clyde is just south of the ferry slip; a Second World War Catalina flying boat.

Other attractions include: A Caledonian MacBrayne car ferry connects the island with Largs, North Ayrshire on the Scottish mainland.

[27] A larger ferry, MV Loch Shira, built at Ferguson Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow,[28] entered service on 2 June 2007.

[29] Cumbrae has a marine climate and can experience gale-force winds from the Atlantic Ocean at any time of year; these westerly or south-westerly gales can be severe and destructive.

However, while the west of the island might experience gales up to 70 mph (110 km/h), the weather on the sheltered east side facing Largs can remain tranquil.

The island was the focus of a BBC documentary called Seaside Stories which featured many local businesses and residents.